BOSTON - Petty Officer 2nd Class Jackson Noah Davis, a native of Parker, Colorado, 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 |
Davis graduated from Legend High School in 2019.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Parker.
“Growing up, I learned to treat people with dignity and respect,” Davis said. “I learned to establish a sense of community in the people you come across and to find people who bring out your best qualities, but will also keep you honest. My family taught me a lot about self-advocacy and to have an ‘earned, not given’ mentality.”
Davis joined the Navy six years ago. Today, Davis serves as an aviation machinist’s mate.
“The desire to travel was part of my decision to join the Navy, but more than that, I felt the need to serve my country,” Davis said. “The Navy was the best option for me. My uncle was in the Navy in the 1990s, and from what I saw, he had a high sense of character. The officers and others I knew who had also served in the Navy had a high sense of character.”
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 60 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.
Davis has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of being awarded Junior Sailor of the Year in 2022 during a deployment,” Davis said. “Being recognized for the work I was doing instilled in me a higher sense of confidence. I’m my own harshest critic, so it highlighted qualities in myself I hadn’t seen before. I’m also proud of being selected for USS Constitution and the chance it’s given me to meet veterans. I hadn’t had a lot of interaction with veterans before, so being able to meet with them, having shared experiences with those who came before me and having a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie with them is a cool experience. Things have changed in the military, but not much has changed.”
Davis 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’m giving back to the people and the country I love,” Davis said. “I’m following God’s purpose and the path I’ve been set on.”
Davis is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my family and friends for providing community and reassurance,” Davis added. “I want to thank my mentors for seeing value in me and my work ethic and helping me find it in myself. It’s allowed me to help others find value in themselves. I also want to thank the doctor who told me I wouldn’t be able to read, write or just function in society, and the high school administrator who said I wouldn’t succeed outside of school, for providing me the fuel to push past a barrier and overcome obstacles. I also want to give glory to God and Jesus Christ.”