U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Damian Rodriguez, left, sergeant major of School of Infantry West, and Col. Patrick Byrne, right, commanding officer of SOI-West, present the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Staff Sgt. Brett Meil, center, a Marine combat instructor with Training Company, Infantry Training Battalion, SOI-West, during an award ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 24, 2024. During the ceremony, Meil was presented with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest non-combat decoration that can be awarded for heroism, for his actions on June 13, 2023, where he saved a student’s life and took shrapnel in the process. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sydni Jessee)