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    NMCSD Sailors Pinned to CPO

    SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

    09.13.2019

    Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Harley Sarmiento 

    Naval Medical Center San Diego

    SAN DIEGO – Thirty-three Sailors and one Marine assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) earned the title of chief petty officer (CPO) and honorary chief during a pinning ceremony in the hospital’s courtyard Sept. 13.
    The ceremony marked the end of the six-week CPO 365 Phase Two training period. This phase began when CPO advancement results were released Aug. 2. During phase two, the chief’s mess introduced selected first class petty officers to challenges designed to build on their leadership skills and provide a better understanding of what it means to be a Navy chief. Phase two also included training on the history and traditions of a Navy chief, including the CPO mess, physical challenges, mentorship, and departmental responsibilities.
    “The highlight of the season for me was when I saw how the mess came together and watched the brotherhood and sisterhood form,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman Raquel Roman, a newly-pinned CPO assigned to NMCSD. “I know the rest of the mess has my back, just like I have theirs.”
    Family members, friends, and mentors attended the pinning ceremony to help welcome the new chiefs. New, fouled anchors were pinned to the new chiefs’ collars and combination covers were placed on their heads.
    With their new insignia comes new responsibility.
    “As a new chief, I look forward to the opportunity to lead junior Sailors,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman Andre Patterson, a newly-pinned CPO assigned to NMCSD. “I want to be able to guide Sailors and steer them in the right direction for a successful career.”
    When a Sailor is selected to promote to the rank of CPO, the Sailor earns greater responsibilities and is held to higher standards. CPOs are imperative within the Navy’s chain of command structure.
    President Benjamin Harris issued Executive Order 409 on Feb. 23, 1839, 125 years ago, creating the rank of CPO. Today, first class petty officers are selected by a board of chiefs, senior chiefs, and master chiefs after having showed leadership potential, stellar records, and passed their advancement exam. The chief selects participated in six weeks of training.
    New chiefs at the pinning ceremony attributed their climb to chief to good mentorship.
    “The anchors you put on today have produced some of the greatest leadership, mentorship, problem solving, and wisdom known throughout the world,” said Force Master Chief (Ret.) Keith Goosby, the guest speaker at the pinning ceremony. “This doesn’t happen because there is magic in the anchors, it happens because there is magic in the people who wear the anchors.”
    Chiefs are an integral part of Navy culture and leadership. NMCSD’s new CPOs’ technical expertise and leadership skills will further the hospital’s mission by leading by example.
    NMCSD’s mission is to prepare to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver quality health care services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research. NMCSD employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians and contractors to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere.
    Visit navy.mil/local/sd/ or facebook.com/NMCSD for more information.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.13.2019
    Date Posted: 09.13.2019 16:59
    Story ID: 340772
    Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US

    Web Views: 113
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN