A Houston native is serving in the U.S. Navy with Coastal Riverine Squadron 2.
Petty Officer 2nd Class William Wilk is a master-at-arms with the squadron operating out of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
A master-at-arms is responsible for security operations. “My job requires interacting with people and I enjoy that,” said Wilk. "I've been able to meet great people from all over the world because of my job."
Wilk credits his success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in his hometown of Houston. “My hometown taught me the importance of killing them with kindness,” said Wilk.
The men and women of the U.S. Navy’s Coastal Riverine Force provide port and harbor security, high value asset protection and maritime security operations in coastal and inland waterways. “Serving here has allowed me to travel the world,” said Wilk.
"I've got to go to Dubai, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Africa." For two years in a row CRS-2 has won the Navy’s coveted "Battle E" Award, an award that not only recognizes excellence in sustained superior performance in an operational environment, but for being the best squadron in the Coastal Riverine Force.
Eligibility for this award demands day-to-day demonstrated excellence in addition to superior achievement during certifications and qualifications conducted throughout the competitive period. In addition to this achievement, they also won the 2017 Chief of Naval Operations Off Duty Safety Award, a first for any unit under the charge of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.
Wilk is most proud of becoming the supervisor of foreign access to the Navy base in Bahrain.
“I got to make friends from all over the world because of my supervisor position,” said Wilk. "I’ve been able to go to exciting events like going to a Japanese gala with the prime minister."