The Charles Taylor Hanger of Naval Aviation Technical Training Command (NATTC) echoed as 57 newly selected chief Petty officers from Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, entered the morning of Sept. 13, 2019, singing “Anchors Aweigh” during the FY-20 Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony.
NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Timothy Kinsella delivered the opening remarks, painting a vivid picture of his first chiefs and the impact they had on him to the more than 400 family, friends and
shipmates on hand to witness the Sailors pinning on the chief petty officer fouled anchor.
“They inspired me, they cared for me, they taught me, they chided me, they disciplined me and they led me to reach my full potential,” said Kinsella. “It is because of them that I am here today.”
In the ceremony’s guest speaker, Commander, Naval Air Force, Atlantic, Force Master Huben Phillips keynote address to the audience and new chiefs included some thoughts on leadership.
“I believe that in order for a leader to be anything of relevance to their people, they must first be well within themselves,” said Phillips.
For the past six weeks, these 56 Sailors and 1 Marine Corps master sergeant have been participating in one of the most comprehensive leadership training programs the Navy has to offer.
"I didn’t just learn about what it takes to be a chief,” said Chief Master-at-Arms James Lumpkin. “I learned more about myself than I could have ever imagined.”
Master Sgt. Kevin Craig of Marine Aviation Training Support Group 23, Aviation Maintenance Squadron One, took a moment to reflect on what he had learned and why more of sister service members should
consider requesting to go through chief initiation.
“I’ve been a part of the PACPOA (Pensacola Area Chief Petty Officer Association) for three years and that is where I really got to see what chiefs brought to the table,” said Craig. “I was so interested in what my
friends and mentors in the association had as a brotherhood, I wanted to know what was behind the curtain. I’ve learned that the mess is a tight knit organization and it functions as one unit. A lot gets done behind closed doors in the chiefs mess and it is admirable the way they go about solving issues.”
Pensacola Chief Petty Officer Class 126 have been tried, tested and accepted. As stated in the Chief Petty Officer Creed, “We take a deep and sincere pleasure in clasping your hand, and accepting you as a Chief Petty
Officer in the United States Navy.”