Sister-in-laws share a touching moment aboard the USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

Photo By Max Lonzanida | The Hampton Roads Naval Museum hosted a re-enlistment ceremony aboard the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) this afternoon. AZ2(AW) Jasmine James, from the Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic, proudly held up her right hand and re-enlisted today in front of members of her family and her command. The re-enlistment was a special one; the re-enlisting officer was Lieutenant Valeta Wilson James, from the Afloat Training Center Mayport; the re-enlistees’ sister-in-law. The Wisconsin is a retired Iowa-Class Battleship that is moored permanently next to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum as a museum ship. The museum hosts military ceremonies aboard the ship for area commands free of charge. To inquire, contact [e-mail] or at [phone]. Note: Images submitted to DVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) are available for the public to download and utilize without cost. If this image appears on a commercial site that charges a fee to download, you can avert this by going to www.Dvidshub.net, and search for the associated image under our command, Naval History & Heritage Command, where the high resolution image is available without cost. (US Navy Photo by Max Lonzanida/Released)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

10.05.2018

Story by Max Lonzanida  

Naval History and Heritage Command

For centuries service men and women have answered the call of duty in national defense. Nothing so solemnly affirms one’s commitment to that duty better than the enlistment oath of office. This is according to the U.S Navy’s Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN) 1160-20. But aside from that, why settle for a re-enlistment ceremony in an office cubicle or a hangar bay; when you can re-enlist on a battleship? And even better, have the re-enlistment oath given by your sister-in-law.

This was the case this afternoon aboard the U.S.S Wisconsin (BB-64). In front of the iconic turret #1, which has fired countless 16 inch projectiles in support of operations that span decades; AZ2(AW) Jasmine James from the Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic, was discharged from the US Navy. She was provided an opportunity to say a few words to reflect on her service. The mood was light, and there were many smiles and the echoes of laughter resonated on the teak wood decks of the ship while she contemplated. Then, under the intermittent shade of the towering gun barrels, she raised her right hand and took the Oath of Re-enlistment. Administering the oath was a very familiar face to the re-enlistee; Lieutenant Valeta Wilson James, her sister-in-law, who had travelled from Afloat Training Group-Mayport. After the oath was administered, the two hugged and reflected on their time spent together over the years. This was a rare but touching ceremony for those present, including members of the public who were aboard watching the ceremony.

According to Commander, Naval Air Forces:

Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic (FRCMA) performs scheduled integrated maintenance inspection and repair, unscheduled emergency in-service repair, structural and electronic system modification, weight and balance and Non-Destructive Inspections on numerous carrier based aircraft, as well as Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) on aviation capable ships, saving the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) thousands of dollars while maintaining state-of-the art war fighting capability. The FRCMA vision is to be an enduring World Class Aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Organization, focused on leveraging the full potential of our diverse capabilities and skills with the center of our attention on war fighting mission requirements, quality products and services for our customers, and cost wise readiness.

The U.S.S Wisconsin (BB-64) is an Iowa-Class Battleship that was first commissioned on April 16, 1944. She was finally decommissioned in on September 30, 1991 and struck from the Naval Register on March 17, 2006. She is moored permanently as a museum ship adjacent to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum in Downtown Norfolk, Virginia.

About the Museum:

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is one of ten Navy museums that are operated by the Naval History & Heritage Command. It celebrates the long history of the U.S. Navy in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and is co-located with Nauticus in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Admission to the museum is free, simply by-pass the ticket line and take the stairs or elevator to the museum on the second deck. The museum hosts a robust educational program for area schools and commands, with free educational programs to area schools aligned with state curriculum standards, a travelling sea chest program, a premier Lego outreach program, and historical presentations for area commands. To inquire, contact their Educational Director, Laura Orr at [e-mail] or at [phone]. The museum is also host to a robust volunteer corps, who serve as docents, support special events, and assist in museum archives. To inquire, contact their Volunteer Coordinator, Darcy Sink at [e-mail] or at [phone]. Lastly the museum proudly hosts military ceremonies, such as re-enlistments, retirements, and promotions for area commands aboard the U.S.S Wisconsin and in the museum’s gallery. To inquire, contact their special events coordinator, Tom Dandes at [e-mail] or call [phone].

• Date Taken: 10.05.2018
• Date Posted: 10.05.2018 16:38
• Story ID: 295611
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US