Photo By Chief Petty Officer Brannon Deugan | 151201-N-SD965-028 ROTA, Spain (Dec. 1, 2015) From the left, Culinary Specialist 2nd...... read more read more
NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain - Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 Seabees bundle up and stroll from their Camp Mitchell barracks to the Spanish theater across the street from the camp on Naval Station Rota, Spain, Dec. 1, 2015.
The majority of the Sailors are wearing the uniform of the day, the Type III Navy Working Uniform, while 15 Sailors could be spotted wearing the service dress blue uniform.
The Sailors wearing the dress blue uniform volunteered to participate in a traditional ceremony that pays homage to the history and heritage of enlisted Sailors being frocked to the next pay grade while an additional 18 Sailors participated in the frocking portion of ceremony in the uniform of the day. Frocking is the authority to wear the rank of the next pay grade until receiving the benefits and pay of that rank.
During the ceremony known as "tacking on crows," Sailors took turns stitching on a new rating badge to the left sleeve of a fellow shipmate’s dress blue uniform, while imparting words of wisdom to help the shipmate navigate through the promotion. A crow is an unofficial Navy term for the petty officer rank insignia, which includes an eagle above one to three chevrons, depending upon a Sailor's rank.
“The ceremony was a traditional experience that not a lot of Sailors will get to be involved with because it is not a common practice today,” said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Blane Wilson. “I hope that every other E-4, E-5, and E-6 Sailor will get the opportunity to be a part of a similar experience when they are frocked to the next pay grade.”
Wilson represented the newly promoted E-5’s of NMCB 1 during the ceremony, and he credited his work ethic, study habits, and shipmates for providing the opportunity for him to earn a second chevron.
“Being advanced is great. I worked hard, studied hard, and I’m appreciative of this,” stated Wilson, a native of Buffalo, New York. “I’m thankful for all of my friends and supervisors who helped me get here through opportunities and encouragement while I studied hard for approximately two months straight, and it paid off. I couldn’t be happier about being advanced.”
Three Sailors, each representing the pay grades of E-4, E-5, and E-6, had a rating badge sewn on prior to frocking 18 other Sailors to their newly appointed pay grade.
For the Sailors who participated in the frocking portion of the ceremony, they observed their peers go through the “tacking of crow” while anticipating being frocked.
“The ceremony went along with the tradition of the Navy” said Equipment Operator 3rd Class Richard Hall, frocked to E-4. “It followed an old tradition, but was made into something new and better by teaching younger troops the tradition and importance of rank structure.”
“It was an honor to be promoted because when I think I’m moving up in the Navy’s rank structure, and, to me, that means I’m doing something meaningful for my country,” continued Hall, a native of Sparta, Illinois. “This proves that working harder and harder everyday will be rewarded. My family has a long Navy heritage, and it makes me proud to know that I’m representing my family and country honorably on a daily basis. It’s a good feeling to know I’m moving up.”
| Date Taken: | 12.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2015 07:43 |
| Story ID: | 183241 |
| Location: | ROTA, ES |
| Hometown: | BUFFALO, NY, US |
| Hometown: | SPARTA, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 2,963 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Tradition and heritage promotes Seabees with 'Tacking on Crows', by CPO Brannon Deugan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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