Photo By Seaman Desiree Green | Chief petty officers aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island...... read more read more
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ATLANTIC OCEAN - U.S. Navy chief petty officers deployed aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island took time to celebrate the chief petty officers’ 118th birthday April 1.
The Whidbey Island is part of USS Bataan (LHD 5) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and deployed ahead of schedule to relieve units from USS Kearsarge ARG and provide support for contingency operations in Libya.
Whidbey Island Command Master Chief Kevin Goodrich began the ceremony with a speech on the history, responsibilities, and tradition associated with wearing the coveted gold fouled anchors of a chief. The lesson on the importance of leadership at sea was not lost on the attendees.
“As you go through your day-to-day routine you can lose awareness of what it means to be a chief,” said Chief Petty Officer Art Culley, Whidbey Island’s newest chief. “Today’s ceremony was an important reminder of our responsibilities as leaders and why we’re here.”
Following a full day of shipboard and joint interoperability exercises, the chief’s mess invited their Marine counterparts from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as well as the First Class Petty Officer board selectees to attend the dinner and cake-cutting ceremony.
“I thought it was really special to invite the board selectees because many of them will one day be chiefs,” said Culley. “It demonstrates that we appreciate them and that they are an integral part of the command’s success.”
In addition to the 22nd MEU and board selectees, the mess welcomed former Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Johnson to attend as an honorary guest and share with Culley the honor of cutting the birthday cake.
Johnson served in the Navy 22 years before retiring as a senior chief and now works as a civilian for Naval Surface Warfare Command in Panama City, Fla., as the subject matter expert for amphibious assault direction systems. He is attached to the ship as a technical representative.
“I’ve worked for the Navy over 46 years as an active-duty sailor and as a civilian, and this is the first time I’ve ever celebrated the chief’s birthday,” said Johnson. “I was a chief for nine years and never had something like this - it’s a wonderful tradition.”
The BAT ARG/22 MEU is comprised of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which includes a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and its Command Element; Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 6, which includes the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), the amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), and detachments from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU-4 and Naval Beach Group.
Find out more about Whidbey Island at www.whidbey-island.navy.mil. You can follow Whidbey Island and her mission at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USSWhidbeyIsland.
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2011 16:20 |
| Story ID: | 68172 |
| Location: | USS WHIDBEY ISLAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 598 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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