Happy Birthday Chief Petty Officers

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 07:51:20 -0400

Today marks the 122nd Birthday of the creation of the Rate/Rank of Chief Petty Officer within the United States Navy. To all my brother and sister CPO's Happy Birthday and thank you for your service and leadership. It has been my honor to serve with you.

There have been several questions asked by members of the other services about Chief Petty Officers. Here is a post from Command Master Chief Peter Yeschenko, USN (Ret).

Today...1 April 2015 our Nation celebrates 122 years of the United States Navy Chief Petty Officer!!!
Since 1893, Chiefs have been charged with the responsibility of ensuring our Sailors are the best in the world, ready to carry out our Navy's mission when our Nation calls.

The Chiefs lead by example with pride, character, and loyalty, a strong commitment to leadership, our core values, and the Navy ethos.

WHAT IS A UNITED STATES CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS?!

Commissioned officers are in charge of the department, ship or shore station, and are ultimately accountable for the performance of the entire unit, the Navy Chief is in charge of getting the work done through the junior enlisted sailors.

Chief’s train junior officers, especially when they first report for duty on their first ship.
Although newly commissioned officers have a newly received college degree, they are unfamiliar with the workings of a Naval ship, submarine or Air Squadron, as well as the tasks of the department or crew their assigned to.

Although the pay grades of E-7 through E-9 are equivalent to those of other services, the Navy is unique in that it confers much more authority and responsibility on the Chief, while demanding more performance and results than any of the other services.

Advancement into the CPO grades is the most significant promotion within the enlisted Naval ranks.
Typically, when a Petty Officer First Class and lower ranks go up for advancement, they are promoted based on an advancement examination score.

However, when a Sailor makes “Chief,” the candidate must pass the written examination, be selected by a special board made up Master Chief Petty Officers, and Commissioned Officers, and then the selectee is ”Appointed” by the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and “initiated/inducted/transitioned/CPO-365 ” into the ranks of the Chief Petty Officers.

A Chief Petty Officer, no matter how much he was on a ”first name” basis with other petty officers before promotion, is always addressed as “Chief” by subordinates and superiors.

When a Sailor has a problem, or is in a crisis situation, he or she goes to “Ask The Chief.” CPO’s often are the instrument of swift decision, and are always relied on to get things done; visible leaders who set the tone.
And, they are charged with keeping good order and discipline within their commands.

Chief’s provide leadership to the enlisted force and advice to Navy leadership to create combat-ready Naval Forces.

They are the senior enlisted force that serves first and foremost as deckplate leaders committed to developing Sailors and enforcing standards.

The term “deckplate leaders” is a slang, everyday Navy term referring to the Chief Petty Officer’s leadership.
In naval terminology, the deckplate can roughly refer to the deck, or the area of the deck of a ship or submarine.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) (2005 to 2007) and former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) (2007 to 2011), stressed the importance of deckplate leadership in a podcasted message to the Navy’s newest Chief Petty Officers in the fall of 2007 when he said:

“You can’t be a Chief from behind a computer screen or in an email or even on the phone. You’ve got to be there, out on the deckplates with your people and their families. You’ve got to walk the spaces. It’s the first principle of naval leadership.”

PROUD TO BE PART OF THE CHIEFS MESS! HAPPY 122nd BIRTHDAY!

Video from Navy History & Heritage Command
https://youtu.be/6BJYEH_Lmfk

122nd Anniversary of Chief Petty Officers

The Naval History and Heritage Command commemorates 122 years of the Chief Petty Officer's deckplate leadership throughout the US Navy.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 8:10 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 08:10:40 -0400

Navy Chiefs, Navy Pride! My turn soon hopefully!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 10:13 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 10:13:21 -0400

Happy Bithday
Happy birthday, Chief Petty Officers
CPO Rank
Several folks sent us links to Navy Live which announces that the rank of Chief Petty Officer was officially created on April 1st, 1893, so we’re a day late;

Armed with official recognition, chiefs of the past went on to lay the foundation for their modern day counterparts. As servant-leaders, they acted as the unique lynchpin between officers and enlisted personnel who executed daily operations, and also took a leading role in the career development of junior petty officers.

Additionally, chiefs were celebrated not only for their technical expertise, but their administrative abilities as well. Knowledge in the intricacies of the ship’s daily operations and ability to coordinate with various departments gave chiefs unique abilities that were unrivaled by even the most senior officers.

With this newly recognized position of authority and expertise they were bestowed with uniform devices to recognize their merit. At first, the only distinction was the advent of a rocker to their rating badge. According to Juergens, borrowing the master-at-arms rating that used three stripes, a single rocker was added and became official in 1894. The fouled anchor as a cap device was introduced in 1905; collar devices did not become an official part of the uniform until 1959.

Additionally, chiefs were given their own space on ships. Referred to as the “Chief’s Mess,” it is off-limits to anyone else (officer or enlisted) without invitation and is affectionately called the “Goat Locker.”

Not everyone can be a CPO, although we’ve seen one or two try. Many will never be a CPO, no matter how refined are their photoshop skills.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Jan 19 at 2018 9:42 AM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 09:42:41 -0500

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member A Navy Chief must walk to walk not just talk the talk. It was my observation that The Deck ratings were the best when it came to deck plate leadership.

Response by CPO Nate S. made Dec 5 at 2019 7:11 AM

CPO Nate S. — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 07:11:12 -0500

Toughest Job in the US Navy! Sickbay is Open 24/7/365 and Doc is always on duty and ready to serve!