Every Friday the Fork Union Military Faculty and Staff meet to nominate a few who have exceeded the standards and demonstrated superlative performance. Whilst we have various awards and recognitions - a simple "Well Done!" we hope, is also appreciated. The combination of the Bravo and Zulu nautical signal flags, i.e., Bravo Zulu, also referred to as "BZ," is a naval signal, typically conveyed by flag hoist or voice radio, meaning "Well Done" with regard to actions, operations or performance.
The following are the Bravo Zulu awards for this week:
Mr. George Powell, Cadet Jaxon Brooks-Powell’s father, volunteered his personal time and equipment to plow snow around campus this week. We are so thankful for his generosity in helping us prepare our campus for the cadets’ return on Sunday. Bravo Zulu, Mr. Powell!
Maintenance and Athletics crews are recognized for their hard work this week after a major snowstorm. Their teams cleared sidewalks, cleaned up fallen trees, and kept generators going to ensure food safety in the Dining Hall as well as providing a warming station for staff and faculty living on campus during the three-day power outage. Bravo Zulu, Maintenance and Athletics Teams!
LTC Stephen McCoy, Deputy Chief of Staff, worked over Christmas break to ensure the reopening plan was safe and feasible. This included coordination of policy with local, state, and federal mandates as well as preparation for emergency operations due to an imminent snowstorm. His steadfast leadership, hard work, and keen attention to detail ensured we are ready to open in-person, on-time, following all applicable policies. Bravo Zulu, LTC McCoy!
Ms. Shannon Higginbotham, Director of Annual Giving, worked during Christmas break to make sure end of year giving was well coordinated to meet the 31 Dec 2021 deadlines. Her hard work enabled the Academy to receive endowments, gifts, and support-in-kind. Her expertise and attention to detail will ensure the cadets benefit from major donor programs and our donors’ gifts are properly tracked. Bravo Zulu, Ms. Higginbotham!
LTC Frank Arritt led his team to an undefeated PG Football season recently, one of only two in our 123-year history. He has been working through Christmas break to ensure the players are in touch with appropriate programs for opportunities to play at the next level, including scholarships and preferred walk-ons in many cases. He searched for the best programs, positions, and player vacancies and liaised between coaches and players, which often was done after hours and across time zones. His extra effort to help these graduates (they left in November) is a testament to his respect, integrity, faith, character, and discipline as a coach, mentor, and truly superb employee at FUMA. Bravo Zulu, LTC Arritt!
To those FUMA cadets who went home for Christmas break and worked out, helped around the house, were kind to their little brothers/sisters, and emulated the core values they learned at FUMA…well done! Things like respect, integrity, faith, character, and discipline embraced holistically in body, mind, and spirit (our FUMA way) are appropriate at the Academy, at home, and in your life. I’m proud of you. Bravo Zulu!
Go FUMA!
Colonel David L. Coggins, USMC (Ret.)
President
Fork Union Military Academy