Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    Blue Ridge holds frocking ceremony

    Blue Ridge holds frocking ceremony

    Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Timmy Wakefield | Sailors aboard U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) received their newest...... read more read more

    PHILLIPPINE SEA, USAFRICOM, AT SEA

    06.01.2013

    Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kelby Sanders 

    USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)

    PHILIPPINE SEA - A frocking ceremony was held aboard U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) for sailors promoted to first, second and third class petty officer June 2.

    Blue Ridge Commanding Officer Capt. Will Pennington personally congratulated 98 sailors on their advancement to the next paygrade as he presented them with frocking certificates on the main deck.

    "Frocking ceremonies are a great opportunity to recognize an important milestone in each individual sailor's career in front of the entire crew," said Pennington. "In addition to celebrating the new frockees success, it serves to solidify their new position of responsibility and serves as a source of motivation for those still pursuing advancement."

    Sailors must devote much of their own time and take advantage of every available resource, in order to advance within their rate. Newly frocked Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Stephanie Lemaster, was able to put in enough hard work to achieve a perfect score on her advancement exam.

    “I advanced to 2nd class because I had experienced shipmates who were willing to sit down with me and give me the hands-on training I needed,” said Lemaster. “Sailors need to be creative and utilize notecards, memorize keywords and discover the best studying techniques for them personally.”

    While fleet-wide advancement rates are down slightly from last year, the Blue Ridge advancement rate remains higher than the fleet-wide average. Blue Ridge advanced 39.6 percent of her eligible sailors this cycle, compared to the Navy average of 28.3 percent.

    “Any sailor who wants it enough will go out and find the resources to make it happen,” said Lemaster.

    Blue Ridge advanced 53 sailors to 3rd class petty officer, 36 to 2nd class petty officer and nine to 1st class petty officer.

    Blue Ridge is currently on routine patrol and forward deployed with Marines from Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific (FASTPAC) and embarked 7th Fleet staff.

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.01.2013
    Date Posted: 06.01.2013 08:15
    Story ID: 107906
    Location: PHILLIPPINE SEA, USAFRICOM, AT SEA

    Web Views: 104
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN