NIOC command master chief gets pinned

Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Sanford | Cryptologic Technician Seaman Herschel Moore, right, originally from Bandera, Texas, pins the enlisted information dominance warfare specialist pin onto the chest of Navy Information Operations Command Misawa Command Master Chief Jaret Morris, a native of Fulshear, Texas. Morris chose Moore to handle the honors of pinning the warfare device onto his chest because Moore is the most junior EIDWS-qualified sailor at his command.  

MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JAPAN

05.02.2012

Story by Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Sanford 

Naval Air Facility Misawa

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – Navy Information Operations Command Misawa Command Master Chief Jaret Morris received his enlisted information dominance warfare specialist pin, May 2, 2011, but he asked someone unique to pin it onto his uniform.

Cryptologic Technician Collection Seaman Herschel Moore, NIOC Misawa’s most junior EIDWS-qualified sailor, was given the honor of pinning the EIDWs pin onto his CMC’s uniform during the command’s monthly award ceremony.

Almost exactly a year after Morris checked into the command as its most senior sailor, he earned the Navy’s newest warfare designator. Morris wanted to make the occasion even more special, so he asked Moore if he would handle the pinning duties.

“It was an extreme honor for me, I wasn’t expecting it at all,” said Moore, originally from Bandera, Texas. “It was an awesome opportunity, and one of those things you’ll always remember.”

Shortly after Morris enrolled in the command’s EIDWS program, he decided he would have the most junior EIDWS-qualified sailor attach the warfare device to his chest. Moore earned his EIDWS pin Dec. 27, 2011.

“I’ve never seen that reversal before during a pinning ceremony and I thought it would be pretty neat to do it here,” said Morris, a native of Fulshear, Texas. “We both worked very hard to earn this designator, so it was nice that it culminated with this ceremony here.”

The year’s worth of work that went into obtaining this warfare designation often found Morris playing catch-up with his fellow students because he doesn’t come from a strict cryptologic background.

“The biggest challenge for me as a former operations specialist and ship rider, was learning all the intricacies of the cryptologic community,” he said. “I had worked with them before, but as much as I thought I knew, I quickly realized I didn’t know, so there was a steep learning curve involved.”

Morris said he would often receive inquisitive looks from his fellow classmates, who were wondering why their senior enlisted leader was going through the same pains as they were.

“I’d be sitting in the EIDWS classes and the sailors in there would look at me funny and say ‘Master Chief, why are you here?’” said Morris. But I think it was a good journey for both the sailors and I. If anything, it makes me feel good that they see that obtaining this qualification is not just something command leadership expects them to do, but something we would do ourselves as well.”

Which made this day that much sweeter for Morris, and which may provide a lasting impression on many.

“As a seaman, not only did I just pin a warfare device on a master chief, but a command master chief,” said Moore. “There is a lot of honor and a lot of respect in that.”

The information dominance community created this warfare insignia to provide a common linkage amongst its top-performing personnel. This rigorous qualification helps identify the Navy's highly qualified and diversified information dominance professionals.

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, visit https://www.cnic.navy.mil/misawa/index.htm or check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nafmisawa.

• Date Taken: 05.02.2012
• Date Posted: 05.06.2012 22:34
• Story ID: 87996
• Location: MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JP
• Hometown: FULSHEAR, TX, US