Special Warfare Operator (SO) Citations
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS ELEMENT MEMBER, MARINE SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM 8233, COMPANY HOTEL, 2D MARINE RAIDER BATTALION, U.S. MARINE CORPS FORCES, SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND FROM JANUARY 2017 TO MAY 2018. STAFF SERGEANT DILGER DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMBAT READINESS OF HIS TEAM BY SERVING AS THE TEAM COMMUNICATOR ON 19 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ACCOUNTING FOR STANDARD AND NON-STANDARD COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, VALUED AT OVER 485,000 DOLLARS. ADDITIONALLY, HE SUPPORTED THE COMPANY AS THE SOLE TECHNICAL SURVEILLANCE OPERATOR THROUGHOUT TWO CERTIFYING EXERCISES. DEPLOYED, HE SERVED AS THE LEAD COORDINATOR TO THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, STREAMLINING THE ACQUISITION OF OFFICIAL PASSPORTS FOR HIS TEAM, A MISSION CRITICAL REQUIREMENT. ARRIVING AT THE TEAM'S MISSION SUPPORT SITE, HE LED EFFORTS TO VALIDATE THE PARTNER FORCE AS A QUICK REACTION ELEMENT, PROVIDING TEN WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION IN SMALL UNIT TACTICS, CLOSE QUARTERS BATTLE AND IMMEDIATE ACTION DRILLS, CULMINATING IN THREE FULL MISSION PROFILE RAIDS. STAFF SERGEANT DILGER'S UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS AIRBORNE CRYPTOLOGIC DIRECT SUPPORT ELEMENT SPECIAL OPERATOR AND COMMAND CAREER COUNSELOR AT U.S. NAVY INFORMATION OPERATIONS COMMAND BAHRAIN FROM JULY 2014 TO OCTOBER 2016. PETTY OFFICER NAVARRE ACCRUED OVER 400 FLIGHT HOURS OVER 66 MISSIONS ABOARD FLEET AIR RECONNAISSANCE SQUARDON ONE EP-3E AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING 19 COMBAT SORTIES IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. HE ALSO DEPLOYED ABOARD TWO U.S. COMBATANTS, LEADING THREE SAILORS IN PROVIDING CRITICAL INDICATIONS AND WARNINGS IN SUPPORT OF COASTAL RIVERINE SQUADRON FOUR AND AFLOAT COMMANDERS. AS COMMAND CAREER COUNSELOR, HE MANAGED THE COMMAND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR A 60 SAILOR COMMAND, OVERSEEING NINE REENLISTMENTS WITH OVER $70,000 AWARDED IN REENLISTMENT BONUSES, ONE RATE CONVERSION, AND A 96 PERCENT PROGRAM SCORE ON THE COMMAND'S READINESS INSPECTION. PETTY OFFICER NAVARRE'S BRAVERY, SACRIFICE, AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO ADMINISTRATIVE MINUTIA REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS LEADING PETTY OFFICER FOR ALFA SQUAD, SEAL TEAM EIGHTEEN FROM 13 JUNE 2017 TO 22 AUGUST 2018. DURING THIS PERIOD, SPECIAL OPERATOR ORDOGNE EXECUTED 39 HIGH RISK TRAINING EVOLUTIONS AND FACILITATED THE LOGISTICAL MOVEMENT OF MISSION CRITICAL GEAR AND ENGINEER TRAINING AIDS TO SUPPORT TWO LIVE FIRE RANGES AND A VARIETY OF MISSIONS IN TWO AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY. IN ADDITION, DURING ARES JOURNEY 2017, HE ADAPTED A FOREIGN AIRFRAME TO SAFELY TRAIN AND CONDUCT INDIVIDUAL ITERATIONS: 167 ON RAPPEL AND 256 ON FAST ROPE IN DAY, NIGHT, STATIC, AND HELICOPTER EVOLUTIONS. MOREOVER, HE ASSISTED FOUR SQUAD MEMBERS IN COMPLETING AND OBTAINING HELICOPTER ROPE SUSPENSION TECHNIQUES (HRST/C) MASTER QUALIFICATION. PETTY OFFICER ORDOGNE'S PROFESSIONALISM, DILIGENCE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
TACTICAL LEAD FOR JOINT COMBINED EXCHANGE TRAINING FLASH STYLE 15-2 FROM XXXX XXXX THROUGH XXXX XXXX. PETTY OFFICER SORENSON DEVELOPED AND EXECUTED AN ADVANCED OVER-THE-BEACH AND SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION FOR 40 SRI LANKAN SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATORS, GREATLY IMPROVING THEIR MARITIME PROFICIENCY AND COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS. BY HIS UNSWERVING DETERMINATION, WISE JUDGEMENT, AND COMPLETE DEDICATION TO DUTY, PETTY OFFICER SORENSON REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
TRAINER FOR JOINT COMBINED EXCHANGE TRAINING EVENTS FLASH STYLE 15-2 AND FLASH PISTON 16-1 FROM XXXXXXXXXX THROUGH XXXXXXXXXX. PETTY OFFICER WAYNE EXECUTED COURSES OF INSTRUCTION IN ADVANCED MARITIME OPERATIONS AND CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT FOR OVER 80 PARTNER FORCE SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATORS IN SRI LANKA AND THE PHILIPPINES. HIS EFFORTS FURTHERED U.S. RELATIONS WITH THESE CRITICAL PARTNERS AND GREATLY ENHANCED THEIR UNIT PROFICIENCY. PETTY OFFICER WAYNE REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
During a top secret mission in harsh conditions in Northeastern Asia, SO2 Sailor demonstrated extraordinary courage and resolve when he returned a wounded service member to their rendezvous point prior to extraction from the area of operation. SO2 Sailor carried the wounded service member for approximately 1200 meters through difficult terrain, while remaining under cover. All personnel were returned safely to the extraction point by the combined efforts of all special operating forces, but especially those of SO2 Sailor. He administered emergency medical care to the wounded Sailor while under fire and, upon reaching the extraction point, SO2 tied himself to the wounded man to ensure that he did not fall behind while the unit was extracted from the AO via seal delivery vehicle. SO2 Sailor's heroic efforts must be recognized in order to acknowledge the dedication with which he serves his comrades and his country.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS THE INAUGURAL LEADING PETTY OFFICER OF NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE GROUP 3 TRADET FROM OCTOBER 2008 TO FEBRUARY 2012. PETTY OFFICER WASHINGTON'S FORESIGHT AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO ZERO DISCREPANCIES IN THE PROCUREMENT, DISTRIBUTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ORDNANCE, COMMUNICATIONS GEAR, AND DIVE EQUIPMENT. HIS PROFESSIONALISM AND KNOWLEDGE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN LEADING 14 TRADET PERSONNEL IN THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF OVER 2000 HOURS OF HIGH-RISK TRAINING FOR SEAL DELIVERY VEHICLE TEAM ONE SEAL PLATOONS. PETTY OFFICER WASHINGTON'S OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS TEAM MEMBER AND LEAD LINGUIST. DEMONSTRATING UNRELENTING PROFESSIONALISM AND AMBASSADORSHIP AS AN OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TEAM MEMBER DURING 14 WEEKS OF TRAINING ENCOMPASSING OVER 300 HOURS OF POINTS OF INSTRUCTION (POI), PETTY OFFICER SYKES WAS A KEY FACTOR IN THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF POI WHICH ENCOMPASSED COMBAT SWIMMER SKILLS, SMALL ARMS RANGES, CQC, INTRODUCTION TO MAROPS (ZODIAC), VBSS, AND URBAN MOBILITY TRAINING FOR OVER 140 PARTNER NATION SECURITY FORCE MEMBERS REPRESENTING FOUR COLOMBIAN MILITARY UNITS. HIS ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND ADAPTABILITY WERE A MAJOR FACTOR IN HIS TEAM'S SUCCESS AND ESTABLISHED THE FOUNDATION FOR STRONG PARTNER NATION RELATIONSHIPS. PETTY OFFICER SYKES' 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 LEADING PETTY OFFICER FOR ALFA SQUAD, SEAL TEAM EIGHTEEN FROM 25 MAY 2016 TO 10 JUNE 2017. SO1 BLAND ASSISTED THREE SQUAD MEMBERS IN COMPLETING AND OBTAINING HELICOPTER ROPE SUSPENSION TECHNIQUES (HRST/C) MASTER QUALIFICATION. DURING ARES JOURNEY 2016, HE ADAPTED A FOREIGN AIRFRAME TO SAFELY TRAIN AND CONDUCT INDIVIDUAL ITERATIONS: 235 ON RAPPEL AND 357 ON FAST ROPE IN DAY, NIGHT, STATIC, AND HELICOPTER EVOLUTIONS. IN ADDITION, HE EXECUTED 47 HIGH-RISK TRAINING EVOLUTIONS, FACILITATED LOGISTICAL MOVEMENT OF MISSION CRITICAL GEAR AND ENGINEER TRAINING AIDS TO SUPPORT TWO LIVE FIRE RANGES WHILE MAINTAINING 100% SAFETY COMPLIANCE. PETTY OFFICER BLAND'S PROFESSIONALISM, DILIGENCE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS DIVE MOTIVATOR AND LEADING PETTY OFFICER FOR THE NSW/NSO PROGRAM AT RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND, FROM AUGUST 2011 TO SEPTEMBER 2013. AS A DIVE MOTIVATOR, SO1 BUDWELL PARTICIPATED IN THE TRAINING OF 53 DIVISIONS, TRANSFORMING 4,678 CIVILIANS INTO PHYSICALLY CAPABLE AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED CANDIDATES PREPARED FOR FOLLOW-ON TRAINING IN THE NSW/NSO COMMUNITY. HE PERSONALLY MENTORED 17 DIVISIONS AND TRACKED 1355 CANDIDATES WITHIN THE NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE PREPARATORY COURSE, BASIC UNDERWATER DEMOLITION SEAL TRAINING, AND SEAL QUALIFICATION TRAINING, THROUGH THEIR ULTIMATE FLEET ASSIGNMENT TO THE SEAL TEAMS. ADDITIONALLY, AS A DIVE MOTIVATOR CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR, SO1 BUDWELL SUCCESSFULLY ELEVATED THE PST SCORES OF CANDIDATES WHILE LOWERING THE ATTRITION RATE FROM 84 PERCENT TO 70 PERCENT FOR CANDIDATES TRANSITIONING INTO THE NSW/NSO COMMUNITY. FURTHER, AS TRAINING PETTY OFFICER, HE METICULOUSLY ENSURED THE FULL COMPLETION OF ALL REQUIRED TRAINING FOR 13 DIVE MOTIVATOR INSTRUCTORS RESULTING IN A 20 PERCENT INCREASE IN COMMAND WIDE READINESS. FINALLY, AS PRIMARY NAVET/OSVET LPO, SO1 BUDWELL DEVELOPED AND CONTINUED THE SAILORIZATION OF 300 NSW/NSO CANDIDATES IN LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT WITH ALL STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCING TO PREPATORY COURSES. PETTY OFFICER BUDWELL'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 RANGE SAFETY OFFICER FOR MORE THAN FORTY HIGH RISK LIVE FIRE RANGE EVOLUTIONS DURING SEAL TEAM FOUR'S SQUADRON INTEGRATION EXERCISE FROM JUNE TO JULY 2013. PETTY OFFICER FEARLESS ENSURED SAFE AND REALISTIC VEHICLE AND DISMOUNTED IMMEDIATE ACTION DRILLS FOR MORE THAN SEVENTY OPERATORS AND COMBAT SUPPORT PERSONNEL, GREATLY ENHANCING COMBAT READINESS FOR A SCHEDULED DEPLOYMENT TO AFGHANISTAN. BY HIS EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY, PERSONAL INITIATIVE AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY, PETTY OFFICER FEARLESS REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.