BOSTON - Seaman Justin Howell, left, a native of Mooresville, North Carolina, earned his basic interpretive historian qualification aboard USS Constitution, March 18.
The basic interpretive historian qualification means that a sailor has studied and trained on the history of the 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.
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 feel pretty good, it’s a weight off my shoulders and it’s so much easier to speak on the USS Constitution since I got qualified," Howell said.
Howell, a 2015 graduate of Mooresville Senior High School, has served in the Navy for seven months and was selected to join the USS Constitution crew after graduating boot camp.
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.
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.
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.
USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured 33 opponents.
Today, 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.