Courtesy Photo | 170829-N-UB912-162 SAN DIEGO (August 29, 2017) Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Jade...... read more read more
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SAN DIEGO – How do you define mastery? When you think of the epitome of enlisted career success and the ultimate career milestone, what name and face come to mind? These questions are sure to conjure images of countless individuals you have encountered who have overcome adversity, remained resolute in the face of challenges, and ultimately persevered to become a master chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy. It is often said that a master chief is the one percent of the one percent who serve, and with 2,572 master chiefs out of approximately 269,000 enlisted active duty service members, according to the 2015 Demographics: Profile of the Military Community, they represent only 0.8 percent of the Navy’s total force. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Master Chief Culinary Specialist Jade Metz, assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), to discover the keys to his success on a unique journey where he earned his first and last enlisted promotions on the same ship - Boxer. What follows is both an amazing journey and an inspiring sea story about what it takes to become a master chief in today’s Navy.
“The significance of earning my first and last enlisted promotion aboard Boxer is the reality of taking basic life principles taught to me at a young age aboard Boxer and having an opportunity now to teach back in a refined manner. Is it significant that I went to [Disciplinary Review Board] as an E-2 in the same space where I now sleep? This is the same space where I learned the impact of my actions have on others,” said Metz, who now serves as Boxer’s Supply department leading chief petty officer.
When speaking with Metz, one may be shocked by his humility, but once you discover the consistency of his modest demeanor, it does not seem surprising that his temperament and perspective were formed by strong experiences and lessons that have shaped him into the man he is today.
“I never really considered what I have accomplished as a legacy, but thinking back on it, I am reminded of all of the great master chiefs and senior chiefs who have served aboard,” said Metz. “To walk in their shoes and attempt to carry on the torch is an amazing feeling. To consider this as a legacy, it reminds me of all of those who took the time out to teach me the right way, look after me, set me up for success and struggle through my immaturities. Many of them retired as petty officer’s first class and chiefs’s, and I feel like this is what they had planned for me. Some called me from retirement after not talking to them for over 12 years and I was humbled that they had even remembered me. When they all mentioned that they knew I would make it, and those were the same people who I aspired to be saying that I was better than they could ever be, it brought tears to my eyes.”
Every day, Boxer Sailors are able to enjoy hot, prepared meals, delicious desserts and a wide variety of fruit and vegetable options, yet few realize the orchestra of effort that it takes to prepare every meal, as well as the amount of skill necessary to ensure the ingredients are correct and the final product tastes just right. Behind the collaborative effort there are leaders like Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Christopher Usita, , who perhaps works the closest with Metz.
“Some call him a legend and I totally agree with them,” said Usita. “It’s his passion to teach and share his knowledge that separates him from the rest. His commitment and passion stand out the most and these qualities help him gain the respect of his subordinates and colleagues. It infuses new energy into his Sailors which helps them to perform better. Also, he inspires others and always sets a good example, no matter the situation. He always thinks positively and this approach is visible through his actions, which I admire most.”
Somewhere on the messdecks or in the galley, Culinary Specialist 1st Class Sondra Baier, the leading petty officer of S-2 division, can be found applying the wisdom and guidance of a profession shared with Metz, thanks to his passion for the craft and joy of teaching and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
“He is noble. He always thinks of himself as one of us, even though he’s a master chief. He comes from the blood of a CS[Culinary Specialist],” said Baier. “He constantly evolves and always looks at ways he can be better. He is a leader who is willing to engage his most junior Sailor and still learn how to effectively lead.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Adam Sutton, Boxer’s Food Service Officer, spoke about the attributes Metz exhibits while serving as the leader of 64 culinary specialists and food service attendants assigned to S-2 and S-5 divisions, ensuring everyone performs at the highest levels.
“Having Master Chief Metz as part of the food service team has been a blessing,” said Sutton. ”His leadership and ‘care factor’ have bettered the team which has led to the success of the ship as a whole. I am very glad I have had the chance to work with him. He has reminded me that it is the Sailors that make the ship and you must mold them and guide them to be better. He always believes that our relief could be the newest E-1 that reports to the division on their first tour of duty.”
For over 16 years, Metz has demonstrated a love for his craft, passion, a clear focus to meet challenges with temperance and patience, and a calm approach to problem solving, while essentially mastering his craft in the process. Shortly after being promoted to master chief, he was selected as Supply department lead chief petty officer, a role that carries with it responsibility for the welfare, career development, and physical and mission readiness of approximately 150 enlisted Supply department Sailors and the development of numerous junior officers.
“People rely on those who play mastery roles to help them get to where they want to go,” said Metz. “If you dedicate your life to mastering one thing, you will be remembered. The concept of mastery allows me to consider that there are some things in life near perfect. To me, this means going above and beyond someone else’s expectations along with my own. The concept of mastery is a choice of service that I feel obligated to provide to our country, family, and friends, so they can use it as a platform to achieve even greater things without having to start at the bottom.”
From the deckplate perspective, junior Sailors are quick to explain the impact of his leadership as they begin their path toward mastery, while following the trail he has blazed for all with the ambition and dedication to follow.
“He motivates us to complete our work and to actually push ourselves to be the best we can be,” said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Tiara Johnson, assigned to Boxer’s S-2 division. “He tells us to wake up with a smile, shares his experiences through sea stories and tells us that the smallest things can put a smile on someone’s face.”
The astute observer quickly learns that Metz’s calm demeanor is indicative of a more subtle quality: fingerspitzengefuhl, a German term that literally translates to “finger tips feeling.” This concept often displays itself in the way he clearly knows the company he interacts with from moment to moment, the context of most of his circumstances and environments, and the appropriate response necessary to sustain three smooth operating galleys, two mess decks, and the wardroom.
“I mentioned earlier about those who aspire to be like me. I always tell them that there is no secret to success. Don’t ever try to be like me, but be better than me,” said Metz. “Success isn’t just making a military pay grade of E-9. Success isn’t just the uniform people see. Success always comes from within. Never be afraid to be your own person. Never try to be someone you are not. If there are certain character traits or qualities you see within someone else you admire, of course place them in your tool box to develop yourself, but never pretend to be someone you are not. Be true to yourself, and the more genuine you are, the more people will seek you out and give you the opportunity to be successful.”
So how does a Sailor progress from apprentice to journeyman, and journeyman to master in short succession? Metz said he accomplished personal and professional success thanks to a balanced approach, with significant congruence between educational goals and professional requirements. In addition to pursuing advanced shipboard qualifications, Metz earned his Enlisted Information Warfare Specialist qualification (a tertiary warfare qualification), Master Training Specialist and Afloat Training Specialist qualifications, and has served on shipboard training teams on multiple platforms. Furthermore, his secondary educational accolades include an Associate of Science, Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees, all with honors distinction. Each degree aligns closely with leadership, decision making, data analysis and human resource management.
(Despite the enormous amount of hard work and effort placed into his educational goals, Metz understands that no one person can succeed all by themselves, and he appreciates the role his Sailors play in his overwhelming success.)
“I would be short selling the rest of Supply department if I did not mention them also helping me achieve this career milestone. They have given me a whole new perspective on leadership and a new found appreciation of what it takes to meet mission requirements,” Metz said. “I am lucky to have the quality of Sailors within the department that make my position as departmental leading chief petty officer, fun. “If it wasn’t for people like Chief Delgado, Master Chief Rabsatt and the rest of the chiefs within the department, I would not be able to handle stressful situations as calmly and as collected as I do. I owe a lot of gratitude to always having an inspiring chain of command everywhere I have served. Most recently having served for Cmdr. Cramer [Boxer’s Supply Officer] and Lt. Cmdr. Ekundayo [Boxer’s Assistant Supply Officer], they allow me to lead with confidence, support me when I require it, and tell me when I need to get better. They are those successful people in life, examples mentioned earlier that I enjoy surrounding myself with.”
Sutton added, “It’s fitting that he started his naval career on Boxer and is finishing up his sea duty on it. He hit his first rank as an E-2 and his last paygrade of E-9. It’s seems to me to be a bit of poetic justice don’t you think?”
No path to success is identical for every enlisted Sailor in the U.S. Navy, however, the markers of a successful master chief are no secret: fierce dedication to service, professional and personal development, a willingness to operate in the trenches with your junior Sailors, the ability to plan ahead while giving one’s all to the task at hand, and a love for one’s profession. How do you define mastery?
For Master Chief Metz, mastery does not come without a clear understanding of purpose. When asked how he wishes to be remembered when he hangs up his anchors and retires he said “I want my legacy to be: Jade Eric Metz – a loving husband, an amazing father, a son who never forgot where he came from, genuine, selfless, a friend, someone who never settled, a role model for others to be better than, someone who made the world a better place, someone who encouraged and supported others to do their best because he has done or is not capable of doing, a professional who exploited people’s strengths, and someone who appreciated people and what life has to offer.”
| Date Taken: | 12.29.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.29.2017 14:04 |
| Story ID: | 260779 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 511 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Sailor Achieves First, Last Promotion While Assigned to Boxer, by CPO Matthew Jackson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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