MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - The Navy hosted a Chief Petty Officer-365 Heritage event at the Bob Hope Theater aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Feb. 27.
The program is designed to prepare petty officers first class to become chief petty officers by teaching them to be trusted and involved with their junior Sailors.
“It’s a new program the Navy started doing and mirrors the Committed and Engaged Leadership we do here at 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing,” said Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Patrick Mondragon, senior chief petty officer for 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and event coordinator. “We really try to mirror what the Marines do. Chiefs and petty officers first class come together on a regular basis and the goal of it is to train, develop and mentor our petty officers first class year-round to assume the role of chief petty officer.”
Retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Kenneth Neuroth, retired Navy Cmdr. Richard Dellwo, and Carol Crow, surviving wife of the fourth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Thomas Crow, spoke at the event about the importance of petty officers first class and chief petty officers.
“At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the event,” said Navy Chief Petty Officer John Guerrero, regimental religious program specialist at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and an attendant at the event. “After sitting there and listening to the speakers, I was very impressed.
“One of the things that impressed me the most was that we had a retired master chief, a retired commander and a spouse.” said Guerrero. “They spoke about leadership and family and basically tying the two together. I think that shows a tremendous element that is missing in the military. It shows how much military life affects family and the family affects military life. I’m taking a lot back with me to my command.”
Most of the themes at the event were about the importance of leading and developing junior Sailors, explained Mondragon.
“Junior Sailors could be E-5 and below, the job never stops,” said Mondragon. “You might not even know the difference that you’re making in someone else’s life, but it’s important to take the time and invest in your juniors.”
Mondragon said events like these give these Sailors something to strive for and people to aspire to be as they rise up through the ranks.