Transcript CPO Birthday - The Goat Locker (USN/USCG)

01 April 2011
118 Years of Leadership
FM: CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1, 1993
“In the United States Navy, the title
"Chief Petty Officer" carries with it
responsibilities and privileges no other
armed force in the world grants
enlisted people. These responsibilities
and privileges exist because for 100
years, Chiefs have routinely sought out
greater challenges and assumed more
responsibility.”
FM: CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1, 1993
“The example set by Chiefs for the last
century inspires our young men and
women of today. Indeed what Americans
see in our impressive young Sailors is
the tradition of devotion and dedication
the first Chiefs established with their
sacrifices and valor.”
FM: CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1, 1993
“In large measure they have not only
ensured my success, but the success of
every person who has served in our Navy.
I encourage each of you to mark this
significant anniversary with appropriate
ceremonies to show our respect,
admiration, and appreciation for those
who have served our Navy as Chief Petty
Officers.”
FM: CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1, 1993
“Their successors, today's Chief Petty
Officers, are no less dedicated. They
prove their worth every day and
continue to meet great challenges
and endure adversity to protect our
nation's interests.”
FM: CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1, 1993
“Our challenge to Chief Petty Officers
of the 21st Century is to reaffirm the
commitment to faith and fellowship
that have allowed their comrades-inarms before them to wear "the hat"
with tremendous pride.”
The Continental Navy established the
foundation of relative grades and
classifications that led to the ultimate
establishment of the CPO grade
 During the Revolutionary War, Jacob Wasbie, a
Cook's Mate serving on board the Alfred, one of the
first Continental Navy warships, was promoted to
"Chief Cook" On June 1, 1776.
 Chief Cook is construed to mean Cook or Ship's
Cook which was the official rating title at that time.
This is the earliest example of the use the term
"Chief" located to date by the author.
As one can determine from the foregoing
evidence, Boatswain's Mates have not always
been the senior rating in the Navy. However, if one
tries to enlighten some of them they will usually
get their danders up and argue until red in the
face. Likewise, Aviation Machinist's Mates have
not always been the senior rating within the
Aviation Branch. From 1924 to 1933, and again
from 1942 to 1948, the rating of Aviation Pilot
topped the mechs as well as all other aviation
ratings.
Navy Regulations of 1865, 1870, and 1876 fail to show Chief
Boatswain's Mate and Chief Gunner's Mate as different rates or levels
from Boatswain's Mate and Gunner's Mate respectively. It therefore
follows that to justify calling the Chief Boatswain's Mate and the Chief
Gunner's Mate additional rates one has to depend upon General Order
36 of May 16, 1864 (effective July 1, 1864), and Tables of Allowances
for the 1870s which list them as rates or ratings along with Boatswain's
Mate and Gunner's Mate. To answer the question of whether the Chief
Boatswain's Mate, Chief Gunner's Mate, and Chief Quartermaster or
Signal Quartermaster of the 1863-93 era were or were not actually Chief
Petty Officers is elementary. They were not Chief Petty Officers due to
the fact that the grade had not yet been created.
On January 1, 1884, when the new pay
rates became effective, there existed the
three aforementioned rates carrying the
word Chief--Boatswain's Mate, Gunner's
Mate, and Quartermaster--all paid $35.00 per
month. Several other rates were paid higher
amounts, ranging from $40.00 to $70.00 per
month.
On March 13, 1893, U.S. Navy Regulation Circular No. 1
established the classification of Chief Petty Officer.
Initially, only eight ratings were included in the chief
petty officer classification.
On April 1, 1893, two important steps were taken. First,
the grade of Chief Petty Officer was established;
secondly, most enlisted men received a pay raise. The
question is often asked, "Who was the first Chief Petty
Officer?" The answer is flatly: "There was no first Chief
Petty Officer due to the fact that nearly all ratings carried
as Petty Officers First Class from 1885 were automatically
shifted to the Chief Petty Officer level." Exceptions were
Schoolmasters, who stayed at first class; Ship's Writers,
who stayed the same but expanded to include second and
third class; and Carpenter's Mates, who had been carried
as second class petty officers but were extended to
include chief, first, second, and third classes. Therefore,
the Chief Petty Officer grade on April 1, 1893,
encompassed the nine rates shown in Table 2.
S ea m a n B ra n ch
C h ief M aster-at-A rm s
C h ief B o atsw ain 's M ate
C h ief Q u arte rm aster
C h ief G u n n er's M ate
A rtificer B ra n ch
C h ief M ach in ist
C h ief C arp en ter's M ate
S p ecia l B ra n ch
C h ief Y eo m an
A p o th ecary
B an d M asters
The pay grades of E-8 and E-9, Senior Chief and Master Chief, were created
effective June 1, 1958, under a 1958 Amendment to the Career Compensation
Act of 1949. Eligibility for promotion to E-8, the Senior Chief level, was
restricted to Chiefs (Permanent Appointment) with a minimum of four years in
grade and a total of ten years of service. For elevation from E- 7 to Master
Chief, E-9, a minimum of six years service as a Chief Petty Officer with a total
of 13 years service was required. The E-5 through E-9 levels included all
ratings except Teleman and Printer which at the time were being phased out of
the naval rating structure. People holding those ratings were absorbed or
converted to Yeoman or Radioman from Teleman and primarily to
Lithographer from Printer. Service-wide examinations for outstanding Chiefs
were held on August 5, 1958, with the first promotions becoming effective on
November 16, 1958. A few months later, a second group of Chiefs from the
February 1959 examinations were elevated to E-8 and E-9 effective on May 16,
1959. The names of the first two groups of selectees are listed in Bureau of
Naval Personnel Notices 1430 of October 17, 1958, and May 20, 1959. It is
noted that after the May 1959 elevations, promotions to E-9 were through
Senior Chief only.
On July 1, 1965, compression of several
ratings at the two top grades was
enforced. Six new rating titles were
created:
•Master Chief Steam Propulsion man
•Master Chief Aircraft Maintenance man
•Master Chief Avionics Technician
•Master Chief Precision Instrument man
•Master Chief Construction man
•Master Chief Equipment man
Spanish American War 1898
 Bennett, James H., Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Marblehead, Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May
1898
 Brady, George F., Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Winslow, Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898
 Cooney, Thomas C., Chief Machinist, USS Winslow, Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898
 Itrich, Franz A., Chief Carpenter's Mate, USS Petrel, Manila, P.I., 1 May 1898
 Johnsen, Hans, Chief Machinist, USS Winslow, Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898
 Montague, Daniel, Chief Master-at-Arms, USS Merrimac, Santiago de Cuba, 2 Jun 1898
 Sunquist, Axel, Chief Carpenter's Mate, USS Marblehead, Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898
1899
 Shanahan, Patrick, Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Alliance, 28 May 1899
 Stokes, John, Chief Master-at-Arms, USS New York, off Jamaica, 31 Mar 1899
Boxer Rebellion 1900
 Clancy, Joseph, Chief Boatswain's Mate, 13, 20, 21, and 22 Jun 1900
 Hamberger, William F., Chief Carpenter's Mate, 13, 20, 21, and 22 Jun 1900
 Petersen, Carl E., Chief Machinist, Peking, China, 28 Jun to 17 Aug 1900
1903-1910
 Bonney, Robert Earl, Chief Watertender, USS Hopkins, 14 Feb 1910
 Clausey, John J., Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Bennington, 21 Jul 1905
 Cox, Robert E., Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Missouri, 13 Apr 1904
 Holtz, Aug, Chief Watertender, USS North Dakota, 8 Sep 1910
 Johannessen, Johannes J., Chief Watertender, USS Iowa, 25 Jan 1905
 Klein, Robert, Chief Carpenter's Mate, USS Raleigh, 25 Jan 1904
 Monssen, Mons, Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Missouri, 13 Apr 1904
 Reid, Patrick, Chief Watertender, USS North Dakota, 8 Sep 1910
 Shacklette, William S., Hospital Steward, USS Bennington, 21 Jul 1905
 Snyder, William E., Chief Electrician, USS Birmingham, 4 Jan 1910
 Stanton, Thomas, Chief Machinist's Mate, USS North Dakota, 8 Sep 1910
 Walsh, Michael, Chief Machinist, USS Leyden, 21 Jan 1903
 Westa, Karl, Chief Machinist's Mate, USS North Dakota, 8 Sep 1910
Vera Cruz 1914
 Bradley, George, Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Utah, Vera Cruz, 1914
1915-1916
 Crilley, Frank W., Chief Gunner's Mate, Honolulu, T.H., 17 Apr 1915
 *Rud, George W., Chief Machinist's Mate, USS Memphis, Santo Domingo, 29 Aug 1916
 Smith, Eugene P., Chief Watertender, USS Decatur, 9 Sep 1915
World War I
 MacKenzie, John, Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Remlik, 17 Dec 1917
 Ormsbee, Francis E., JR., Chief Machinist's Mate, NAS Pensacola, FL, 25 Sep 1918
 Schmidt, Oscar, JR., Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Chestnut Hill, 9 Oct 1918.
1927-1939
 Badders, William, Chief Machinist's Mate, USS Squalus, 13 May 1939
 Crandall, Orson L., Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Squalus, 13 May 1939
 Eadie, Thomas, Chief Gunner's Mate, off Provincetown, Mass., 18 Dec 1927
 McDonald, James H., Chief Metalsmith, USS Squalus, 23 May 1939
World War II
 Finn, John W., [then a Chief Petty Officer], NAS Kaneohe Bay, TH., 7 Dec 1941
 *Peterson, Oscar V., Chief Watertender, USS Neosho, 7 May 1942
 *Tomich, Peter, Chief Watertender, USS Utah, 7 Dec 1941
Though in the works for many years, the position
formally was established as "Senior Enlisted
Advisor of the Navy" in January 1967. Its title
officially was changed to "Master Chief Petty
Officer of the Navy" three months later. The
individual rating specialty marks for the MCPON
was replaced by an inverted star in 1971.
These individuals have served as Master Chief
Petty Officer of the Navy:
1) MCPON Delbert D. Black, USN 13Jan67 - 01Apr71
2) MCPON (NAC/CAC) John "Jack" Whittet, USN 01Apr71 - 25Sep75
3) MCPON Robert Walker, USN 25Sep75 - 28 Sep79
4) MCPON (NAC) Thomas S. Crow, USN 28Sep79 - 01 Oct82
5) MCPON (NAC) Billy C. Sanders, USN 01Oct82 - 04Oct85
6) MCPON (SW) William H. Plackett, USN 04Oct85 - 09Sep88
7) MCPON (AW/NAC) Duane R. Bushey, USN 09Se88 - 28Aug92
8) MCPON (SW/PJ) John Hagan, USN 28Aug92 - 27Mar98
9) MCPON (SS/SW/AW) James L.Herdt 27 Mar. 1998 – 2002
10) MCPON (SS/AW) Terry Scott 2002 – 10 Jul 06
11) MCPON (SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr 10 Jul 06 – 08 Dec 12
12) MCPON (SS/SW) Rick West 10 Dec 12 - Present
The following is a true story told to ATCS(AC) Jack
Reese USN Retired by his uncle, John Reese.
AT the end of World War II, all the towns and cities
across the country were looking for a “Home town boy
makes good” person to celebrate the victory with. Los
Angeles chose Admiral Halsey, whom it was rumored
had done quite well. The ceremony was held on the
steps of the LA county courthouse, and at the end of it
when Halsey was leaving, they had a line of sideboys.
They were active duty and retired Chief Petty
Officers that had been brought in from all over the
country. As he walked through the ranks, my uncle
walked apace on the outside. As Halsey approached
one old CPO that my uncle described as being older
than God, my uncle saw them wink at each other.
Later, at a cocktail party, my uncle had the
opportunity to have a chat with the great Admiral. He
commented on the wink between Halsey and this old
Chief, and asked Halsey if he would mind explaining
it.
Halsey looked at my uncle very seriously, and said this: " That
man was my Chief when I was an Ensign, and no one before or
after taught me as much about ships or men as he did. You
civilians don’t understand. You go down to Long Beach, and
you see those battleships sitting there, and you think that they
float on the water, don’t you? My uncle replied, “Yes sir, I guess
they do”. You are wrong, replied Halsey; they are carried to sea
on the backs of those Chief Petty Officers!
ATCS(AC) Jack Reese USN Retired says "For all of my
uncles fame and money, he thought I had the best job and
position in the world. I think he was right!!"
Leisure time in Vietnam was a commodity, but when it came it
was utilized to the max: catching up on sleep, writing letters
home, or letting off steam at the hootch bar. The latter proved to
be the most popular. But eventually, it too, could become boring
and mundane.
To heighten excitement and foster unit esprit de corps, bullet
clubs were formed. These were comprised of small, elite front line
fighters who each carried a personalized bullet from the weapon
they carried in combat. The ultimate use of the bullet, usually
carried in a hip pocket, was to deny the enemy personal capture.
When an individual entered the hootch bar he would
be challenged by fellow team members to produce his
bullet. If he did, the challengers would pay his bar tab
for the rest of the evening. If he failed to produce his
bullet, he bought drinks for the remainder of the night.
Eventually, personalized bullets took on disbelieving
proportions. Some "teamies" took to carrying 20-, 40-,
or even 150MM cannon shells. Clearly these were not
personalized, coup de grace munitions, but rather
manifestations of perceived individual prowess in
combat or perhaps on R & R.
At the height of the bullet club's heyday, it was not an
uncommon sight to see strewn across a barroom table, a very
respectable representation of the full range of bullets, rockets,
cannon and artillery shells used in Southeast Asia.
In order to gain control of the situation and to avoid accidental
discharge of the large, fully functional munitions, bullets were
traded for coins, which reflected the units symbol and pride. A
controlled number and/or the individual's name personalized
each coin. The rules remained the same, although today they are
greatly expanded.
Loss of your coin was, and remains, tantamount to
eternal disgrace and banishment. To forget your coin, in
anticipation of a challenge, results in minor death.
Emerging from those small, elite groups using bullets
are today's coin challengers. Known to strike anywhere,
at anytime, they insidiously stalk, waiting for the right
moment to attack. An innocent bystander may never
hear the challenge, only the challengee's despairing cry,
"OH I FORGOT MINE!!!"
1. Rules of the coin game must be given or
explained to all new coin holders.
2. The coin MUST be carried at all times. You can
be challenged for it anywhere, at any time. You
must produce the coin without taking more
than 4 steps to produce it.
3. When challenging, the challenger must state
whether it is for a single drink or a round of
drinks.
4. Failure to produce a coin, for whatever reason,
results in a bought round or single drinks
(whatever the challenger stated). Once the
offender (coinless challengee) has bought the
drink or round, they can't be challenged
again.
5. If all that are challenged produce their coins,
the challenger loses and must buy the drinks
for all respondents. This too can be expensive,
so challenge wisely.
6. Under no circumstances can a coin be handed
to another in response to a challenge. If a
person gives their coin to another, that person
can now keep the coin -- it's theirs!!! However,
if a person places the coin down and another
person picks it up to examine it, that is not
considered giving and the examiner is honorbound to place the coin back where they got it.
The examiner can't challenge while they hold
another's coin. After negotiating a
"reasonable" ransom", the examiner must
return the member's coin.
7. If a coin is lost, replacement is up to the
individual. A new coin should be acquired at
the earliest opportunity -- losing a coin and not
replacing it doesn't relieve a member of his or
her responsibilities. This is especially true if
your fellow CPO's know that you traditionally
carry a coin.
8. The coin should be controlled at all times. Giving a
coin to just anyone is like opening a fraternity to just
anyone. It is an honor to be given a coin, let's keep it
that way. A given or awarded coin is of more personal
value than a purchased coin.
9. No holes may be drilled in a coin.
10. The above rules apply to anyone who is worthy to be
given/awarded a coin, has a purchased coin, or who is
known to be a previous coin holder.
I AM A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN THE UNITED
STATES NAVY...
– I SERVE MY COUNTRY AND HER PEOPLE WITH
PRIDE AND HONOR.
– I SEEK NO SPECIAL FAVORS.
– I MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, AND DO THE BEST I CAN
DO.
– I AM CHARGED WITH A LEADERSHIP ROLE LIKE NO
OTHER IN THE WORLD.
– I DEVELOP JUNIOR OFFICERS AND MOLD MY
SAILORS.
– I ACKNOWLEDGE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
ACTIONS OF MY SAILORS…
– BECAUSE THESE SAILORS ARE THE SEEDS OF FUTURE
CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS.
– I LIVE BY THE NAVY'S CORE VALUES OF HONOR,
COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.
– I SET THE EXAMPLE.
– I ESTABLISH THE STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE.
– MY SAILORS ARE STUDENTS AND I AM THEIR
TEACHER.
– I GUIDE AND INFLUENCE THE LIVES OF THESE YOUNG
MEN AND WOMEN.
– IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, I WILL DETERMINE THE
QUALITY OF THESE SAILORS.
– THEY LOOK UP TO ME BECAUSE I TREAT THEM WITH
DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
– BECAUSE THEY NEED A LEADER, I AM THERE FOR
THEM.
– AFTER ALL...
• I AM A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN THE UNITED
STATES NAVY...
NAVY CHIEF…NAVY PRIDE!
During the course of this day you have been caused to humbly accept challenge and face adversity. This you have
accomplished with rare good grace. Pointless as some of these challenges may have seemed, there were valid, timehonored reasons behind each pointed barb. It was necessary to meet these hurdles with blind faith in the fellowship of
Chief Petty Officers. The goal was to instill in you that trust is inherent with the donning of the uniform of a Chief. It
was our intent to impress upon you that challenge is good; a great and necessary reality which cannot mar you - which,
in fact, strengthens you. In your future as a Chief Petty Officer., you will be forced to endure adversity far beyond that
imposed upon you today. You must face each challenge and adversity with the same dignity and good grace you
demonstrated today. By experience, by performance, and by testing, you have been this day advanced to Chief Petty
Officer. In the United States Navy - and only in the United States Navy - the rank of E7 carries with it unique
responsibilities and privileges you are now bound to observe and expected to fulfill. Your entire way of life is now
changed. More will be expected of you; more will be demanded of you. Not because you are a E7 but because you are
now a Chief Petty Officer. You have not merely been promoted one paygrade, you have joined an exclusive fellowship
and, as in all fellowships, you have a special responsibility to your comrades, even as they have a special responsibility
to you. This is why we in the United States Navy may maintain with pride our feelings of accomplishment once we
have attained the position of Chief Petty Officer. Your new responsibilities and privileges do not appear in print. They
have no official standing; they cannot be referred to by name, number, nor file. They have existed for over 100 years,
Chiefs before you have freely accepted responsibility beyond the call of printed assignment. Their actions and their
performance demanded the respect of their seniors as well as their juniors. It is now required that you be the fountain of
wisdom, the ambassador of good will, the authority in personal relations as well as in technical applications. "Ask the
Chief" is a household phrase in and out of the Navy. You are now the Chief. The exalted position you have now
achieved - and the word exalted is used advisedly - exists because of the attitude and performance of the Chiefs before
you. It shall exist only as long as you and your fellow Chiefs maintain these standards. It was our intention that you
never forget this day. It was our intention to test you, to try you, and to accept you. Your performance has assured us
that you will wear "the hat" with the same pride as your comrades in arms before you. We take a deep and sincere
pleasure in clasping your hand, and accepting you as a Chief Petty officer in the United States Navy..
"I can imagine no more rewarding career.
And any man who may be asked in this
century what he did to make his life
worthwhile, I think can respond with a
good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I
served in the United States Navy.'”
President John F. Kennedy,
1 August 1963, in Bancroft Hall at the U. S. Naval Academy.
Chiefs will use heritage to connect
Sailors to their past, teach values and
enhance pride in service to our country.
By: RPC (SW/SCW) Patrick Mondragon