Sailors assigned to NEFCPAC units Don their Anchors

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Billy Ho | 190913-N-QL471-1201 SANTA RITA, Guam (Sept. 13, 2019) Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Samuel Pitts, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, who is assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, receives his chief petty officer combination cover during a chief petty officer pinning ceremony at Naval Base Guam. The CPO pinning ceremony was the culmination of an intense six-week training period where senior leaders introduced the CPO selectees to a set of challenges that were designed to strengthen their leadership and mentoring abilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Billy Ho)  

SANTA RITA, GUAM

09.13.2019

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jasen MorenoGarcia 

Commander Task Force 75

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) – Sailors assigned to Navy Expeditionary Forces Command Pacific (NEFCPAC) units in Guam joined the more than 30 Sailors to accept the rank and responsibilities of chief petty officer (CPO), during a pinning ceremony at the Big Screen Theater onboard Naval Base Guam, Sept. 13.

NEFCPAC units joining the Joint Region Marianas CPO season included Commander, Task Force 75, 30th Naval Construction Regiment, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 and Coastal Riverine Group 1 Det. Guam.

“During the past six weeks we trained and tested the new chief selectees,” said Chief Electronics Technician Michael Lewis, the season leader for the Joint Region Marianas chief initiation, fiscal year 2020 season. “It was great to share our experiences with them and help them get ready for the added stress and challenges they will face as chiefs.”

The ceremony was the culmination of an intense six-week training period which began Aug. 1, the day CPO advancement results were released. Throughout the training, senior leaders introduced the CPO selectees to a set of challenges that were designed to strengthen their leadership and mentoring abilities.

“Balancing work and the chief season was difficult,” said newly pinned Chief Engineman Derick Hernandez. “Some of us were part of the planning and execution of one of the many major exercises that took place during the season. As a result, we had to reschedule chief select trainings because our mission always comes first.”

The ceremony’s guest speaker, NEFCPAC’s Command Master Chief Rick Straney, who has been a part of the chief’s mess for 18 years, said the chiefs going through this season are some of the sharpest the Navy has to offer.

“We made true chief petty officers this year here in Guam and all over our Navy. They are tougher and more prepared to lead Sailors and will be more resilient if asked to fight than when they started this process,” Straney said.

Hernandez also mentioned that working alongside selectees of different types of commands was challenging at first due to the differences on the way that everyone operates, which forced them to set aside differences and work together to accomplish the tasks given to them.

“At the beginning I was afraid of the process, but I have grown to appreciate my peers, juniors and seniors even more,” said Hernandez. “ Knowing that they helped me get to where I am now, inspires me to become even better. I still get to do my job, but now I get to mentor future chiefs.”

As an organization, NEFCPAC executes operational command and control of assigned and attached Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and serves as the core Navy battle staff for crisis response and major combat operations. They plan and execute coastal riverine, explosive ordnance disposal, diving operations, construction and Navy expeditionary logistics operations.

-30-

• Date Taken: 09.13.2019
• Date Posted: 09.12.2019 23:28
• Story ID: 340437
• Location: SANTA RITA, GU