Britt K. Slabinski

Slabinski is from Northampton, Massachusetts. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout at age 14 on March 9, 1984.{{cite web|title=Retired Master Chief Britt Slabinski to Receive Medal of Honor at White House Ceremony {{!}} Navy Live|url=http://navylive.dodlive.mil/medalofhonor/|website=navylive.dodlive.mil|accessdate=9 May 2018}}

Upon graduation from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School{{Cite web|url=http://www.gazettenet.com/Editorial-Monday-mix-on-Memorial-Day-in-Florence-Medal-of-Honor-Lilly-Library-bird-feeders-17748316|title=Editorial: Monday mix on Memorial Day|access-date=7 June 2023}} in 1988, Slabinski enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He attended boot camp in Orlando, Florida. Upon completion, he received orders to attend Radioman Class "A" School in San Diego, California. There, he trained on the basics of naval communications, graduating in spring 1989. He qualified and was accepted into Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Slabinski graduated with BUD/S class 164 in January 1990.{{cite web|url=https://taskandpurpose.com/navy-seal-britt-slabinski-medal-of-honor/|title=SEAL Team Six Vet Britt Slabinski To Receive Medal Of Honor For Operation Anaconda|first=James|last=Clark|date=7 May 2018|publisher=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516015232/https://taskandpurpose.com/navy-seal-britt-slabinski-medal-of-honor/ |archive-date=2018-05-16 }} Following SEAL Tactical Training (STT) and completion of six month probationary period, he received the NEC 5326 as a Combatant Swimmer (SEAL), entitled to wear the Special Warfare Insignia.

File:President Trump Awards Medal of Honor to Retired Navy SEAL for Heroic Actions in Afghanistan 180524-N-N0101-210.jpg

Slabinski's operational assignments include SEAL Team Four, 1990 to 1993; Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), 1993 to 2006; and Command Master Chief of Naval Special Warfare Tactical Development and Evaluation Squadron Two, 2006 to 2008. He was the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Joint Special Operations Command, Washington, DC Office, 2008 to 2010 and Command Master Chief, Naval Special Warfare Group Two, 2010 to 2012.

Slabinski completed nine overseas deployments and 15 combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism, including Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He retired in June 2014 as the Director of Naval Special Warfare Safety Assurance and Analysis Program after more than 25 years of service.{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=105491|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508034705/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=105491|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2018|title=Retired Master Chief Britt Slabinski to Receive Medal of Honor|last=Naval Special Warfare Command|date=2018-05-07|website=navy.mil|access-date=2018-05-09}}

• Six gold Service stripes.

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File:180524-N-BB269-003 (42384153711).jpg in 2018]]The March 2002 ambush that resulted in Slabinski's heroic actions (now known as the Battle of Takur Ghar) was described as one of the most savage and controversial battles of the Afghan war.{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=David|title="Not a day goes by that I don't think of it": Medal of Honor recipient on Afghan battle|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/britt-slabinski-interview-medal-of-honor-recipient-today-2018-05-23/|accessdate=25 May 2018|language=en}} The Medal of Honor awarded Slabinski is an upgrade from the Navy Cross award he previously received.

In 2018, for his heroism during the same battle, TSgt John Chapman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. During the Battle of Takur Ghar in 2002, Slabinski believed Chapman was dead and retreated, leaving him behind. However, evidence later showed that Chapman was still alive and fighting for over an hour after Slabinski and the team left. This led to a controversy over the awarding of a Medal of Honor, with some arguing that Slabinski should not have received the award, while others defended his actions in the heat of battle.

{{center|Britt Slabinski

Senior Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy

For Services as Set Forth in the Following}}

{{center|{{blockquote|For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while assigned to a Joint Task Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. In the early morning of 4 March 2002, Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Slabinski led a reconnaissance team to its assigned area atop a 10,000-foot snow-covered mountain. Their insertion helicopter was suddenly riddled with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire from previously undetected enemy positions. The crippled helicopter lurched violently and ejected one teammate onto the mountain before the pilots were forced to crash land in the valley far below. Senior Chief Slabinski boldly rallied his five remaining team members and marshalled supporting assets for an assault to rescue their stranded teammate. During reinsertion the team came under fire from three directions, and one teammate started moving uphill toward an enemy strongpoint. Without regard for his own safety, Senior Chief Slabinski charged directly toward enemy fire to join his teammate. Together, they fearlessly assaulted and cleared the first bunker they encountered. The enemy then unleashed a hail of machine gun fire from a second hardened position only twenty meters away. Senior Chief Slabinski repeatedly exposed himself to deadly fire to personally engage the second enemy bunker and orient his team's fires in the furious, close-quarters firefight. Proximity made air support impossible, and after several teammates became casualties, the situation became untenable. Senior Chief Slabinski maneuvered his team to a more defensible position, directed air strikes in very close proximity to his team's position, and requested reinforcements. As daylight approached, accurate enemy mortar fire forced the team further down the sheer mountainside. Senior Chief Slabinski carried a seriously wounded teammate through deep snow and led a difficult trek across precipitous terrain while calling in fire on the enemy, which was engaging the team from the surrounding ridges. Throughout the next 14 hours, Senior Chief Slabinski stabilized the casualties and continued the fight against the enemy until the hill was secured and his team was extracted. By his undaunted courage, bold initiative, leadership, and devotion to duty, Senior Chief Slabinski reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.{{cite web|title=BRITT KELLY SLABINSKI {{!}} Medal of Honor|url=http://themedalofhonor.com/medal-of-honor-recipients/recipients/britt-slabinski---war-on-terror|website=themedalofhonor.com|accessdate=25 May 2018|language=en|archive-date=May 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525133313/http://themedalofhonor.com/medal-of-honor-recipients/recipients/britt-slabinski---war-on-terror|url-status=dead}}}}}}The new Medal of Honor Museum opening in Arlington, Texas has an exhibit dedicated to Britt Slabinski.{{Cite web |last=Co-Host |first=Tony Dokoupil |last2=Mornings" |first2="CBS |last3=Mornings" |first3="CBS Mornings Plus" Tony Dokoupil is a co-host of "CBS |last4=Uplift |first4=CBS Mornings Plus " Dokoupil also anchors "The |last5=Positive |first5=" a Weekly Series Spotlighting |last6=Dokoupil |first6=inspiring stories for CBS News 24/7 Read Full Bio Tony |last7=Finn |first7=Martin |date=2025-03-25 |title=Sister of Master Sgt. John Chapman angry over National Medal of Honor Museum's representation: "It's disgusting" - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/master-sgt-john-chapman-national-medal-of-honor-museum-controversy/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}

Slabinski has an Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic National Certification. He is self-employed as a corporate consultant. He has one son, who is also an Eagle Scout and Ohio State graduate.{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/1531389/navy-seal-receives-medal-of-honor-for-afghanistan-actions-in-2002/|title=Navy SEAL Receives Medal of Honor for Afghanistan Actions in 2002|publisher=}}

Slabinski appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of the American Battlefield Trust's magazine Hallowed Ground, writing about his visit to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

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Category:1969 births

Category:United States Navy personnel of the Iraq War

Category:Living people

Category:Military personnel from Massachusetts

Category:People from Northampton, Massachusetts

Category:Recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal

Category:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients

Category:United States Navy SEALs personnel

Category:War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) recipients of the Medal of Honor

Category:United States Navy sailors