I was in San Diego recently and found out they got rid of the the CPO club? Now all they have is an "All Hands Club?" Please tell me it's not true! Was invited to that club many times over 26 years and had a super time. Except when I was defense council or something like that at a Chief's initation. Cost me a frigg'n fortune! LOL CPO Club in Subic Bay was the best though...uhhhh, memories!
I think all of the services did away with separate clubs among the enlisted ranks. I'm stationed on an Army post right now, and the "NCO Club" is really for ALL enlisted. Supposedly, even the Marine Corps did away with their Staff NCO Clubs awhile back.
There's still a CPO Club on Dam Neck in VA Beach. I am not sure about Oceana, but I am pretty sure there's one on Norfolk. My husband goes to the one on Dam Neck pretty much any Friday afternoon he's able!
There was one at Naval Base Kitsap back in 2005. Far as I know it's still running.
Nothing necessarily wrong with an "All Hands" club, but there was something nice about having a separate place where the senior folks could get together and relax after liberty call if we wanted to.
To the OP, the Chiefs club at 32nd street is gone but they still have one at North Island that I go to when I'm in town. On one hand it's kind of disappointing the turnout that you find in there most evenings but Friday nights are pretty good, but on the other hand, at least it is still there and opening it's doors for a place for Chiefs to get together.
Also, I was in Bahrain for 8 months in '05/06 and they still had a Chiefs club there. Beautiful facility but a virtual ghost town! The only time I ever saw anyone in there was when they would have thier monthly meetings. Order up food, put money and the bar and whoop it up for an hour or two and then nothing until next month - pretty disappointing!
I would say that this is the reason that most of the clubs have closed, lack of participation by the Chiefs.
Well Chief's I guess it has finally happened,the hat has gone to hell in a hand bag.I put the hat on in 1971 was initiated at the Goat locker at Little Creek Va (IUWG-2).The Court was appointed by the Most Senior Captain in the Navy,an was made up of 1 CWO SEAL porkchop,1 E9 SeaBee excess of 30years(The Judge),and assortide other 7,8,and9's.My transformation from an petty officer to a Chief Petty Officer started at 0800 and continued untill about 1400+(as I recall). I was elected as the chairman of the board for the CPO Club at Charleston SC. The area Chiefs sonsered and supported their club and participated in initiations,and were continued to do so until retired in 1978.Bottom line if you as CPO's of the 21 centry do not support YOUR CLUB and support the initiation as they have been for held in Goat lockers CPO clubs Navy wide since the days of Rocks and Shoals so be it but you are not welcome in my goat locker.
Actually there's been more of a resurgence in Chiefs clubs over the past 6-7 years. They had almost completely faded away in the States by the late 90's, but fortunately the Mess didn't let that happen and now more new ones have been opened as well as older ones being renovated or reestablished. Granted, they're not quite like they used to be (nothing ever is)...also, some of the CPO clubs have a lounge/restaurant that is open to all hands during lunch hours, or for other occasions. Am a plankowner of the Green Anchor CPO club that was re-established in 2002 at NAB Coronado. In the States I've also been to the CPO clubs at North Island, Port Hueneme, Great Lakes, Norfolk, Little Creek, Oceana, and Mayport.
Last summer stayed at the beach cottages at NAS Pensacola. The CPO club was never open, went there on Friday night to have some fun and the bar keep said they were closed early-every one left, this was 2100. She said been that way for years-afraid of dwi's? Your right great view -but never open.
Once you have been to the Subic CPO club, you never had to go over the bridge-order what ever you wanted right to your room-I mean everything-especially the LBFM-TACK-PBR's it was hard wanting to go to the stateside clubs, with maybe a partial exception to ladies night at the chief's club in San Diego, barracks room right down the street. Aw those California girls.
