Face of Defense: Admin Marine Knows Job’s Impact on People

By Marine Corps Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C., Oct. 16, 2012 – The cornerstone of administration is behind a desk, making keystrokes and mouse clicks that affect Marines’ pay, living arrangements and food -- in other words, their livelihood.

Administration personnel chief Marine Sgt. Sean A. Walker serves the more than 40 Marines attached to the naval command. Photo by Marine Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken.   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Marine Corps Sgt. Sean A. Walker, a native of Port Lavaca, Texas, an administration personnel chief at Fleet Readiness Center East here, serves the more than 40 Marines attached to the naval command. Because the center is a standalone unit, Walker said, he is required to have a much broader spectrum of knowledge of the administrative field than he’d normally need.

 

“It was challenging initially,” he acknowledged. But by being the catch-all for Marines’ administrative needs, he said, he is able to build much more of a one-on-one customer service relationship.
“I see most of these guys every day, they’re not just a number,” he said. “I’m able to tailor the support I need to provide for the individual.”

Building those relationships with the Marines is what he enjoys the most about his job, Walker said, but the traveling opportunities aren’t bad, either.

"We are literally worldwide assignable,” he said. “I’ve been to Bangkok, Thailand, the Great Wall of China, Singapore and Germany.”

But while he’s here, Walker said, he will continue to make sure that pay, housing and food don’t worry the Marines at Fleet Readiness Center East.