Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

The Marine Corps’ Athlete of the Year is awarded annually to a male and female active duty Marine. Marines who have excelled in varsity, All-Marine, national and international completions are eligible to be nominated for the award. Rank is not a determining factor, only that the Marine embodies the Corps values and excels in a sport.

Major Jackson T. Doan, operations officer, Edson Range, Weapons Field Training Battalion, overcame extraordinary challenges to earn the title Athlete of the Year by putting forward the extra effort to embody the Marine Corps’ values and achieve greatness through physically demanding sports.

Doan began practicing Filipino Martial Arts when he was five, and by the 6th grade, he received his black belt in Karate. From there he focused his efforts on his wrestling and was successful throughout high school. It wasn’t until college that he started training in martial arts again.

Doan began honing his skills in college, but when he joined the Marine Corps his competitions jumped to a national and global level.

He trains for three two-hour sessions a day to continuously improve his abilities on the mat with Jujitsu and Pankration. During the morning hours, Doan works on his cardio and concentrates on his strength and conditioning in the afternoon. At the end of his work day, he focuses his training on improving his martial art techniques.

“I hope to inspire the younger generation of Marines to push themselves to new limits and reach well-earned goals,” said 42-year-old Doan.

Inspiring Marines is just what he did after competing and winning the 2014 U.S Nationals, the U.S. world team trials and represented the U.S. for the Fila Pankration World Championship in the 145-pound weight class.

“I was nervous competing for the U.S. team, but as Marines, we adopt and overcome,” said Doan. “I was fortunate to come out on top with the tough competition from other countries. I was honored to represent my country by competing in a sport I enjoy.”

Doan earned two medals, gold and bronze, competing in Jujitsu at the U.S. world team trials. He then received two medals, gold and silver, for competing in Pankration, an ancient form of martial arts. He’s also won several local tournaments competing in Jujitsu.

Through all of his great accomplishments, Doan was still surprised to be awarded Athlete of the Year.

“I didn’t really expect to be the Marine awarded Athlete of the Year, but I’m deeply humbled to have received it,” said Doan. “There are several Marines who compete in various sports who achieve tremendous goals in what they do. I’m honored and again humbled to be Athlete of the Year because I know the Marine Corps is full of top competitors.”