I enlisted in the Navy April 8, 1964 as an AR and was promoted to ADJC on September 13, 1972. I was 25 years old. I never received a time wavier. I made ADCS in 1978 an switched to the Warrant program and made W4 then to the LDO program. I also knew an AME who had eight years in when he made AMEC. It could be done.

Of course it's possible. The Navy is selecting more people early every year.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (SW/AW) (sel) Joe Lemanek recently joined the ranks of chief petty officer at just 24 years, eight months of age.

Lemanek, assigned to Navy Information Operations Command at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, has been in the Navy for five years and five months.

"I feel there is always room to improve and that you cannot possibly be prepared for everything you will encounter," said Lemanek said of his relatively short time in the service. "I’ve seen and done a lot in my short time in, but the biggest thing that helped me is that I’ve always learned something wherever I went and I’ve always succeeded because of the teams that have supported me."

His mother, Laura, 48, a reservist with 19 years combined active and reservist service, currently on a one-month activation to Chinhae, Korea, was also selected to become a chief boatswain’s mate for this cycle. Mom and son have spoken on several occasions about their selections.

"She’s (mother) obviously very proud and a little worried," said Lemanek. "She made sure to point out that she will always be my senior no matter where my career takes me."

"When he told me he made board I was excited, but also knew that with him being in under six years that the odds were going to be against him," said Laura. "When he told me he was selected, it was one of those ‘are you kidding me’ moments, and then I told him how proud I was of him and how excited I was for him. We laughed together, talked about his brothers. We are very supportive of each other."

Lemanek joined the Navy in 2002 as an E-2, was selected for accelerated advancement out of A-school and was frocked to E-4 in May of 2003. He made it to the rank of E-5 as soon as he was eligible and followed it up with early promotes on his evaluations, which allowed him to take both his E-6 and chief tests a year early. He made each of those on the first try. On the chief’s board he was the last of 51 to be selected for advancement

"I’m absolutely stoked," Lemanek said. "I have a lot to learn, but I hope I have a lot to offer to the Navy and Chief’s Mess."

Chief inductions are a deep-rooted, traditional six-week long conversion of Sailors selected to become the Navy’s future leaders. "We’re training them to be our replacements," said NAS Whidbey Island Command Master Chief (AW/SW) Francis Bagarella. "They’ve had grooming earlier in their careers from their leaders and we’re just putting on the finishing touches."

http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.php/navigator/n...comes_family_affair/

I was a 1 red hash mark AEC, and a 2 red hash mark AECS in 1978- 10 1/2 years. I was eligible for AVCM in 1981 with 13 years active service and they came out with the early candidate bull----. You had to have 19 years service to be a in zone candidate. I had top 1% performance and was told by people serving on the board that my record wasn't even looked at for 3 boards because I was an early candidate (now 16 years). I was being run around by people that made CPO after I made SCPO. Then they came out with the rule you had to serve 2 years to put on MCPO. I was a Kiddie cruiser and was eligible for retirement at 18 1/2 years and wouldn't be a full candidate until I had 19 years service-three years in the future and 9 years in grade!!!. I put a letter in not to be considered for MCPO at 16 1/2 years and went out at 18 1/2. The system left me a little piss-- off, I had done my part but was held back because I didn't have enough total time in the Navy, not that I hadn't served the required time in grade.

I started Bootcamp in July of 1960 (San Diego) I put the "Hat" on in May of 1970

Not sure what the time requirements are today but it could be and was done back in those days. As can be seen by the experience of a number of posters before me.

BMCS Ret.

quote:

Originally posted by 12049441:
I enlisted in the Navy April 8, 1964 as an AR and was promoted to ADJC on September 13, 1972. I was 25 years old. I never received a time wavier. I made ADCS in 1978 an switched to the Warrant program and made W4 then to the LDO program. I also knew an AME who had eight years in when he made AMEC. It could be done.

In my experience/opinion it is and will remain a bad idea to promote anyone to chief at such early age and or time frame. Ten yrs would be the earliest that would seem adequate to me. I have only two reasons for why I feel this way and they are: Young recruits and petty officers are supposed to look up to chiefs for their life/navy long experiences and thier salty maturity...

Now Kingsmate I know I have read that you made it in six yrs and since reading your posts I believe you are one of a few exceptions to my thinking...But I would bet if the ability to survey a large group of your fellow chiefs in respect to being advanced under ten yrs you would fall into a small group.

My way of thinking which relates to the Navy of today more then likely would not be a good fit. I am happy that when I served it was still truer to that of the Navys great & honorable past...

Good point. I'm not really too sure on that though. I've never really met any young Chiefs or served with any. Last year I made it with a a guy who was at 7. So we were both babies. Both of us are just fine. It has a lot to do with the type of people that we are and also with the Chief's Mess that we have here. I wonder how it is with some other young Chiefs. Everything I've heard about this new 5.5 year Chief has been good to go as well.

quote:

Everything I've heard about this new 5.5 year Chief has been good to go as well.

Yes, 5 yrs is truly amazing. Must went directly to SEA...but some rates do not require LPO@SEA. Different rates, different strokes... I'm assuming CTT(SEL) had 1 E6 evals and it must have been an HELLUVA write up. Obviously he did something right? Thank God I'm not a CT, because I would be scratching my head??? Asking myself where did I go wrong? lol!

quote:

Originally posted by sosailor2001:
I made e-7 at nine years and sc at 15 in the early 60's..it's all about quotas and knowing your specialty. Mine was EM

What's the prospect of making Chief if you rate is a Yeoman?

It is entirely possible to make Chief in 10 years. I enlisted in August '83 and made Chief in '94.

How about Sr Chief in 11 1/2 years. For real.

I dont want to brag, but my husband went into the Navy in 1997 and just made chief this past September...so I will add that it is entirely possible.
I'm proud.

quote:

Originally posted by NIMITZRIDER:

quote:

Everything I've heard about this new 5.5 year Chief has been good to go as well.

Yes, 5 yrs is truly amazing. Must went directly to SEA...but some rates do not require LPO@SEA. Different rates, different strokes... I'm assuming CTT(SEL) had 1 E6 evals and it must have been an HELLUVA write up. Obviously he did something right? Thank God I'm not a CT, because I would be scratching my head??? Asking myself where did I go wrong? lol!

Although a CT myself, I'm not scratching my head about why I'm not a Chief yet. We had a CTR1 pick up CTRC in the same 5.5 year timeframe. It's crazy to look at someone that's only been in 5.5 years and say "Chief". Then again, "Sir" has never been a problem for the USNA grads...

I was stationed at FOCCPAC 65-67 and there were a couple of MA Chiefs (data pushers I saw one thread say) I believe they were called Machine Accountant or something of that nature who came in the Navy as E-7's. Now I may be in the middle of a CRAFT attach or a bit on the CRS side but that is the way it was. Do any of you history buffs know what my command letters stood for? Well see if you can get it, Westpac Willie, by the way I do Christmas so Have a Merry One

Ah... Red Stripe Chief.. I made Red Stripe Chief in 89 too. I had a little problem keeping my stripes.

quote:

Originally posted by p3sailor:
In 1989 I made Chief with a "Red Stripe" Chief.. was an AW... At COP Leadership school, 1990, in Little Creek met a "Red Stripe" SCPO.. a nuke MM.. was a PO3 out of school..

Its entirely possible, especially back then.

My grandfather joined in 1945 at 16 (lied about his age) as an e1, retired 21 years later as an O4 working at the Pentagon. Yet he never had a formal education past the 8th grade and was one of the youngest Chiefs in the Navy when he was one. NOW, well, its obvious things have changed. But I wouldn't be too surprised about back then.

I went to bootcamp Jan. 15 1990 and made SCO Aug. 27 1996. So yes it is entirely possible.

Waht is SCO, do you mean SCPO I detect a fraud

It is definitely possible depending on the rate. My husband got selected. He will be pinned 3 days after his 8 year mark.

quote:

Originally posted by 4376469:
I went to bootcamp Jan. 15 1990 and made SCO Aug. 27 1996. So yes it is entirely possible.

It is probaly just a typo "SCO" but if he is suggesting he made Senior Chief Petty Officer in six years, well need I say more!

I made Chief on the last FTGC test in 95 just short of 10 years. The FC Rate started after that.

Honestly, I was not the sharpest tool in the shed.... I did keep my nose clean, made ESWS as a PO2, the first on my ship the USS Coontz DDG-40. I had 2 ships and 6 years of sea duty under my belt. Did well in "C" school as a student.

But most importantly, the DRUG TESTING of the late 70's and early 80's took out allot of the really smart guys and left a hole in the conveyor belt of time.... I was a E1 out of Boot Camp, made Push Button 3rd out of "C" School, made E5 First time up and E6 First time up and E7 First time up.... Had weight problems late in my Career and missed E8.....

I am a happily retired Chief... And love it....

Sorry Chief. No outside links allowed. -TMC
AL

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TMC_SW_Ret,