cpo birthday

CPO Birthday01 April 1893 – April 2004

111 Years of Leadership


from 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.”



“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.”



“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.”



“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.”



“Our challenge to Chief Petty Officers of the 21st Century is to reaffirm the commitment to faith and fellowship that have allowed their comrades-in-arms before them to wear "the hat" with tremendous pride.”

The Fouled AnchorThe Fouled Anchor is the emblem of the Rate of Chief Petty Officer

of the United States Navy. Attached to the Anchor is a length of chain and the letters U.S.N. To the novice, the anchor, chain and letters only identify a Chief Petty Officer of the United States Navy, but, to a Chief, these have a more noble and

glorious meaning. The "U" stands for Unity, which reminds us of cooperation,

maintaining harmony and continuity of purpose and action. The "S"stands for Service, which reminds us of service to our God, our fellow man and our Navy. The "N" stands for Navigation,

which reminds us to keep ourselves on a true course so that we may walk upright before God and man in our transactions with

all mankind, but especially with our fellow Chiefs. The Chain is symbolic of flexibility and reminds us of the chain of

life that we forge day by day, link by link and may it be forged with Honor, Morality and Virtue.

The Anchor is emblematic of the hope and glory of the fulfillment of all God's promises to our souls. The golden or precious Anchor by which we must be kept steadfast in faith and

encouraged to abide in our proper station amidst the storm of temptation, affliction and persecution.

The First CHIEF

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.

The Continental Navy established the foundation of relative grades and

classifications that led to the ultimate establishment of the CPO grade

The Most Senior Rate?

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 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.


CPO Ratings as ofApril 1, 1893

Seaman BranchChief Master-at-ArmsChief Boatswain's MateChief QuartermasterChief Gunner's Mate

Artificer BranchChief MachinistChief Carpenter's Mate

Special BranchChief YeomanApothecaryBand Masters

by CWO-4 Lester B. Tucker, USN (Retired)

Senior & Master Chief...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 exam inations 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.

Compression of Rates

On July 1, 1965, compression of several ratings at the two top grades was enforced. Six new rating titles were created: – Master Chief Steam Propulsionman– Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman– Master Chief Avionics Technician– Master Chief Precision Instrumentman– Master Chief Constructionman– Master Chief Equipmentman

Chief Medal of Honor Recipients

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 1898Cooney, 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 1898Johnsen, Hans, Chief Machinist, USS Winslow, Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898 Montague, Daniel, Chief Master-at-Arms, USS Merrimac, Santiago de Cuba, 2 Jun 1898Sunquist, Axel, Chief Carpenter's Mate, USS Marblehead, Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898

1899

Shanahan, Patrick, Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Alliance, 28 May 1899Stokes, 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 1900Hamberger, 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 1910Clausey, John J., Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Bennington, 21 Jul 1905Cox, Robert E., Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Missouri, 13 Apr 1904Holtz, Aug, Chief Watertender, USS North Dakota, 8 Sep 1910Johannessen, Johannes J., Chief Watertender, USS Iowa, 25 Jan 1905Klein, Robert, Chief Carpenter's Mate, USS Raleigh, 25 Jan 1904Monssen, Mons, Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Missouri, 13 Apr 1904Reid, Patrick, Chief Watertender, USS North Dakota, 8 Sep 1910Shacklette, William S., Hospital Steward, USS Bennington, 21 Jul 1905Snyder, William E., Chief Electrician, USS Birmingham, 4 Jan 1910Stanton, Thomas, Chief Machinist's Mate, USS North Dakota, 8 Sep 1910Walsh, Michael, Chief Machinist, USS Leyden, 21 Jan 1903Westa, 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*Rud, George W., Chief Machinist's Mate, USS ., Chief Machinist's Mate, USS MemphisMemphis, Santo Domingo, 29 Aug , Santo Domingo, 29 Aug

19161916Smith, Eugene P., Chief Watertender, USS Decatur, 9 Sep 1915

World War I

MacKenzie, John, Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Remlik, 17 Dec 1917Ormsbee, 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 1939Crandall, Orson L., Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Squalus, 13 May 1939Eadie, Thomas, Chief Gunner's Mate, off Provincetown, Mass., 18 Dec

1927McDonald, 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


MCPON’s

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

Master Chief Gunner Mate Delbert D. Black, USN 13Jan67 - 01Apr71

Master Chief Aviation Machinist Mate John "Jack" Whittet, USN 01Apr71 - 25Sep75

Master Chief Operations Specialist Robert Walker, USN 25Sep75 - 28 Sep79

Aviation Master Chief Thomas S. Crow, USN 28Sep79 - 01 Oct82

Master Chief Avionics Technician Billy C. Sanders, USN 01Oct82 - 04Oct85

Master Chief Operations Specialist William H. Plackett, USN 04Oct85 - 09Sep88

Master Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Duane R. Bushey, USN 09Se88 - 28Aug92

Master Chief Electronics Technician (SW) John Hagan, USN 28Aug92 - 27Mar98

Master Chief Machinist Mate (SS/SW/AW) James L.Herdt 27 Mar. 1998 –22APR02

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SS/AW) Terry D. Scott 22APR02 - Present

MCPON’s

Admiral HalseyThe 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.

Admiral Halsey

Halsey looked at me 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!!"

Admiral Halsey

CPO Coin HistoryLeisure 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.

CPO Coin History

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.

CPO Coin History

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!!!"

CPO Coin History

CPO Coin Challenge Rules 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.

CPO Coin Challenge Rules 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.

CPO Coin Challenge Rules 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 honor-bound 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.

CPO Coin Challenge Rules 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.

CPO Coin Challenge Rules 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 coinholder.

THE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER'S PLEDGE

• 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 COMMITTMENT.

– 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...

“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

,

Bancroft Hall at the U. S. Naval Academy.

Chief’s lost in the line of duty

HMC(SEAL) Matthew J. Bourgeois Lost in Kandahar, Afghanistan March 28, 2002.

ITC Donald McArthur Young, ITC Gregg Harold Smallwood and RMC Marvin Roger Woods USN (RET)Lost at the Pentagon, September 11, 2001.

ETC Richard Costelow & ENC Andrew TriplettBoth lost onboard USS COLE DDG 67 on October 12,

2000. ENC (SEAL) Don McFaul

Lost in Panama on December 21, 1989. ETC Michael W. Gorchinski, & HMC George W.

PiercyLost in Beirut, Lebanon on October 23, 1983.

Created & updated by

CSCS(SW/AW) Binda

USS NIMITZ CVN 68

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FHOTC Camp Pendleton

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Be safe, be strong and lead from the front!Be safe, be strong and lead from the front!

cpo birthday

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