Okinawa Navy Lieutenant fills roll of Battery Executive Officer

Photo By Cpl. Shelby Shields | For Navy Lt. j.g. Paco Ramirez, the executive officer for 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, leading Marines is just part of his everyday job. Ramirez believes his position has been very beneficial for his personal and professional development.  

05.22.2009

Story by Lance Cpl. Bobby Yarbrough 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

In the Corps, leading Marines is an inherent characteristic of being an officer. As a Marine officer, it isn't uncommon to be put in charge of Marines, but does the sentiment hold true for an officer commissioned in the U.S. Navy.

For Navy Lt. j.g. Paco Ramirez, the executive officer for 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, leading Marines is part of his everyday job.

"I really enjoy working with Marines," Ramirez said. "There is a big difference in the vehicle of leadership it takes to lead Marines versus sailors. I like working with Marines because there seems to be a greater enthusiasm for difficult situations."

Being the executive officer of a Marine Corps artillery battery is an unusual position for a Navy lieutenant, said Ramirez. Although there are several Navy officers filling billets throughout the unit, this is the first time one has served as the executive officer.

"The unit was in a precarious situation," Ramirez said. "They were really short on artillery officers, however, [they] had an abundance of naval gunfire liaison officers. They made me the executive officer, and I ran with it."

Although Ramirez jokingly admits the perks of the job are longer hours and a greater level of responsibility, he believes the position has been very beneficial for his personal and professional development.

"It is personally a big accomplishment," Ramirez said. "This job is typically the job of a senior lieutenant artillery officer. It demonstrates to me that the command has a lot of confidence in my abilities to learn the necessary skills and tools of an artillery battalion executive officer."

Although this marks the first time Ramirez has served in a Marine unit, he has roots to the Corps that stem back to high school.

As the son of Nicaraguan parents, Ramirez grew up in a middle-class household in Fontana, Calif. Ramirez said he had the "standard immigrant life" and learned at an early age to appreciate and respect his lifestyle.

"Both my parents were immigrants and were immensely grateful for the opportunities the country had provided them," Ramirez said. "I was ambitious when I was young, and I just wanted to serve my country and give something back."

At age 16, he began participating in Marine Corps Reserve Officers Training Corps. From his time spent in the program, Ramirez remembered he was dead set on joining the Corps.

"I wanted to be a Marine all throughout high school," Ramirez said. "It wasn't until I took a field trip aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer that I decided I wanted to be in the Navy."

During high school, Ramirez applied for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy and was accepted. Ramirez graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 2005 with Bachelors in Science and English, with a minor in Spanish.

Following the Naval Academy, Ramirez was assigned as an electrical officer aboard the USS McCampbell. After his tour aboard the ship, Ramirez went back to school to become a Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer, were he received orders to Okinawa.

Though his tour on Okinawa is near its end, Ramirez said he will take a lot away from his experiences with the Marine Corps.

"Marines are eager to accomplish the mission," Ramirez said. "I have eternalized the eagerness to accomplish. That mentality has formed the direction I want to go with the rest of my life."

• Date Taken: 05.22.2009
• Date Posted: 05.22.2009 03:21
• Story ID: 33934