Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Atlanta Native Earns Historian Qualification Aboard Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat: USS Constitution

By Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Jennifer Jordan, USS Constitution Public Affairs

BOSTON – Atlanta, Ga. native, Airmen Jabari Shabazz, earned his basic interpretive historian qualification aboard USS Constitution, March 12.

Duty aboard USS Constitution is one of the Navy’s special programs, and all prospective crewmembers must meet a high standard of sustained excellence and interview to be selected for the assignment.

The basic interpretive historian qualification means that a Sailor has studied and trained on the history of USS Constitution and has learned about the ship’s major historic battles, its unique design and the life of a Sailor during the 19th century.

The active-duty Sailors stationed aboard USS Constitution provide free tours and offer public visitation to more than 600,000 people each year as they support the ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history, maritime heritage, and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence.

Crew members who achieve the basic interpretive historian are authorized to wear a unique command ball cap, with the word ‘crewmember’ embroidered on the back, in place of the Navy’s standard eight-point cover or hat.

“I worked really hard to get this qualification and now I am ready to take on my advanced interpretative historian qual. ,” said Shabazz.

Shabazz is a 2016 graduate of Ramsay High School in Birmingham, Ala.

He has served in the Navy for seven months, and the USS Constitution is his first duty station.

USS Constitution, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.

USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured 33 opponents.

The ship earned the nickname of Old Ironsides during the war of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull.