Ponce Sailor Named as Senior Sailor of the Quarter

USS Ponce, At Sea (NNS) -- A leading petty officer aboard USS Ponce was named Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) Senior Sailor of the Quarter for the Fourth Quarter 2010.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ramiro Ortiz, leading petty officer of amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15) medical department, has been named as Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 5 Senior Sailor of the Quarter (SSOQ).

Ponce operated as part of ESG 5 while the ship was deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility from September 2010 through March 2011.

Ortiz was selected as Ponce's nominee to ESG 5 after being recognized as the top first class petty officer aboard Ponce.

"I was nominated to represent my department and competed against four other Sailors nominated throughout the command," said Ortiz.

Once he won the Ponce SSOQ award, Ortiz's package was entered to represent Ponce as the Senior Sailors of the Quarter.

"I know I would never have been able to accomplish all the things that I have if it were not for the group of Sailors I have working for me and the support I have from my chain of command," Ortiz said when he heard his name announced.

"Just thinking about how many Sailors made up ESG 5 and to be nominated was a good feeling, but to be selected the ESG-5 SSOQ is pretty great," said Ortiz.

"I was competing against other Sailors that are hard working and just as deserving," he said.

Ponce is part of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

For more news from Commander, Amphibious Squadron 4, visit www.navy.mil/local/phibron4/.>