Happy Chief's Day. A day none of us will ever forget! I was initiated by choice at SIMA New York 12 years ago today! Let's hear from you, when and where?
Actually the pinning wasn't held until the 22nd 'cause the CO wanted to wait until we hit a port....Kagoshima. Then we had another pinning for the wives once we got back to Sasebo.
Williams969, Thank you sir. It is a dream come true. I never expected to be selected. I am truly honored to be a member of the best brotherhood known to man.
September 1981, Malaga Spain, aboard USNS Rigel T-AF-58. Hosted by the Chief's Mess of a sister active USN (military) AFS.
Wet, messy, tiring, and joyful (not to mention somewhat expensive - post initiation!). A day in my life of which I will never forget even the minutest of details... and the sheer joy of personal accomplishment of a life-long goal.
While wearing "The Hat" was never easy, it was fulfilling and gave me many new skills and experiences that have stood me in good stead for the rest of my life. The "management" and "leadership" aspects prepared me in ways to run my own business in "retirement" that regular, straight-coupled civilians never learn.
To say the transition to the civilian world was difficult would be putting it mildly... but as a hard-core, experienced "chief" - I was prepared for any circumstance and situation. When I discovered that my naval training and experience worked for running one's own business, I was off like a shot - and haven't looked back since.
Thank you to the entire Chief Petty Officer community (past) for all that you have shared with me... and to those that follow, I have one piece of advice.... Learn, practice, and apply all that you CAN learn. They are life-skills that are rarely bestowed on any human being. Your real leadership skills have high value, no matter where you apply them. Value and earn from that which is given you freely by your CPO shipmates. You are a rare, one-of-a-kind in this world - use it well.
Fair winds and following seas... Congratulations all on your accomplishment!
December 1988 at the CPO club, Norfolk Naval Station. I was under the ice during the regular time, and the Chief Da Boat refused to do anything underway. Just me, with all the new CPO's joining in. Imagine 50 people and you're the only one. Man, I'll never forget that. Was damn cold too.
NASNI 1996 aaahhhh, I can still taste the anchovy paste. I was an ahem.. "Special Case".
Placed some rainbow stickers on all of the vehicles in the parking lot with a Chief sticker on it, put some of the hottest hot sauce (specially made) in some of my favorite Chiefs omlets that morning, and found out that if you break open a sea dye marker packet and sprinkle a little of the powder in a shoe while you shine them, it turns the socks bright green. Was caught with a squirt gun full of ink on initiation day. Hucked my favorite Senior Chief's pee cutter into the surf then ran out into the surf hoping he would come out after me! Paid dearly for some of it. Just little stuff!!
