Photo Information

Cpl. Aric M. Mauldin, an administration specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, poses for a photo next to their battalion guidon aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. April 14, 2011. Mauldin was selected as the Marine of the Quarter for the regiment out of five other Marines nominated. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Melissa A. Latty)

Photo by Cpl. Melissa A. Latty

Hard work pays off for CLB-24 Marine

14 Apr 2011 | Cpl. Melissa A. Latty 2nd Marine Logistics Group

Cpl. Aric M. Mauldin, an administrative clerk with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, was selected as the Marine of the Quarter for the regiment out of five total Marines nominated.

Shortly after taking the title at the Marine of the Quarter board, Mauldin triumphed over his peers on yet another board, this time earning a meritorious promotion to the rank of corporal.  The promotion signifies a higher leadership position and more responsibilities.

A modest Mauldin said he was just doing his job and completing tasks that were expected of him.

“My motivation is always to set an example for junior marines so they are successful,” he said.

After being with the unit for more than two years, Mauldin said it feels like all of his hard work has paid off.

“While I was deployed [with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit] I was working from five in the morning to eight or nine at night,” Mauldin said. “I have done a lot for my unit.”

During this same deployment, Mauldin performed a selfless act at one of the ports the ship stopped at in Africa.

“There were all these really skinny kids that kept asking us for food, but we had been instructed to not give it to them,” he explained.  “Knowing that there are many things that Marines just toss and don’t eat, I grabbed a few empty boxes and asked all the Marines to put their extra food in them.  They did and before we left, we gave it to [the local children].”

Mauldin, who plans to reenlist this fiscal year, said he joined the Marine Corps to carry on the tradition his father, grandfather and great-grandfather started before him.

“My dad would always talk to me about the Marine Corps and when I saw the commercials on [television] with the Marines in their uniforms I always thought it was cool,” Mauldin said.

Mauldin said to his recollection no others in his family lineage of Marines had never been Marine of the Quarter and he and his father are proud of what he has accomplished.

“I couldn’t be more proud of [my son],” said his father, Mack Mauldin, who served as an infantryman for eight years. “He is very responsible and you can depend on him for anything.  He has always been that way so it’s no surprise to me that he has become a great Marine.”

Although Mauldin is humbled by the experience, he admits competing on the board was not easy.

“There was some tough competition,” he said. “But I knew I was going to win it. I studied for hours and hours, so I would know all of the answers.  The hardest part about it was the nerves. No matter how much you prepare yourself you are going to be standing there answering questions in front of nine people while they judge your bearing, your character, your confidence… everything.”