Marine from Florida becomes the first woman to receive the Intel Marine of the Year award

Marine Corps Cpl. Megan Evans-Spates was awarded the Intel Marine of the Year award last week, becoming the first woman to receive the honor.

At just 20 years old, Evan-Spates, of Pensacola, Florida, was honored with the Col. Donald G. Cook Intel Marine of the Year Award at a ceremony near Washington, D.C., with both of her career Navy parents in attendance, according to ABC affiliate WEAR 3.

“It’s a lot to have on your shoulders at such a young age. Definitely worth it being in Intel,” she told the station.

Evans-Spates did JROTC at Escambia High School, enlisting in the Marine Corps at age 17.

“Cpl. Evans-Spates has been a phenomenal Marine. This award is not for one single act of superior accomplishment, but for continuous displays of proficiency and professionalism,” said Lt. Col. Sherif A. Aziz, her commanding officer at her home base in Okinawa, Japan. “[She] has been an exceptional intel analyst for several key real-world rehearsals in support of missions in the Pacific region. She is enthusiastic about her military specialty and willingness to serve with honor, courage and commitment every day.”

Her primary focus has been gathering intelligence on North Korea. “The amount of effort. The early mornings, late nights, definitely made it worth it in the end with this reward,” Evans-Spates said.

The Col. Donald G. Cook Award Intel Marine of the Year award is sponsored by the National Military Intelligence Association. The award is named for Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Col. Donald G. Cook. He was posthumously awarded with the Medal of Honor and promoted to colonel after three years as a prisoner of war.