BOSTON - Petty Officer 1st Class Raymond Minami, a native of Palm Coast, Florida, is one of more than 60 sailors celebrating America’s 249 years of independence while serving aboard USS Constitution, the Navy’s oldest commissioned warship.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Green, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Minami attended Matanzas High School and graduated from Flagler Technical Institute in 2011. Additionally, Minami graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2022 and earned a certificate in 2019 from Syracuse University’s advanced military visual journalism program.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Palm Coast.
“Growing up, I learned how to take a loss and continue pushing forward,” Minami said. “Something that my leadership says to me today is that I’m very good at taking a failure, or an ‘L,’ and recovering quickly, which is also known as resiliency.”
Minami joined the Navy 12 years ago. Today, Minami serves as a mass communication specialist.
“I joined the Navy because I felt like life was a little too slow and I was looking for more,” Minami said. “I wanted to accelerate my life, no pun intended. I visited recruiting offices for other military branches, but it was like a puzzle piece fit when I walked into the Navy recruiting office.”
Launched from a Boston shipyard in October 1797, Constitution is the only surviving vessel of the Navy’s original six frigates and is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat. The ship earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull. Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels in its nearly 60 years of active service.
Now, 227 years after its launch, Constitution’s primary mission is education and outreach, welcoming more than 500,000 visitors aboard each year. Its crew of more than 70 sailors is hand-picked to preserve and protect Constitution, while promoting naval history, maritime heritage and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence. The ship’s original missions of defending American interests and protecting sea lanes to ensure commerce remain at the forefront of the Navy’s mission today.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Minami has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“Being able to get the job and becoming a journalist are my proudest moments because they’ve led me to where I am today, serving as the communications director of USS Constitution,” Minami said. “I’m also proud of being able to have taught at the Defense Information School (DINFOS). One of my former students just called me the other day to tell me about getting a job at the White House. I have former students serving in all types of capacities. Being able to instruct or have that legacy in the military and with other humans all over the world means a lot. They’ve made rank, and watching them crush it is fantastic. It’s always a really strong hug when we see each other."
“I’m also proud that my wife is willing to move with me and has joined the Navy family. We got married when I was a DINFOS instructor. I’m lucky to have someone join me on this Navy journey.”
Minami serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means I get to defend the country I love, my home and make my friends, family and myself proud,” Minami said. “I’m able to give back to my community and make lots of lifelong friends.”
Minami is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank the crew of the USS Bataan from 2014-2017, who made me not just the sailor but the person I am today,” Minami added. “I did a combat deployment with them in 2017, and that was the make-or-break moment for me because I was thinking of getting out. It tested the limits of my mind and body and helped me see what my true potential was. Going through that deployment with that particular group of people showed me what I was truly capable of. I also want to thank my wife and all my leaders and friends from Defense Information School and Defense Media Activity. I also want to thank my professors at Syracuse University. I also want to thank The Explorers Club for changing my life aspirations and giving me a community outside the Navy.”