In this recurring special feature, Nonahood News recognizes and honors those everyday heroes who have served or are currently serving our country and making a difference in our community. Those who reside in the Lake Nona and surrounding area are our Nona Heroes.
This month’s hero was born and raised in Puerto Rico and has lived in the Lake Nona area for four years. Meet Ramses Ortiz, a U.S. Navy veteran who served for four years active duty. When asked what made him join the Navy, he mentioned accessibility and opportunity.
“My brother had joined a few years before; I just followed his footsteps. There was a Navy recruiter that [would] frequent the area, so it was easier for me to find information and ask questions,” said Ortiz. “[With] the lack of opportunities back at home, I saw an open door when the Navy recruiter called me to notify me of my passing score, and I took the opportunity. I was fresh out of high school when I joined [at] 18 years old.”
Ortiz was based on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76 Aircraft Carrier) out of Norfolk, Va., for all four years he served, and he’s also a “plankowner,” which was a term originally applied only to crew members that were present at the ship’s first commissioning. He was an Aviation Ordnanceman, also known as “Red Shirts.”
“I inspected, maintained and repaired aircraft mechanical and electrical armament/ordnance systems. I stowed, assembled and loaded aviation ammunition. I provided physical security along with law enforcement and anti-terrorism [and] enforced Navy rules and regulations to maintain discipline. I served as security advisor by organizing and training others in security and shore-patrol duties,” stated Ortiz. “The AO was what they called ‘overmanned,’ so it was extremely hard to [be] promote[d] during those times.”
Some of Ortiz’s best memories of the Navy consisted of front-row seats of the jet takeoffs and landings: “I remember being part of ‘colors’ and participating in many important ceremonies. During deployment, we use[d] to make the best of it by keeping ourselves busy and by playing board games (yeah, board games). The sweetest part was hanging by the [flight] deck [while] exercises/drills were being performed by the jet fighters.”
Currently, this month’s featured hero serves other veterans working for the Department of Veterans Affairs here in Lake Nona. “There, I have the opportunity of serving and protecting those who served and protected us at one point.”
When he’s not serving others at the VA, he swaps out his uniform for gym clothes but continues to lend a helping hand. “I also have a passion for health and fitness, and I’m currently helping others achieve their health and fitness goals by providing personal training and nutritional coaching through my company, Smart Training Fitness (smarttrainingnow.com). I also own the LiFT apparel (fitness apparel) brand.” The weights might even be swapped with a camera at times because Ortiz loves to travel, experience new cultures and document it all through his hobbies of photography and videography.
If you would like to nominate someone for our next Nona Heroes feature, please send an email to [email protected] or complete the form here: http://nonahood.to/nonaheroes.
