Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Kaleb Sarten | Newly pinned chief petty officers sing Anchors Aweigh during a Chief Pinning ceremony...... read more read more
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INITIATION TO THE MESS
By MC3 Devin Alexondra Lowe
Forty-eight Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 were advanced to chief petty officer aboard Ike, Sept. 13.
The chief pinning ceremony is a time-honored tradition celebrating the history and new responsibilities of chief petty officers as they enter the Mess. This year, all of CSG 10’s newest chiefs were pinned while at sea for Tailored Ship’s Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP).
“We are not here today to witness just an advancement of 48 first class petty officers to the next paygrade,” said Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Casey Morrison, master of ceremonies for the chief pinning ceremony. “We are also here to share one of the most significant transitions that they will ever experience in their naval career.”
While the chiefs were unable to invite their families while at sea, they were asked to reflect on the sacrifices they had made. In their place, the chiefs were pinned by the Sailors who helped them earn their anchors.
“The journey from first class to chief is tough,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Brian Irvine, one of Ike’s newest chiefs.
For many chiefs, the transition from first class petty officers means more responsibility to their junior Sailors and increased demands within their department.
“Every day a chief petty officer must earn his or her anchors by experience, performance and testing, never forgetting – not even for a second – the incredible privilege it is to wear the cloth of our nation and serve our Navy,” said Morrison. “Chiefs humbly face and conquer adversity by living firmly by the high ideals forged in the creed, a compass guiding all chiefs to true north.”
The advancement to chief is not the end of the road for Ike’s newest chiefs, as they adjust to their new responsibilities they must continue to learn and grow as leaders to earn the star above their gold-fouled anchor.
“The next step is to live up to the title of ‘chief’,” said Irvine. “I want to make sure the junior Sailors get what they need as well as junior officers. They rely heavily on the experience of chiefs. You don’t ever stop. You can’t ever stop trying to be better.”
Chief petty officers follow the CPO creed, which outlines the expectations and responsibilities of chief petty officers throughout the Navy.
According to the CPO creed, “It is required that you be the fountain of wisdom, the ambassador of good will, the authority in personal relations as well as in technical applications. ‘Ask the Chief’ is a household phrase in and out of the Navy.
“You are the chief. The exalted position you have achieved, and the word ‘exalted’ is used advisedly, exists because of the performance of the chiefs before you. It shall exist only as long as you and your fellow chiefs maintain these standards.”
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2019 13:29 |
| Story ID: | 344175 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 270 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, INITIATION TO THE MESS, by PO1 Devin Lowe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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