The twin engines howl and the hull of the rigid-hull inflatable boat shakes as it absorbs the impacts of countless waves. Aboard this small boat ride Gunner's Mate Seaman Lyrics Ramirez and the other members of USS Harpers Ferry's (LSD 49) visit, board, search and seizure team.

They are locked and loaded in preparation for whatever might be waiting for them on this boarding mission.

Ramirez served in the Navy since graduating from Pocono Mountain West High school in Northeast Pennsylvania about a year and a half ago. She joined out of a longing to be independent and do something worth doing, she said. She chose to be a gunner's mate because she wanted to work hands-on with the weapons systems on the ships and to be able to interact with other Sailors, training them to improve their shooting techniques and accuracy.

"When I joined I didn't want come into the military just to be stuck in an office somewhere," said Ramirez. "The job description of gunner's mate caught my eye. It seemed like something I would genuinely enjoy and could challenge me."

The same personality traits that led her to join the Navy as a gunner's mate also naturally pointed her in the direction of the VBSS team aboard her first ship, Harpers Ferry.

VBSS teams are highly qualified groups of Sailors who learn advanced techniques to conduct boardings of other surface vessels. The purpose of these teams is to allow deployed Naval ships to quickly respond with a team for counter piracy or in support of drug-interdiction missions.

After setting her sights on this goal she did not let anything stand in her way. She quickly worked her way through all of the necessary qualifications in order to be sent to school, passed her training with flying colors and became the only female member of Harpers Ferry's VBSS team.

"(Being the only female on the team) can be challenging sometimes but it's fun keeping up with and competing with all the guys," said Ramirez. "We're really becoming like a little family."

Ramirez's hard work paid off and she is now fully integrated into the VBSS team as they train for operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. She has even begun improving the team by refreshing their knowledge and leading training in first aid and emergency medicine.

"She's fantastic," said Lt. j.g. Samuel Dodge, one of the VBSS team officers. "Despite being the youngest and only female member of the team she has immediately taken it upon herself to help and challenge others."

Harpers Ferry, part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.