Promotion across the ocean Out in Guam, Coast Guard members witnessed a rare occasion—a meritorious promotion for one deserving reservist: Petty Officer 1st Class Victor Camacho. As an extremely seasoned second-class machinery technician, Camacho has been a heavy hitter for his unit, Station Apra Harbor. Significantly, Camacho was the station’s only qualified firearms instructor, conducting testing and qualification for personnel from the station, as well as Sector Guam and Coast Guard Cutter Sequoia. In fact, once when the Coast Guard units had trouble getting time at the Navy range, Camacho stepped up; as a range master for the Guam Community College, his willingness to provide outside solutions kept the Coast Guard’s qualifications current and kept the mission going. Camacho said being a FAI came with intangible benefits. “For me, it’s gratifying to know that a member who hasn’t qualified after so many attempts, and then I assist them… it’s like what I’m doing is working, and it’s helping the whole unit when they get qualified; it’s not for myself, it’s for the member. It’s hard for me not to work,” he said with a laugh. Camacho joined the Coast Guard in 2012. He said being part of a small service and making a difference is what made him choose the Coast Guard. “I love the water, and I wanted to not only serve, but serve where I come from. It’s a long-term investment, giving back to the community of Guam.” He’s been on Title 10 orders for nine months at the Sector in support of the Coast Guard’s response to COVID-19, supporting the service through a complicated transfer season in 2020. As one of the unit’s most experienced engineers, he’s been an integral part of getting on-the-job training for newer members, both at the range and as part of haul-outs for the station’s 45-foot response boat medium. Camacho has a significant law enforcement background; he served as a police officer for 16 years (six of it on the SWAT team) before becoming a deputy marshal supervisor for the Judiciary of Guam. He also has degrees in criminal justice and public administration. In 2020 Petty Officer Camacho was selected as one of the “50 Under 40 Emerging Leaders in the Government of Guam” for his passion and motivation in his civilian law enforcement career. Cmdr. Andrea Holt, Sector Guam’s senior reserve officer, wanted to recognize Camacho’s superior performance and, working with active duty leadership, submitted a package for meritorious advancement. “He’s the kind of guy who’s totally worth it,” said Holt. “He’s one of those people who does the right thing because it’s the right thing.” In a memo to the 14th Coast Guard District, the Sector’s commanding officer, Capt. Christopher Chase, wrote, “The excellent leadership, values, superior performance and acumen displayed by Petty Officer Camacho have proven this member to be essential to Sector Guam. These combined traits are commensurate with a higher paygrade.” The petty officer was already being recognized as the 14th District’s enlisted reservist of the year, but he was surprised when the command was adamant that he bring his family to the all-hands with the D14 commander, Rear Adm. Matt Sibley. “We did a good job keeping it a secret from him,” said his supervisor, Chief Petty Officer Todd Genereaux, who helped set up the ceremony. “He’s a super standup guy, always goes out of his way to help others. He comes in on his days off; you can tell he really loves it. He loves getting underway and he’s a natural with firearms [from his work as a police officer].” Holt and Genereaux worked together to craft a new ODU blouse with Camacho’s nametape and new collar devices. At the all hands ceremony, they had it ready when Adm. Charlie Ray called from the Virgin Islands, to speak to the crew, then to Camacho directly. From a video call on the other side of the world, displayed on a large screen for the crew to see, Ray congratulated Camacho on being the D14 REPOY, and for his service to the community and the station. “All these things together paint a picture of a very special Coastie,” said Ray. Then he said, “Well, Vic, before you sit down…” Camacho was awestruck when the vice commandant then advanced him to first class petty officer; a welcome honor when he'd been sitting for servicewide exams in a rating with a slow rate of advancement. “It didn’t make sense to me until the whole event was taking place,” he said. Camacho’s family helped him don his new uniform blouse with his correct collar devices as the auditorium rang with the sound of deafening applause from Coast Guardsmen happy to see their shipmate recognized publicly. . 10 RESERVIST . . Issue 2 • 2021
