Photo By Lance Cpl. Cara Castaneda | U.S. Marine and U.S. Navy Sailors sing “Anchors Aweigh” during a Chief Petty...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - On September 29, 2023, twenty-nine U.S. Navy Sailors and four U.S. Marine Corps gunnery sergeants from bases across the North Carolina region made the transformation from chief selectees to chief petty officers.
“The purpose of the chief initiation training process is to prepare the future chiefs to don the anchor,” said U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer David Shepardson, a Menifee, California native and hospital corpsman with 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division. “The anchor carries a lot of responsibility, so it is our goal to prepare them for that responsibility mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
For 130 years, a core group of leaders have served our nation as chief petty officers. Although this is a Navy tradition, Marine gunnery sergeants are also allotted the opportunity to participate in the process of becoming a chief. The six-week training traditionally takes place all over the world, regardless of where the Sailor or Marine is stationed. These traditions instill a sense of honor and esprit de corps that enlighten the deep roots and heritage of the Navy.
“The chief pinning ceremony is a time-honored tradition,” said Shepardson. “It signifies the transition from lower enlisted to senior leader marking a turning point in their career.”
Earning the rank of chief petty officer signifies both technical expertise and exhibition of strong leadership abilities. Sailors and select Marines work strenuously as a team during the six-week training evolution to earn their anchors and combination cover, a military style cap with a black visor, circular rim and black cap band. Along with this change in cover is the official change in service uniform from white to khaki. Both the combination cover and khaki service uniform are distinguishing features of a chief.
“The future fight demands strong, resilient, and devoted chiefs,” said Shepardson. “The fate of our Navy rests on the back of the chief petty officer.”
Over the years the process of becoming a chief petty officer has sustained the highest caliber of senior enlisted Sailors. The goals and results remain the same, chiefs are the “backbone” of the Navy, charged first and foremost to be strong leaders and experts in their specialty. Through their selection, the senior enlisted Sailors and Marines have proved their testament to upholding honor, courage and commitment, and will continue to do so for generations to come.
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2023 10:39 |
| Story ID: | 455045 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | MENIFEE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 437 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, "Navy Chief, Navy Pride", by LCpl Cara Castaneda, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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