Courtesy Photo | U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Eric Martinez, G-1 manpower chief of Fleet Marine Force...... read more read more
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NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY HAMPTON ROADS, Va., -- The phrase "Backbone of the Marine Corps" refers to non-commissioned officers. For the U.S. Navy, Chief petty officers are notoriously referred to as the backbone.
Chief petty officer (E-7) was established on April 1, 1893, and is the first grade to enter what is known now is the “Chief's Mess.” This also includes senior chief petty officers and master chief petty officers (E-8 to E-9). The chief grades’ purpose is to uphold tradition and enforce discipline and expected to be a master of their rate ship processes.
Although this is a Navy tradition, U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Eric Martinez, G-1 manpower chief of Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command, was allotted the opportunity to the six-week chief selection process with his Navy counterparts.
Within the six-week selection process, Martinez was fortunate to be attached to the USS Constitution for ‘heritage week.’ The USS Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and candidates were immersed in more than 200 years of naval heritage while learning about the art of sailing, construction of the ship, and handling of 19th century guns. The conclusion of the board will be bringing USS CONSTITUTION alive and underway.
The selection process is intently challenging, to ensure selectees are seasoned for the chief ranks.
“The process of chief season is to challenge each selectee with deadlines, projects, physical fitness, naval training, and leadership. During this process the selectees are depended upon to plan out many events and projects that help us develop as a mess,” Martinez explained. Regardless of where Marines and Sailors are stationed, this enduring process instills a sense of honor, esprit de corps, and integration.
“Throughout the duration of the 6 weeklong Chief Season, I’ve learned a lot of valuable information that can be easily translated to my leadership style as a Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant.”
Martinez expressed that leadership and teamwork are bonded together.
“In the Marine Corps I was used to training and developing Marines while simultaneously making myself better.”
The selection process was a change of mindset for Martinez and immediately asked questions like, “If you’re so good, why are the other selectees not being helped?” and “Why are you the only one motivated at physical training?”
“These questions had me thinking long and hard about if I needed to hold myself back or not put out as much, so I don’t stand out. Finally realizing that all I needed to do is give the selectees around me a reason to push forward,” ... “I learned that in order to succeed you can’t make it just about yourself, and that you have to also pull the selectees to the left and right of you up as well.”
Once teamwork was acquired, Martinez knew there was no holding back and sought out opportunities to lead and motivate those to his left and right. Martinez was also humbled by this experience.
“During the final night of chief season, we either confronted the selectee who is the weakest link, or we all completed a workout together until the question was finally answered. So, me being me I kept choosing to do the workout,” ... “About 6 times I did not answer the question and Command Master Chief Timpa told me, ‘If you are to be accepted into our mess you will have to ensure you tell your peers to their face why they are the weakest link so that when you present yourself as Chiefs before your Jr. Sailors and Marines, you are a united front and what needs to be fixed is fixed.”
Hearing “if you are to be accepted” resonated with Martinez and realized he too has a place within the chief’s mess and that there is purpose to assessing weaknesses. The final night was graduation and signified all the chiefs accomplished.
“The most rewarding part was graduation and being accepted into the Chiefs Mess.”
Martinez emphasized that the chief selection process has amplified the importance of naval integration.
“Naval integration is important for many reasons, but the reason that resonates deeply is we could be called upon to fight a fight we need to be ready for,” Martinez stated, “This fight will demand Marines and Sailors to transition from a desert house to house mindset back to our Naval warfighting roots.”
Additionally, naval integration ensures our nation's security, enables efficient coordination to deter potential threats, and fosters international cooperations.
Martinez said earning the title ‘chief’ was significant in many ways.
“So, all in all my experience here is hard to put into words, but if I could give a couple of words it would have to be humbling, dedicated, proud, and family.” As Martinez returns to FMFLANT, MARFORCOM, MARFORNORTH, his next goal is to simply take care of the Marines above and below him.
“I’ve reached many milestones in my career that gave me the opportunity of being recognized amongst many. Now, it’s my time to give back and ensure that the drive and dedication I have can be spread as far as I’m able to reach.”
When asked what advice to give to Marines and Sailors, Martinez concluded, “Never lose the reason why you put on the uniform in the first place. If you never forget your ‘why’ and how it feels to accomplish your ‘why,’ then you’ll never lose the motivation to be the best you can be.”
| Date Taken: | 10.26.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2023 15:14 |
| Story ID: | 456599 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | HOUSTON, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 393 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MARFORCOM Marine Exceeds to Chief Selection Process, by Sgt Hannah Adams, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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