New chief petty officers don anchors at Camp Leatherneck

Photo By Sgt. Shawn Coolman | Chief Petty Officer Thomas Colesanti, equipment operator, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-5, one of 11 sailors that were promoted here to chief petty officer, Sept. 16, salutes the side boys after he is promoted. Approximately 3,500 petty officers 1st class were promoted to chief petty officer around the world, Sept. 16.  

AFGHANISTAN

09.16.2010

Story by Sgt. Shawn Coolman  

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan— It was “Anchors Aweigh” for 11 of the Navy’s newest chief petty officers. The newly-promoted sailors pinned on their distinctive anchors, signifying their rank here at the Navy Seabee compound, Camp Krutke, Sept. 16.

The ceremony was attended not just by their Navy brethren, but also by Marines as well as airmen assigned to Regional Command Southwest.

The ceremony was the culmination of an approximately one-month induction process preparing the petty officers for their duties as a chief petty officer. Approximately 3,500 additional chief petty officers were also promoted throughout the Navy on the same day. Chief petty officer is the only rank in the Navy to promote everyone on the same day.

The rank of chief petty officer dates back more than 116 years and many of the promotion traditions practiced then, are still practiced today.

“It’s tradition,” said Chief Petty Officer Christopher D. Graham, 36, leading petty officer health service support element, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Fwd). He added that the rank of chief petty officer “is 117 years old, and we’re just carrying it on for the future deck plate leaders.”

To become a chief in the Navy, sailors go through special training prior to earning the title of chief petty officer.

“It’s the biggest step someone can take in the Navy,” said Chief Petty Officer Thomas V. Colesanti, equipment operator, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-5. “It’s the difference from being junior enlisted and senior enlisted. It’s an honor to be in a position we’re in and to lead the troops the way we do.”

Colesanti was one of the 11 to be promoted. His promotion, along with the others, took a slightly different twist than others across the Navy. Traditionally, newly-promoted chief petty officers are promoted in their distinctive khaki uniform, but while in country they are authorized to be promoted in their desert uniform.

“This is the only place we wear the desert uniform, and this is the only place where we will be promoted in the desert uniform,” said Colesanti, from Washingtonville, N.Y.

It wasn’t just about uniform changes for Colesanti. The promotion to the distinctive naval rank was a personal milestone as well. He was able to wear his new rank on the same ground where he’s serving a tour in combat.

“Just being promoted in this command is a big deal for me because the amount of effort and work I’ve done has paid off,” Colesanti said. “Being promoted in a place I’ve given so much effort in is very special. It’s ultimately a sense of accomplishment.”

• Date Taken: 09.16.2010
• Date Posted: 09.19.2010 02:50
• Story ID: 56572
• Location: AF