Editing Montel Williams (section)

=== Military ===
Williams enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps]] in 1974.<ref name="vetmagazine" /><ref name="insider" /><ref name="militarynews">[https://www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/oceana/news/navy-honors-montel-williams/article_bbce2372-da86-51f1-90df-1a8291b96010.html Navy honors Montel Williams.] militarynews.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.</ref> He completed the one-year [[Naval Academy Preparatory School]] course and then in 1975, he was accepted as the first black Marine into the four-year officer training program at the [[U.S. Naval Academy]].<ref name="americanlegion" /><ref name="omega" /><ref name="militarynews" />

He graduated in 1980 with a degree in general engineering and a minor in international security affairs.<ref name="vetmagazine" /> He completed naval cryptologic officer training, and spent 18 months in [[Guam]] as a [[Cryptography|cryptologic]] officer for [[Office of Naval Intelligence|naval intelligence]].<ref name="vetmagazine" /> He was later supervising cryptologic officer with the [[Naval Security Group|Naval Security Fleet Support Division]] at [[Fort Meade, Maryland]].<ref name="vetmagazine" /> There, Williams worked for the [[National Security Agency]],<ref name="insider" /> where he was involved in the U.S. invasion of [[Grenada]] in 1983, known as [[United States invasion of Grenada|Operation Urgent Fury]].<ref name="vetmagazine" /><ref name="famousvets">{{cite web |title=Famous Veterans: Montel Williams |url=https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veteran-montel-williams.html |website=[[Military.com]] |date=November 2017 |access-date=June 8, 2020}}</ref> On several occasions, he worked to secure the release of United States citizens—typically military personnel who had been captured in foreign lands—returned to U.S. soil.<ref name="vetmagazine" /> After 17 years of active duty and five more as a reservist,<ref name="americanlegion" /> Williams retired in 1996 from the [[United States Navy Reserve|Naval Reserve]] at the rank of [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]]<ref name="omega" /> after 22 years of service.<ref name="americanlegion" /><ref name="vetmagazine" /><ref name="omega" /><ref name="insider" /> His awards include two [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medals]], two [[Commendation Medal#Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard|Navy Commendation Medals]], the [[National Defense Service Medal]], the [[Achievement Medal#U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps|Navy Achievement Medal]], two [[Navy Expeditionary Medal]]s, the [[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]], and two [[Humanitarian Service Medal]]s.<ref name="americanlegion" /><ref name="vetmagazine" /><ref name="famousvets" /><ref name="ability">[https://www.abilitymagazine.com/Interview_MontelWilliams.html Interview with Montel Williams – by Dr. Gillian Friedman and Chet Cooper.] ''[[Ability (magazine)|Ability Magazine]]''. Retrieved May 26, 2021.</ref><ref name="weserved">[https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=485172 Williams, Montel, LCDR – USN Veteran]. TogetherWeServed. Retrieved May 26, 2021.</ref>

As a civilian, Willams was again honored in 2008 with a [[Navy Superior Public Service Award]] for his "continuous support and recognition of Sailors, Marines and their families throughout his 17 years on television".<ref>{{cite news |title=Navy Honors Montel Williams for Supporting Sailors, Marines |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/17586/america-supports-you-navy-honors-montel-williams-supporting-sailors-marines |work=Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs |publisher=American Forces Press Service |date=March 20, 2008}}</ref>