The Making of a Chief Religious Program Specialist

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Kenneth Robinson | Newly frocked Chief Petty Officer Alan Grow of Bogalusa, La., assigned to the 30th Naval Construction Regiment, stands at the doorway of Chaplain David Slater?s office. Grow, who has served in the Navy for nine years, is one of only 40 RPCs in the United States Navy. 30NCR, homeported in Port Hueneme, Calif., is deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

09.28.2009

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Kenneth Robinson 

30th Naval Construction Regiment

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Chief Petty Officer Alan Grow, religious specialist, is humble, mild mannered, soft-spoken and a newly frocked Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy.

Grow, 27, a native of Bogalusa, La., quickly rose through the ranks to become the youngest of only 40 RPCs in the Navy.

"I have been blessed to have worked with some great Sailors. Some are already CPOs and some are still climbing the ranks," said Grow. "I had superiors, CPOs and peers that took care of me and set me up for success. Now as the Chief, it is my job to set them up for success so they can achieve their goals."

Grow's pinning ceremony took place on Sept. 16, 2009 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Marching in solo to the ceremony, Grow led the 30th Naval Construction Regiment's Chiefs in a rendition of "Anchors Aweigh" followed by the "Song of the Seabees" before being welcomed into the 30NCR Chief's Mess.

The Chief's pinning ceremony dates back to April 1, 1898 and is among one of the most admired and unique Navy rights of passage. Each September 16th, Chiefs from all over the Navy gather to welcome newly frocked members of the Mess.

"Being the only CPO Selectee within the command," said Grow, "I was given a lot of mentoring and training from the Chief's Mess. Most CPO Selects do not get as much one on one time with the CPOs that I was given."

Grow, who is currently assigned to 30NCR, joins the unique and elite position of one of only two RPCs assigned to the Naval Construction Force or Seabees.

"There is only one RPC billet with the Seabees, and that is the 1st Naval Construction Division RP," said Grow. "The NCRs have RP1 billets and the Naval Mobile Construction Battalions have RP2 and below billets. I am the first and only permanently assigned RPC with any of the 7 NCRs."

Grow began his Navy career by completing Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Ill. before reporting to his first command, the USS Belleau Wood. He then traveled to Religious Program Specialist "A" school in Meridian, Miss., where he graduated with honors.
Upon completion of Chaplains and Religious Program Specialist Expeditionary Skills Training, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. During his tours of duty, Grow has been deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as Operation Enduring Freedom.

Grow's duty within the regiment is to coordinate and facilitate religious programs, coordinate religious ministry training for Chaplains and RPs and is the United Through Reading program manager.

"As an RPC, we are usually over a much larger area. RPCs not only take care of the command they are assigned to, but also take care of all the commands in their AOR [area of responsibility]," said Grow. "For instance, a RPC would be the senior RP for a whole Carrier Battle Group."

Achieving the rank of Chief symbolizes one's deck plate-leadership, institutional and technical expertise, professionalism, character, loyalty, active communication and sense of heritage. Congratulations to all of the newly selected Chiefs.

• Date Taken: 09.28.2009
• Date Posted: 09.28.2009 13:33
• Story ID: 39375
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF