Computer engineering major Bryce Moulder was honored last week
BYU students have earned some of the nation’s highest honors, but for the first time ever, a BYU student has been named the top U.S. Marine Corps officer candidate in the country.
On May 15, U.S. Marine Corps leaders presented to BYU President C. Shane Reese the Commandant Trophy “For Outstanding Preparation of Students in the Platoon Leaders Class at Officer Candidates School” in recognition of student Bryce W. Moulder and his title of Honor Graduate as top of his class at Officer Candidate School this past year.
Moulder, a computer engineering major, is the only candidate out of roughly 1,000 candidates to win the award. The coveted award requires the highest standard of discipline, fitness, marksmanship and leadership.
“We try to do right by our students, but it’s amazing when our students do right by us,” President Reese said. “We thank Bryce for representing us so well. Our mission statement for the entirety of the church's education system is to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, in the church, and in their communities. I think that Bryce is just an absolutely stunning illustration of that.”
While BYU doesn’t have a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program, it does offer an Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC program on campus. Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS) is a demanding 10- to 12-week training program located in Quantico, Virginia, designed to screen, evaluate, and train potential officers for the U.S. Marine Corps..
Moulder enrolled in Officer Candidate School almost directly after a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is one of the youngest recipients in the award’s history and was lauded by Staff Sergeant Andrew Daley for his leadership, physical fitness and academics.
“Bryce is the No. 1 candidate out of all of the Marine Corps officers of the year,” said Staff Sgt. Daley. “There are reservists that go officer; there are enlisted Marines that go officer and Bryce beat out all those guys out of the water with none of the military background prior to coming into this program.”
In addition to the Commandant Trophy, Major Kyle S. King presented to President Reese a placard that reads: “To BYU, may your morals and values always inspire your students to continue service to God, Country. Semper Fidelis. Isaiah 6:8.”
Moulder is projected to graduate in 2028.
“I was just doing what I was supposed to be doing,” Moulder said. “But then, to get recognized for it was surreal. I actually feel a little conflicted between being glad and recognizing that there’s still a lot ahead that I need to do and prepare for.”
