DVIDS – News – Unbounded Dedication. From Jamaican Special Forces to U.S. Ceremonial Guard to Navy Seabee

Born and raised in a Jamaican rural space, Building Mechanic third Class Johnathan Fearon served 12 years within the Jamaican Protection Drive earlier than transferring to New York and enlisting within the U.S. Navy.

Fearon, with Naval Cellular Building Battalion (NMCB) 5, joined the Navy at age 38, participated within the Ceremonial Guard, and now he is a Seabee.

He’s one in every of 15 youngsters. His grandmother raised him and a number of other siblings as a result of his father was in poor health. His mom moved to the U.S. to assist him have a greater life, which labored out for him, his spouse, and their three children.

As Fearon talked about his life, he reminisced about his childhood and his grandmother’s influence on him.

“She grew me properly; I can say, disciplined. I discovered to do chores round the home, you already know, care for myself,” mentioned Fearon. “So that you may hear me converse a sure method. She was the one which mentioned, ‘Hey, it’s essential converse like this. You may’t converse like that round the home.’ So I might gravitate in direction of that.”

When he wasn’t going to high school or doing chores, he arrange make-shift basketball targets on mild poles and performed soccer or cricket.

“We had enjoyable again within the day doing that,” Fearon recalled with a smile. “We might produce other individuals come down from different locations to play, so it was actually enjoyable.”

Regardless of serving to his household round the home and going to high school when he might, he nonetheless graduated highschool. After highschool, he left the countryside and moved to Kingston to reside along with his sister. He spent a couple of years in search of a job, however nothing occurred till he spoke to the Jamaican Protection Drive recruiter.

Fearon defined that most individuals in Jamaica attempt a commerce—like a nurse, police officer, fireman, or the Jamaican Protection Drive as a result of they do not require increased training. They cross a check, after which they undergo the coaching.

“I did not have that instructional background,” added Fearon. “So I mentioned, ‘okay, you already know what, I’ll not gravitate in direction of sitting on the streets and stuff.’ So based mostly on my drive, I joined the Jamaican Protection Drive, and it turned out good for me.”

As soon as he handed the check, he educated for six months in Newcastle on the College of Jamaican Protection Drive. He defined how a lot tougher he felt the coaching was in comparison with what he is going by means of within the U.S. Navy.

“It is far more than the Navy. It is so much tougher,” he defined. “We prepare for infantry-type battles. As a result of we take our coaching from the British, we do British sort coaching, related, virtually much like this, but when it have been like Marines.”

Fearon mentioned the coaching is much like Marines, who all go to a battalion after they’re completed. He began engaged on inner safety and aiding the Jamaican Constabulary Drive in sustaining regulation and order. They patrolled with particular operations.

After 9 years as infantry within the Jamaican Protection Drive, he determined to attempt their particular forces.

“I appreciated how they regarded on the time. Everyone needed to be like them,” he mentioned. “It is a powerful program. It is tougher than the British. Aside from the water half, it is tougher than the Navy Seals. It is tougher than the inexperienced beret and Canadian particular pressure.”

They needed to navigate the terrain with solely water to outlive throughout coaching evolutions. Foraging for meals introduced them nearer collectively, like household. Fearon mused over his time with particular forces and talked about how he missed the camaraderie.

“Working with the particular forces there, it was like every particular forces, actual tight-knit group,” he added. “Individuals name you by your first identify and all that. Individuals know who you might be and handle you as such. Like, I miss that.”

Within the particular forces, he went to Guatemala for a particular forces competitors, which brings in particular forces all through the western hemisphere.

“We really received the assault competitors. I went one 12 months, and we received that,” Fearon mentioned with a smirk. “So I used to be actually pleased with myself as a result of it is the one 12 months I went, and we received as a result of I am good at capturing. In order that was like a excessive level for me, so I obtained out.”

After getting out of the Jamaican Protection Drive, he moved to the U.S.

His mom got here to New York within the early 2000s, and all through her time working odd jobs, she obtained the paperwork for him and his siblings to return to the U.S.

In 2019, he determined to enlist within the U.S. Navy.

In boot camp, Fearon took benefit of one other alternative. He joined the Ceremonial Guard in Washington D.C. and served for 2 years. He was a part of the firing occasion, offered funeral honors for the fallen, participated in ceremonies for dignitaries and retirements, and obtained each qualification he might.

He reported to NMCB-5 as a development mechanic in March of 2022. He was superior to Petty Officer third Class for his time within the Ceremonial Guard. He attends school in his free time however takes each alternative to be taught his new craft.

“I am attempting to actually modify. As I mentioned, I used to be within the particular forces; one of many issues they educate you over there may be adapting to no matter setting you are in,” Fearon mentioned.

“I do know I am a bit outdated. I am 40 years outdated, and I work largely amongst youthful Sailors. However I nonetheless, you already know, I attempt to be taught from them as a result of this commerce is solely new to me. I simply attempt to get entangled and be taught my new job.”

Fearon simply accomplished his first train with the battalion. Though he is used to doing issues a distinct method, he adapts.

“It is very easy in comparison with what I used to do again residence,” he defined. “It simply takes time. It nonetheless sucks, but it surely’s not as dangerous as what I have been by means of. Some issues I’ve seen completed otherwise, however I nonetheless should put away every part I’ve discovered as a result of that is completely different. So I say, ‘Okay, I am going to attempt to be taught this,’ as an alternative of possibly I might have completed it otherwise.”

He would not know if he’ll keep within the Navy after his first enlistment. Nonetheless, he enjoys the expertise and taking in all of the information his shipmates supply. As for his household, his spouse and children have adjusted. Now they love dwelling right here.