NEWSLETTER

Joe Lewis Fighting Systems

(JLFS)

BLACKBELTSPOTLIGHT—NELSON LEBRON

Nelson Felix Lebron was born on January 24th, 1975 at 1000 in

Mount Sinai Hospital. Lebron is the son of Claudina Herrera of La

Perla, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Nelson Lebron, a former USMC

Vietnam vet from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Lebron is the third child

of five. Nelson Felix Lebron spent most of his childhood watching his

parents struggle to guide him and his siblings down the right path and

keep them away from the rough city streets. Lebron’s parents enrolled

him in the William Martinez school of Tae Kwon Do at age five to

instill discipline in him and ensure that he would not become a product

of the streets. In 1982, after a fire at the Lebron residence at 1105

Boynton Avenue in the Bronx, his family was left homeless. Despite

his families’ misfortune, this event began the journey that would make

him the man and Sailor he is today. Nelson Lebron Senior’s Marine

Corps values of Honor, Courage, Perseverance, and Commitment

drove him to move his family off the streets and into an apartment as soon as possible. Education was first and foremost;

therefore Lebron Senior worked countless over time hours to ensure Nelson Felix Lebron had the opportunity to

attend the best schools. In 1990 Nelson Felix Lebron was enrolled in Cardinal Hayes High School. While at Cardinal

Hayes H.S. he excelled in Drama, Track, Football, Student Council, Student Government, the School Recruiting Team,

and was even President of the National Honor Society, graduating with a 97.6 overall GPA in 1993.

Upon graduation, Nelson Felix Lebron understood that it would be very difficult to afford college. Lebron decided

to follow in his brother’s footsteps and join the United States Navy. Lebron graduated H.S. on June 28th, 1993 and began

boot camp in Orlando, Florida on July 1st, 1993. Upon completion of boot camp he attended Photographer’s Mate

“A” school in September of 1993. He graduated 3rd in his class and transferred to his first command, the Office of Naval

Intelligence in Suitland, Maryland. In 1994 Lebron came to embrace the Navy even more

as he lost his sister to a deadly shooting in New York. In 1996 Lebron transferred to

Fighter Squadron VF-32 at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia where

he completed 2 six-month deployments. The first deployment was with the Roosevelt

Battle group and the second was with the Enterprise Battle Group. It was on his second

deployment with the ENTERPRISE that Lebron had his first taste of war with

Operation Desert Fox. Two months after the deployment Lebron left the Navy and

joined the Naval Reserve. After a year in the Naval Reserve, Lebron came back

into the Navy with a refreshed outlook on military life. Lebron returned as a Religious

Program Specialist. He attended “A” School in Merridian, Mississippi where

he graduated at the top of his class with a 98.9 average and qualified for the Accelerated

Advancement Program. Lebron then received orders to Camp Gieger, North

Carolina where he went through a training course in Marine tactics, Combat, First Aid,

Body guarding and Infantry skills. Out of a class of 200, he graduated seventh. From Camp

Geiger, he received orders to 3rd Marine Division, 4th Marines Regiment at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan. While

with the 4th Marines Lebron went TAD with the 2/7th Marines and completed Mountain Warfare Training in Pohang,

Korea. He also served as a Martial Arts instructor alongside Korean Roc k Marines in the teaching of Tae Kwon Do and

Boxing. Upon his return to Okinawa in 2001, Lebron became the first Religious Program Specialist to become a Close

Combat Instructor for the new Marine Corp Martial Arts and the first RP to be assigned to a Marine Recon Unit where

he became an integral member of 3rd Recon bin. While in Okinawa, Lebron also became a kickboxing favorite in the

Okinawa kickboxing circuit and in the boxing ring during many MWR sponsored matches and local matches. RP3

(FMF) Lebron was then recommended to receive orders to Naval Special Warfare Group Two (NSWG2) as

the RP for all the even number SEAL TEAMS and BOAT TEAMS. While at the SEAL TEAMS Lebron

was advanced to RP2, made Team USA for Kickboxing, and went on to win 5 Virginia State Titles, 3 U.S.

BLACKBELTSPOTLIGHT—NELSON LEBRON (CONTINUED)

titles, 2 North American titles, and 2 Bronze medals for team USA in kickboxing. The teams would also use RP2

(FMF) Lebron to assist in the instruction of Close Combat Principles. However, it was at NSWG2 that Lebron saw another

side of war in the aftermath of 9/11. RP2 (FMF) Lebron and his Chaplain, CDR Patrick Smith, were continuously

called upon to perform memorial services and funerals for fallen SEALS. Due to lack of funding RP2 (FMF) Lebron

left the TEAMS in 2003 and was stationed at Portsmouth Naval Hospital for 9 months. While at the hospital Lebron

was given the duties of FMF (Fleet Marine Force) PT coordinator preparing Corpsman and Dental technicians for the

very demanding Field Medical School and Service with the Marines. In October 2004 Lebron attended orders to RP

“F” School and transferred to the USS TRENTON (LPD-14). In September 2005 RP2 (FMF) Lebron was recommended

for an IA in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, a task he enthusiastically accepted. He received orders to

Fort Benning, Georgia to receive additional infantry and expeditionary

training. Upon completion of his training, RP2 (FMF) Lebron

reported to Combined Forces Command - Afgh anistan as the bodyguard

and administrative aid to US Navy Chaplain CAPT Michael

Langston, US Navy Chaplain CAPT Margaret Kibben, and US Army

Chaplain LTCOL Don Campbell. While in Afghanistan, RP2 (FMF)

Lebron was assigned as the Convoy Commander to over 200 missions,

the Personal Bodyguard to Chaplains and DOD Civilians on

over 150 missions, and the Close Combat Instructor for the Combined

Forces Command- Afghanistan service members. He volunteered

for over 60 COMREL Projects, devoting more than 400 off

duty hours to assist at orphanages, hospitals, and refugee camps all

over Afghanistan. He served as the Assistant Boxing Coach for the

Afghan Olympic Boxing Team and sponsored the team with over

$10,000 in equipment, was the PT Coordinator for all Naval Personnel,

conducted researches on Religious Customs and beliefs, set up

for over 80 worship services, and served as the Supply officer for the

Religious Ministries Directorate. He was also the hand receipt holder for over $75,000.00 in equipment and the Mail

NCO. As the NCOIC, a position normally held by an E-9, he devised and coordinated strategic planning for logistical

and mission essential requirements for CFC-Afghanistan Religious Ministries Directorate for 42 Chaplains, 58 Assistants,

and 28 Coalition Chaplains and their assistants. Furthermore, he facilitated 12 Suicide Awareness and out processing

briefs for all departing personnel, implemented an electronic filing system for future Chaplain Assistants, and

won the Schutzennschnur Gold Award for qualifying expert on German rifle, pistol, and Machine gun, which earned

him the titles of Directorate NCO of the Quarter and Runner -up Combined Forces Command NCO of the Quarter.

RP2 (FMF) Nelson Felix Lebron returned to his Parent Command, USS TRENTON and was involved in evacuation

missions in Bierut, Lebanon. Upon completion of the evacuations in Bierut he was sent off to the Pentagon to Assist

in a Program Called "Why We Serve." He performed his duties there ex ceptionally earning him a second Joint

Achievement medal. In December of 2006 he reported to Naval Special Warfare E.O.D Group 2 as the first "RP" ever

with an E.O.D (Explossive Ordinance Dissposal) Command ansd is there currently. Lebron Has completed a total of 9

combat tours returning to both Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the war on terror. While in Iraq Lebron was convoy

commander t0 over 200 missions, bodyguarded Chaplains and civilians on over 300 missions, and help capture contraband

and falsifide documents in Waleed, near the syrian border.

Awards received for Afghanistan and Iraq deployment Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Joint Service Commendation

Medal, 2 Joint Service Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Outstanding Volunteer Service

medal, Afghan Campaign Service Medal, and Certificate of Appreciation signed by Lieutenant General, US Army

Karl Eikenbury.

Other Awards: 6 Navy Achievement Medals, Navy Unit Commendation, 4 Meritorious Unit Commendations, Battle E,

4 Good Conduct Medals, 2 National Defense Medals, 4 Sea Service Deployments, Kosovo Campaign ribbon, Armed

Forces Expeditionary, GWOT Expeditionary, GWOT Service medal, 3 Armed Forces Expeditionary, NATO Medal,

Expert Rifle, Expert Pistol.

BLACKBELTSPOTLIGHT—NELSON LEBRON (CONTINUED)

Nelson Felix Lebron 24 January 1975

Birth Place: South Bronx, NYC

Fights out of: Craig Smith Karate, Dog Pound Boxing Gym

Coaches: 1981 - 1992 William Martinez K-MAG Warriors

1996 - 1998 Dave Miller

1996 - present Craig Smith

1996 - present Roger Belch

1996 - present Tom Poey

2008 - Eastern Academy JuJitsu/Muay Tai

My background:

- Pro Boxing coach and Cut Man

- USA Boxing level 1 Coach

- 10 - 1 -1 record in Okinawa fight club Heat (Vale Tudo/MMA/kickboxing)

- Kickboxing Record 53-17-2draws 24ko's

- Boxing Record 79-9 30 ko's

- Marine Corp Martial Arts Close Combat Instructor

- 1991 Junior Tae Kwon Do Champion

- 2000 125 lbs Novice Golden Gloves Champion

- 2001 Okinawan Armed Forces Feather Weight Boxing Champion

- 2001 Okinawa light weight Black Belt Point Fighting Champion

- 2002 IFA Light Weight VA State Kick boxing Champion

- 2002 IFA Featherweight VA State Kickboxing Champion

- 2002 IFA Fire on Ice Featherweight Champion

- 2002 WKK0 Light Weight VA state Champion

- 2003 WKKO Feather weight VA State Champion

- 2003 Golden Gloves Open 119lbs State Champ

- 2003 USA Boxing Open VA State Champ 125lbs

- 2003 Sectional Golden Gloves Champ 125lbs

- 2003 WKKO Virginia Light Weight Champ

- 2003 National IKF Kickboxing Champion

- 2003 JLFS National Kickboxing Champ

- 2003 KICK North American Champion

- 2003 IAKSA Team USA Member and World Bronze Medalist in Full Contact Rule Style

- 2003 JLFS Black Belt Fighter of the Year Gallantry Award Recipient

- 2003 Joe Lewis Black Belt

- 2004 TEAM USA WKA/IAKSA World Bronze Medalist in International Rule Style(2nd)

- 2006 Second Degree Black Belt from Joe Lewis

- 2007 Black Belt in Craig Smith Karate

- 2007 East Coast Classic Light Weight Kickboxing Champ

- Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, American Karate , Japanese Karate

- 2008 JLFS Pound for Pound fighter of the Year

- 2008 Recieves 3rd Degree Black Belt from Joe Lewis

- 2008 wins Western Virginia Classic in Full Contact

- 2008 wins Western Virginia Classic in International Rules(LEG KICK)

- 2008 wins East Coast Classic in both Full Contact and Leg Kick

- 2008 Certified by VA as Pro/Amateur kickboxing and MMA Referee

- 2008 Arnold Classic winner full contact

- 2008 WAKO US Champion (5th National title) Leg Kick

- 2009 Arnold Classic Full Contact winner 132 lbs(6 National title)

- 2009 Arnold Classic International Rules winner(7th National title)

- 2009 Arnold Classic San Shou Silver Medalist

- 2009 WKKO East Coast Champ 132lbs Leg Kick

- 2009 WKKO East Coast Champ 132 LBS Full Contact

- 2009 WKKO VA State Champ