MSgt Julius Spain, Sr

Team manager and coaching assistant for a Fairfax, Va., boys basketball team. Life-member of the NAACP. Married for nearly 20 years with two daughters and one son.

Master Sgt. Julius Spain Sr. is getting the enlisted Marines’ message out to those in Washington, and he takes a lot of pride in doing so. Officers have historically been the ones to represent service members on Capitol Hill, so serving as an enlisted legislative fellow provides a unique and important perspective, especially following a decade of combat. And it’s a duty Spain, a South Carolina native, called one of the highlights of his 22 years in the Marine Corps.

During a 12-month tour in the Senate serving as the defense legislative fellow for Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Spain was consulted often.

“I know firsthand what some of our junior Marines and their families are going through, because I’ve been there and done that,” Spain said. “With me being on the Hill, it lets their voices be heard.”

Lt. Col. Marcus Hewett and Capt. Neville Welch nominated Spain to be Marine Corps Times’ Marine of the Year not only because of his professional accomplishments, but because of his off-duty devotion to volunteering, especially with local youth.

“He is widely known for organizing several community service activities,” Welch wrote in his nomination, adding that Spain is sought out as a mentor.

All Marines should be well-balanced, in the military and out in the community, Spain said.

“I have an appreciation for giving back to the community; it’s just how I was brought up,” he said. “I try to teach [the kids] to better themselves when it comes to education to do more than just the bare minimum.”

Spain is up for promotion to master gunnery sergeant this summer and has been selected to assume the position of senior enlisted adviser for the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs.