MAYPORT, Fla. - Fireman Jomar Ramos Gonzalez, a sailor from Lares, Puerto Rico, is serving aboard USS Winston S. Churchill, a U.S. Navy warship, operating out of Mayport, Florida.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bryan Niegel, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Ramos Gonzalez, a 2017 graduate of Domingo Aponte Collazo High School, joined the Navy two years ago.
“I joined the Navy for a better work opportunity and to give my wife and family a better life,” said Ramos Gonzalez. "My wife is also in the Navy."
Today, Ramos Gonzalez relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Lares to succeed in the military.
“I learned in Puerto Rico that sometimes life is hard but your future is in your hands,” said Ramos Gonzalez. "I work hard to get the results I want."
These lessons have helped Ramos Gonzalez while serving in the Navy.
Winston S. Churchill is a guided-missile destroyer that provides a wide range of warfighting capabilities. The destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons system.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard Winston S. Churchill. Their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
"Our mission remains timeless - to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy."
Serving in the Navy means Ramos Gonzalez is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is essential to maintain the country's safety and freedom,” said Ramos Gonzalez.
Ramos Gonzalez and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of all the knowledge I gained and the person I am now,” said Ramos Gonzalez. "Because of the Navy, I learned a second language within two years in the United States.”
As Ramos Gonzalez and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“The Navy means that I have great opportunities and a stable life and job,” said Ramos Gonzalez.
Ramos Gonzalez is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my parents and my family,” said Ramos Gonzalez. "In a special way, I'd like to thank my wife who has been there for me and always helps keep me going forward."