Across the fleet, from naval installations to ships at sea to air stations, one of the most treasured and time-honored traditions is the pinning of the golden anchors for the first time on the
collars of the Navy’s newest chief petty officers.
On Sept. 14 at the atrium of the National Museum of Naval Aviation, 32 new chief petty officers were pinned from the Center for Information Dominance (CID) Unit Corry Station, Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Pensacola and Naval Hospital Pensacola.
Throughout the CID domain, there were 206 E-6s who were board-eligible for advancement to chief petty officer. Of these, 59 were selected, resulting in an impressive 29 percent selection rate to chief petty officer.
“Typically the advancement rate for chief petty officers is about 20 percent or lower,” CID domain career adviser Eric Tremaine said. “The high numbers for CID reflect the high caliber of personnel we have from across the CID domain.”
Thirteen of these new chiefs were based at CID Unit Corry Station, and the remainder were scattered throughout the CID domain, primarily at the other commands: CID Unit Monterey, Fleet
Intelligence Training Command at San Diego and Navy Marine Corps Intelligence Training Command at Dam Neck, Va.
“This is proof that the fleet is sending the cream of the crop to CID for instructor duty, and it shows in the high advancement rate for our new chief petty officers,” CID Command Master Chief Travis Brummer said. “This is a win-win situation for everybody: our students, our instructors and the Navy.”
Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) Force Master Chief (AW/SW) April Beldo, who was the guest speaker during the pinning ceremony, had words of encouragement and advice for the newly pinned chief petty officers.
“I am very passionate about being a chief petty officer, and a part of the chief’s mess,” Beldo said. She related the pride she felt in September 1995 when she received her gold anchors while
onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. “I remember it like it was just yesterday,” she said. “It is still one of the most proud times of my life.”
On March 13, 1893, U.S. Navy Regulation Circular No. 1 established the rating of chief petty officer. In the past 119 years the chief’s pinning ceremony has become one of the Navy’s most
time-honored ceremonies. Earning the right to wear the gold anchors is not easy, and the process of becoming a chief petty officer is a long and difficult road — and is arguably the greatest achievement a Sailor can achieve. The ceremony signifies a new position of leadership and responsibility for the new E-7s. For the newly selected chief petty officers, the pinning ceremony
represents the culmination of four weeks of the induction process, a rigorous training schedule involving physical training, and leadership, teamwork, time management, and Navy history and
tradition course work.
Information Systems Technician “A” school instructor Chief Information Systems Technician Arian Sanchez said the induction process was more challenging than he expected. “The level of teamwork and the level of camaraderie that I’ve learned through this process is unequaled so far,”
Sanchez said. “The biggest difference he said is that with the E-5 and E-6 mindset you tend to look out for yourself and your career, and by extension, you are helping the Navy; as a chief petty officer,
you learn to take care of others first and foremost.”
“To the newest members of the mess this is your time; I want you to embrace it, I want you to have fun and I want you to look forward to the days ahead,” Beldo said. “You are now ‘the Chief,’ the backbone of the Navy.”
CID Unit Corry Station Commanding Officer Cmdr. Luciana Sung also congratulated the new chief petty officers.
“Pinning our newest chiefs is always a great honor and we’re all very proud of our chief's mess for all the mentoring and sponsoring they provided for this season,” Sung said.
CID Unit Corry Station Senior Enlisted Leader Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (SW/AW) Jimmy Dawkins said he was proud to be part of the process that helped to develop the Navy’s newest crop of chief petty officers, and offered words of encouragement to the new leaders, who after four weeks of intensive training during the induction process were eager to step into their new role as the Navy’s newest chief petty officers.
“Step up to the challenge,” Dawkins said. “Lead your Sailors, guide them, mentor them, and understand that you have more impact on that Sailor’s life than you could ever fathom.”
At the conclusion of the pinning ceremony, the new chiefs seemed relieved but exhilarated. “It’s the greatest point in my military career,” Chief Cryptologic Technician (Technical) (IDS/SW) Aaron Ricker said. “I’ve never been so excited and so proud.”
“I am very proud of each and every one of you, and look forward to serving with you in the fleet,” Beldo said. CID is the Navy’s Learning Center that leads, manages and delivers Navy and joint force training in information operations, information warfare, information technology, cryptology and intelligence.
For More Information
Center for Information Dominance News - www.navy.mil/www.navy.mil/local/corry/
Center for Information Dominance - www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ceninfodom
Gary Nichols is the public affairs officer for the Center for Information Dominance.