Special Boat Operator (SB) Citations
Special Boat Operator First Class (SWCC) Fernando Alberto Pons distinguished himself through outstanding leadership while mobilized to SEAL Team EIGHTEEN from February 2013 to September 2013. As Lead Instructor to SWCC Detachment Bravo, he prepared an eight-man team to perform Joint Combined Exercise Training (JCET). This training included multiple Naval Special Warfare (NSW) lessons/tactics in Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Long Range Maritime Interdiction Operations, Navigation, Boat Handling / Formations, and Maintenance Practices.
Specific accomplishments include:
- Professional: SB1 Pons effectively mentored and led an eight-man detachment through a vigorous ULT training workup.
- Exceptional Leader: Lead Training Petty Officer for an 8-man SWCC detachment in preparations for upcoming deployment. This preparation significantly increased personnel qualifications and overall detachment readiness. Managed all training schedules, qualifications and schools to achieve full mission readiness in preparation for multiple deployments to PACOM.
- Dedicated Mentor: Motivational and inspiring leader who has the absolute trust and confidence of superiors, peers and subordinates. Conducted professional development training for eight junior personnel pursuing qualifications as Chief Engineer, Coxswain and Expeditionary Warfare specialist.
- Excellent Manger/Leader: Developed, managed and led a training schedule in Tactical Maritime Operations including patrolling, interdiction and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS). His training increased the mobilizing SWCC Detachment ability to safely and confidently conduct NSW missions at a high level.
- Unwavering Dedication: During SWCC Det Bravo ULT, he revamped and created new lesson plans and practical underway operations, this effort resulted in over 800 miles of safe and effective training which was vital to ensuring a successful deployment for SWCC Detachment Bravo.
- Mission Oriented: He maintained focused on all of the objectives leading to 100% mission success. SB1 puts in extra hours in regards to planning, organizing and execution of all tasks in front of him. SB1 prepared the detachment's training for mission readiness, resulting in repeated mission successes.
- Mission Focus: His leadership and planning resulting in ten NSW Chief Engineering Qualifications and fifteen NSW Coxswains during both ULT and drill weekends at SEAL Team Eighteen. SB1 Pons continues to motivate sailors outside the SWCC community to achieve these qualifications...
- Training Objectives were accomplished with a perfect understanding for the requirements needed for successful deployments overseas, and possessed strong working relationship with all personnel at SEAL Team EIGHTEEN. He is constantly the lead force in accomplishing boat training during all drill weekends.
- SB1 Pons tackles the most challenging assignments with total success. The success of SWCC Detachment Bravo during training will result in PACOM theater capability and ongoing success for SEAL Team EIGHTEEN SWCC detachments. His work is a testimony of the dedication to duty and constant professionalism. He is a true "Team Player" and helped solidify SEAL Team Eighteen's reputation for being a FORCE multiplier in the GWOT efforts worldwide.
- SB1 Pons is a sailor who exemplifies and emulates the Navy's core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. He epitomizes the best of U.S. Navy's and the Naval Special Warfare community's traditions and values. His devotion, unsurpassed skills, knowledge, honor, integrity and leadership are a credit to the Navy and an example Sailors Navy wide.
- SB1 Pons is a dedicated professional whose energy and commitment is nothing short of astounding. He continues to perform far above his pay grade. His leaders have full confidence in him to accomplish any task flawlessly and without direction. His support to the mission of SEAL Team EIGHTEEN Naval Special Warfare greatly exceeds the standard. SB1 Pons has gone beyond the normal SWCC reservist by conducting training at a level unseen prior to his time. His efforts in support of SEAL Team EIGHTEEN are nothing but extraordinary.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS LEAD INSTRUCTOR IN SUPPORT OF NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE UNIT FOUR, OST TF NEPTUNO FROM XXXX XXXX TO XXXX XXXX. PETTY OFFICER WILSON DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND TACTICAL KNOWLEDGE WHILE TRAINING 11 GRUCON-P SPECIAL OPERATORS IN SOC-R BOAT HANDLING, COASTAL NAVIGATION, MISSION PLANNING, INSERT/EXTRACT AND VESSEL INTERDICTION TRAINING. IN ADDITION, HE CONDUCTED OVER 200 NAUTICAL MILES OF OPEN OCEAN AND RIVERINE TRANSIT AND FOUR LIVE FIRE EVOLUTIONS WITH A 100% SAFETY RECORD. HIS THOROUGH INSTRUCTION, FOLLOW UP AND PERIODIC CLASS REVISIONS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED COLOMBIA’S ABILITY TO CONDUCT COUNTER DRUG OPERATIONS. PETTY OFFICER WILSON'S PROFESSIONALISM, PERSEVERANCE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
COMBATANT CRAFT CREWMEMBER AND OST TF NEPTUNO INSTRUCTOR FROM XXXX XXXX TO XXXX XXXX. PETTY OFFICER WILSON DEMONSTRATED UNWAVERING DEDICATION THROUGHOUT A DEMANDING 6 MONTH DEPLOYMENT. HE PROVIDED OVER 100 HOURS OF DAY AND NIGHT CLASSROOM AND PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION ON WEAPONS HANDLING, MANIPULATION, AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY TROUBLESHOOTING TO 16 COFEN SPECIAL BOAT OPERATORS. THIS QUALITY INSTRUCTION BETTER PREPARED THE GRUCON-P OPERATORS FOR REALWORLD COUNTERDRUG OPERATIONS ALONG COLOMBIA'S PACIFIC COAST. ADDITIONALLY, HE WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INVENTORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF 88 SETS OF WEAPONS AND ANCILLARY GEAR DISTRIBUTED ACROSS 5 COUNTRIES WITHIN THE SOUTHCOM AOR VALUED AT MORE THAN $500,000. PETTY OFFICER WILSON'S PROFESSIONALISM, PERSEVERANCE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
LEAD INSTRUCTOR IN SUPPORT OF NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE UNIT FOUR, OST TF NEPTUNO FROM XXXX XXXX TO XXXX XXXX. PETTY OFFICER WILSON DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND TACTICAL ACUMEN WHILE TRAINING 22 SPECIAL BOAT OPERATORS IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS CRAFT-RIVERINE BOAT HANDLING, COASTAL NAVIGATION, MISSION PLANNING, INSERT/EXTRACT, IMMEDIATE ACTION DRILLS AND VESSEL INTERDICTION TRAINING THAT SPANNED 500 NAUTICAL MILES OF OPEN OCEAN AND RIVERINE TRANSIT, 5 LIVE FIRE EVOLUTIONS AND THE SAFE EXPENDITURE OF 50,000 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION. HIS QUALITY INSTRUCTION SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE COFEN ABILITY TO CONDUCT COUNTER DRUG OPERATIONS ALONG COLOMBIA'S PACIFIC COAST. IN ADDITION, HE LED A 4-MAN CREW OVER LAND FROM CARTAGENA TO TURBO AND SUCCESSFULLY MAINTAINED 100% ACCOUNTABILITY OF $1,000,000 WORTH OF MISSION ESSENTIAL WEAPONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND INTELLIGENCE EQUIPMENT. PETTY OFFICER WILSON'S PROFESSIONALISM, PERSEVERANCE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS 11M RIGID INFLATABLE BOAT (RIB) CREW LEADER FOR RIB DETACHMENT JULIET ONBOARD MARITIME SUPPORT VESSEL (MSV) C-CHAMPION FROM JANUARY 17 TO JANUARY 23, 2013. DURING THIS PERIOD, PETTY OFFICER WILSON'S EXCEPTIONAL ENTHUSIASM AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND INITIATIVE WERE DEMONSTRATED DURING SMALL BOAT OPERATIONS TO RESCUE THE CREW OF THE USS GUARDIAN. DISREGARDING SIX TO NINE FOOT WAVES AND 25 TO 30 KNOT WINDS IN SEA STATE FIVE CONDITIONS, HE SAFELY ASSISTED IN THE TRANSFER OF 75 PERSONNEL FROM THE USS GUARDIAN TO THE 11M RIB FOR TRANSFER TO THE MSV AND UNSN BOWDITCH. IN ADDITION, HE MANTAINED CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE 11M RIB, THE MSV, AND THE USS GUARDIAN, THROUGHOUT THE SUCCESSFUL EVACUATION OF THE USS GUARDIAN PERSONNEL. PETTY OFFICER WILSON'S MOTIVATION, PERSONAL INITIATIVE, AND UNSWERVING DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.