Second to none
SF High graduate Rachel Rael named ‘Marine of the Year’
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Rachel Rael, a 2018 Santa Fe High School graduate, is not your ordinary military grunt.
Rael, 20, was recently named Marine of the Year for her work in the Military Occupational Specialty of administration.
“It makes me feel really proud,” she said of the honor. “I joined the Marine Corps expecting it to be really difficult, but I’m doing really well in it. I love what it does for me. I love the Marine Corps. It feels good to be recognized for my job and I want the Marines under me to see that they have potential, too.”
The award recognizes enlisted administrative personnel who demonstrate leadership in the course of service, provide outstanding support and comfort to those with whom they serve, and enhance morale and the personal welfare of others, according to a U.S. Marines news release.
“The reason I was nominated, even though my job is admin, is I try to exceed at it every day,” she said. “I set
an example for my fellow Marines. Administration is very important to the Marine Corps and I can set a good example if I keep doing what I am doing.”
A third-generation Marine stationed in Okinawa, Rael knew it was a life course she wanted to pursue from the time she was very young.
“The military was in my family and had an early influence on me,” she said in a telephone interview. “I wanted to join ever since I was in fourth grade.”
And it certainly didn’t hurt to see constant reminders.
“I always looked up to my dad and my grandpa had a bunch of Marine Corps stuff around — pictures and things,” Rael said.
She participated in the Navy ROTC program in her freshman and sophomore years at Santa Fe High and that was good training for her future military career.
“ROTC really helped,” Rael said. “Since the Marines is a branch of the Navy, the knowledge is similar to what the Navy does. The instructors in ROTC, they saw my potential and helped me with my physical fitness.”
That was important when it came time for boot camp.
“While in boot camp, I liked the challenges it gave me,” Rael said. “It really made me stronger. I really looked up to the instructors. I thought they were awesome.
“I had five drill instructors in recruit training. Because of the physical fitness test, we worked out all the time.
We had combat fitness, martial arts, as well as learning how to become a Marine.”
As a matter of fact, the work of the drill instructors left such a lasting impression that it gave Rael a career goal.
“I definitely want to make a career out of the Marine Corps, so I’m glad I’m off to a good start,” she said. “I want to be a drill instructor when I get to that point. I always looked up to them. They’re the image of the Marine Corps and they make the Marine, and I think that’s really great. I really look up to them. My main goal is to become a drill instructor in the future.”
In addition to receiving this honor, some other highlights of her career were being deployed on board a ship that cruised the South China Sea and being promoted to corporal.
“That’s an important step in the Marine Corps,” Rael said of the change in rank. “It’s the first time where you get to have a leadership role and can take an active role in leading other Marines. It meant so much to me.”
As for more current goals, she’s hoping that COVID-19 eases up enough so she can take some leave and see her family.
“I miss New Mexico and my family a ton,” Rael said. “That’s probably the biggest thing. There are a couple of Mexican food restaurants in Okinawa, but there’s nothing like New Mexican food. My mom and grandma will send bizcochitos, but other than that, nothing. And the military is restricted, so I haven’t been home for a while.”