Historic Commissioning of Midshipman Celebrated at the University of Hawaii

The University of Hawaii's Naval ROTC unit marked a significant milestone on December 15 with the inaugural commissioning of a midshipman. The ceremony took place onboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial.

The Naval ROTC program was established at UH in the fall of 2021, and Midshipman 1st Class Mahinalani Vongsy, a Hawaii native, joined UH just as the program was beginning. Expressing gratitude for being the first person commissioned from the UH ROTC program, Vongsy emphasized the positive impact of having a local individual with family ties to the community.

Vongsy, whose parents are both retired from U.S. military service, shared her motivation for pursuing a military career, citing her parents' influence and the fulfilling experiences they had during their service. Her mother, a Filipina immigrant, served as a naval officer, while her father, a second-generation immigrant from Laos, was an enlisted Army soldier.

Despite the challenges faced by the fledgling UH ROTC program, Vongsy emerged as a leader within the unit, taking on responsibilities to ensure organization, timeliness, and information dissemination among her fellow midshipmen. Capt. William Ellis, the commanding officer of the UH Naval ROTC, commended Vongsy's initiative and recognized her exceptional maturity and willingness to take on responsibility.

Vongsy, who interned at the U.S. Pacific Fleet during the summer of 2022, engaged in various activities and training events, gaining exposure to different aspects of Navy operations. She and her fellow midshipmen participated in activities such as small-boat handling, anti-terrorism force protection drills, and shipboard damage control training.

Assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG-67), Vongsy aspires to become a surface warfare officer before transferring to the medical corps. Reflecting on her goals, she emphasized the comprehensive experience surface warfare provides in preparing officers for diverse Navy roles.

Vongsy's parents will play significant roles in the commissioning ceremony, with her mother serving as the commissioning officer and her father receiving her first salute. Ellis highlighted Vongsy's status as the daughter of immigrants, presenting her as an inspiring role model for students who may feel uncertain about the military as an inclusive environment, contributing a valuable diversity of background and perspective to the Navy.