Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Knotts | 221021-N-KD414-0501 PORT HUENEME, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2022) – Sixty-five Sailors...... read more read more
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PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) – Sixty-five Sailors assigned to perspective commands onboard Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) donned a pair of gold-fouled anchors for the first time to become the 129th class of chief petty officers, Oct 21, 2022.
The pinning ceremony marked the culmination of six weeks of indoctrination and initiation into one of the most exclusive professional fellowships in the Navy, the Chiefs Mess. During the initiation, dubbed the chiefs season, first class petty officers (E6) selected for chief are trained, mentored, and tested in leadership, core values, and an array of other professional and personal development areas before accepted into the Chiefs Mess.
“No other armed forces have a rank equivalent to that of the Navy chief petty officer,” said Senior Chief Equipment Operator Braylon Dorsey, assigned Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) Three. “Although the pay grade of E7-E9 [rank] is equivalent, the Navy gives more responsibility and authority while demanding more performance and results; and even the uniform changes.”
Chiefs are considered the backbone of senior enlisted leadership and advocates for the best interests of junior Sailors.’ The chief removes barriers and handles adversity to allow Sailors to do their jobs while demonstrating the humility to take a back seat when a good job is rewarded.
“As the Chiefs Mess goes, so does the command,” said Capt. Peter Maculan, commanding officer, Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering (CSFE) and the Naval Civil Engineer Corps Officers School (CECOS). “A chief’s leadership not only sets a highwater mark for our Sailors on the deck plates but drives our Navy forward. So, in many ways, the CPO is the master of the Fleet’s fate.”
“The last six-weeks have taught me the weight of these anchors,” said Chief Culinary Specialist Shawn Payne, a newly-pinned chief assigned to NBVC. “It can be a heavy burden and I’m so honored to be selected, but I recognize there’s no time to reveal in my accomplishment, it’s time to pay it forward.”
Being selected as a chief represents the most significant change in an enlisted Sailor's career. Less than 10 percent of all who enter the enlisted ranks will be selected. The level of responsibility they assume reflects their leadership potential as well as technical prowess.
“Chiefs owe a great debt, and today is day number-one of repayment,” said Maculan.
The CPO grade (E-7), traditionally unique to the Navy, was first mentioned during the Revolutionary War through the promotion of Chief Cook Jacob Wasbie in 1776, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command. The Chief was formally established through executive order by President Benjamin Harris on April 1, 1893; starting a tradition that consisted of the senior, most experienced, rated sailor as the "chief,” who was designated by the commanding officer as the one in charge of his peers.
NBVC is home to Point Mugu, Port Hueneme, San Nicolas Island, the Pacific Coast Seabees, the West coast Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers, and 80 tenants. It is the largest employer in Ventura County and actively protects California’s largest coastal wetlands through its award-winning environmental programs.
| Date Taken: | 10.21.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2022 01:40 |
| Story ID: | 431849 |
| Location: | PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 623 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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