Born in Inglewood, California to parents from Panama, Chief Select Tavalk Minerve grew up surrounded by resilience. His mother, raising him and his younger sister on her own, instilled in him the values of perseverance, ambition, and never settling for less.
“I saw my mom handle everything on her own while still pushing us to be more,” said Minerve. “That shaped who I am today.”
His path to the U.S. Navy wasn’t straightforward. As a senior in high school, a personal setback became the turning point. “I had no intention of joining the military, but after some trouble, my mom told me I needed to join. The very next day, a Navy recruiter came to my school. The rest is history.”
On October 8, 2002, Minerve enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an undesignated airman and reported to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).
“It was overwhelming,” he remembered. “The first time I saw the ship, I felt lost. It had so many spaces, and even after five years, I hadn’t seen them all. I had to adapt quickly to being away from home, leaving my mom and little sister behind.”
He soon struck aviation boatswain’s mate (fuels), or ABF. “I started on the flight deck supporting flight operations, then moved into quality assurance, checking JP-5 fuel systems, and later into flight deck control. Each step gave me more responsibility and helped me grow.”
What began as an unplanned decision soon became a lifelong commitment. Being the first in his family to serve, and eventually retire, became his motivation. But the biggest shift in his career came years later.
“I didn’t become a recruiter until 2013,” Minerve said. “I had transitioned into the reserves as an ABF2 when someone introduced me to the idea of becoming a CANRAC recruiter with NTAG Richmond. That transition gave me purpose beyond the job. Seeing the lives I influenced for the better is what kept me going.”
Among his assignments, Reserve Talent Acquisition Group (RTAG) Central stands out as the most influential. “I felt like they saw something in me and gave me the opportunity to run a division for a few months,” remarked Minerve. That paved the way for me to be successful. Here, I had the privilege of guiding Sailors in recruiting prior-service members back into the Navy. That experience shaped my leadership and gave me confidence.”
But he claims the journey wasn’t always easy. There were also moments of doubt. “Not getting promoted was extremely discouraging,” he admitted. “I felt like I had let people down. But my mentors and friends kept telling me, ‘Your time will come.’ At first, I didn’t want to hear it. But with time, I accepted that they were right.”
After more than two decades of service, his time finally came. Sitting in a base parking lot waiting for a medical appointment, Minerve got the call that he had been selected to become a Chief Petty officer in the U.S. Navy.
“I was in disbelief,” said Minerve. “My emotions were so high that when I went inside for my appointment, my blood pressure was through the roof. I had to explain to the doctor what had just happened. She congratulated me and told me there was no point in retaking it. It was going to stay high all day.”
For Minerve, the achievement is as meaningful as it is overdue. “It’s been 23 years in the Navy. Finally making Chief is the proudest moment of my career.”
Looking back, he credits every lesson, challenge, and mentor who told him the truth, even when it wasn’t easy to hear, for shaping the leader he is today.
“If I had to sum up my journey in one word, that word would be guided,” said Minerve. “Mentors, experiences, and challenges directed my path and shaped my leadership.”
As he prepares for his pinning ceremony, Minerve’s gratitude is clear. “I truly want to thank all my mentors, leaders, Sailors, and my family for helping me get here. This isn’t just my achievement. It’s ours.”
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2025 14:38 |
| Story ID: | 548006 |
| Location: | MILLINGTON , TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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