Sailors receive anchors in Afghanistan

Photo By Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr | Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus, commanding general of Regional Command Southwest, congratulates Chief Petty Officer Irene Aguilar during a Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony on Camp Leatherneck, Sept. 14, 2012.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

09.17.2012

Story by Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr 

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — “Ask the chief” is a saying that many sailors and Marines have heard in their career.

The rank of chief petty officer is held in high regards in the United States Navy, and Sept.14, chief selectees throughout the Navy accepted their anchors and joined the storied rank of chief.

Six chief selectees stood rigidly at attention, eyes trained forward as they waited to have their anchors placed on their collars in front of their peers, higher officers, senior enlisted and spectators at the Camp Leatherneck Chapel.

“The chief makes the Navy move,” said Command Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Smith, Regional Command Southwest command master chief. “The rank of chief petty officer has been around for the last 119 years since 1893.

“A chief is charged with the unique job of mentoring not only those junior enlisted sailors but also the junior officers,” said Smith. “Ensuring they’re taught the traditions and customs of the Navy, as well as advised on matters pertaining to their job field.”

Chief petty officer is the equivalent to an E-7 pay grade for all services in the armed forces, but the Navy holds their chiefs to a higher standard. The storied rank is regarded with honor.

“When I hear the words ‘The chief’ the first thing I think about is pride,” said chief Petty Officer Irene Aguilar, a recently promoted chief. “Pride in the Navy, pride in service, pride in what we do on a daily basis and showing that pride to our junior sailors. They are the ones that are going to be filling our shoes in the future.”

Her mentor during the process of becoming a chief believes its care that defines a chief petty officer.

“It’s taking care of people,” said Chief Petty Officer Brandon Bruce, Aguilar’s mentor during her induction ceremony. “Taking care of those junior sailors and officers. As a chief, I get to take care of people a little more than as a (petty officer) first class.”

Before receiving their anchors, the chief selects are taken through an induction process to ensure they could assume the tremendous responsibility of a chief petty officer.

“Along the way it was different types of training,” said Aguilar. ”A lot of this has to do with leadership and mission guidance principles of the master chief petty officer of the Navy.

“They had physical training at 5 a.m., morning briefs from 6-6:30 a.m. and afternoon classes from 11:00-13:00p.m.,” said Bruce. “We task them throughout the whole six week process.”
During the course, the chief selectees are tested to see how they can use their resources to their advantage and accomplish those tasks given to them.

Despite being in a deployed environment, the chief selectees were put through the best possible induction course with what resources were provided to them.

All of them passed with flying colors and found themselves standing in front of more than 40 people as they received their precious anchors and assumed duties as a chief.

At an event in 1993 celebrating the 100th anniversary of the chief petty officer rank, then chief of Naval Operations Adm. Frank B. Kelso went on record saying, "In the United States Navy, the title chief petty officer carries with it responsibilities and privileges no other armed force in the world grants enlisted people. These responsibilities and privileges exist because for 100 years, chiefs have routinely sought out greater challenges and assumed more responsibility.”

His words have rung true since he uttered them 19 years ago and continue to be exhibited throughout the Navy by chief petty officers everywhere.

• Date Taken: 09.17.2012
• Date Posted: 09.17.2012 11:56
• Story ID: 94822
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF