Last modified Wed., August 16, 2006 - 04:07 PM
Originally created Thursday, August 17, 2006

Making the grade to CPO

By MC2 Brian Smarr, Staff Writer

From left, HS-15 Executive Officer Todd Flannery congratulates AE1 Victor Barrera and AO1 Nestor Ortiz who were selected to become chief petty officers. Photo by MC2 Brian Smarr

The U.S. Navy has a 113-year tradition - the fraternity of chief petty officers (CPO), the backbone of the force, the people who truly get the job done. Sept. 16 is an important day in many Sailors' lives. Traditionally that day has marked the official transition from petty officer first class to CPO, the cross over from blue to khaki.

Established April 1, 1893, the chief rank has endured over 100 years of metamorphosis. From being simply a military job title to an actual pay grade, the CPO mess has undergone changes to rates as well. At the end of World War II, there were 207 CPO rates. Merges and disestablishments have changed that number to around 81 current CPO rates. The Navy looks at promotion from pay grade E6 to E7 as a major shift in duties and responsibilities.

AOC Darren Young of HS-15, described one of the hardest aspects to the transition. ''Selectees have to leave the hands-on side of the house and become leaders and mentors in their field. They become the experts and have to manage their junior personnel. It's an integral part of their transition,'' noted Young.

To help selectees adapt to their new roles in the fleet, current CPOs train them in everything from military etiquette to time management. Additionally, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy has estab-

ished requirements the CPO selectees must complete prior to their pinning ceremony. The course topics include:

Situational leadership II

Self-management

Managing change

The mentoring manager

Ethical decision-making

Most selectees voluntarily undergo a six-week transition involving odd tasks, fund raising, community projects and physical training, capped off by an anchor pinning ceremony. The fouled anchor is the emblem of the rate of CPO of the United States Navy.

To the novice, the anchor, chain and letters identify just a CPO, but to a chief and a chief select, these have a more noble and glorious meaning.

''This is one of the greatest milestones of my naval career. I waited a long time to get here,'' stated AO1 Nestor Ortiz who will soon be promoted.

To many, putting on the anchors it is as much as and more than the accomplishment as receiving their first petty officer chevron.

''It's a good feeling going from airman to third class petty officer. Take those feelings and multiply them by 1,000 and that's just the start of how you feel when you make chief,'' added AE1 Victor Barrera , who will also be promoted in September.

''As a chief's mess throughout the Navy we train the newly selected to transition into our ranks and be prepared to lead and train those in our charge,'' said Young.

The following individuals from NAS Jacksonville and tenant commands will be frocked to chief petty officer Sept. 16:

AW1 David Allen, Commander Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic

HM1 Abdon DePeralta, Naval Hospital Jacksonville

IT1 Charlotte Derricot, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Jax

AD1 Timothy Drake, VP-45

AM1(AW) Neal McKenzie, VP-45

AT1 Henry Morgan III, Commander Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic

AME1 Ethan Walz, VP-45

AD1 Paul Yannucci, VP-45

BM1 Jamie Hamilton, NAS Jax Air Operations

GM1(SW) Sean Holmes, NAS Jax Weapons Department

CM1(SCW) Richard Isaacs, NCWRON

AC1 Anterio Mack, NAS Jacksonville

AO1 Craig Romero, NAS Jacksonville

TM1(SW) Charles Taylor Jr., NAS Jax Weapons Department

AE1 Tracy Witherspoon, NAS Jax Brig

AM1 Christopher Cox, VP-30

AM1 Gregory Jacobson, VP-30

AD1 Guy Mitchell Jr., VP-30

AO1 Daniel Ortiz, VP-30

AW1 Fernando Padilla, VP-30

AD1 Jeff Riebe, VP-30

AM1 Jennifer Williams, VP-30

AT1(AW) Richard Ayres, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AS1 Hope Kulaszewski, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AT1 Christopher Massicotte, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

HM1 Todd Mays, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AE1 Chad McRae, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

EM1 Andrew Morris, Naval Hospital Jacksonville

AE1 Frank Ragin Jr., Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit

AD1 Ray Ruiz, VS-31

AE1(AW/NAC) Gerald Stephens, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

IT1(SW/AW) Sharron Carter, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AE1(AW/SW) Raymond Derrick, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AT1(AW) Michael Fair, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AS1 Daniel Fields Jr., Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AD1(AW/NAC) Robert Gonzales, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AT1 George Nieder, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AO1(AW/SW) Victor Almodovar, VP-30

AD1 Randall Benson, VP-30

AW1 Antony Bishop, VP-30

AT1 Loyd Cooper, Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven

AM1 Real Servant, VP-30

OS1 Lawrence Soupene, Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven

AM1 Gregory Spivey, VP-30

AT1 Joe Turner, Jr. VP-30

AD1 Rafael Arias, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax

SK1 Richard Cruz, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax

NC1 Johnny Fulger IV, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax

AE1 George Kondos, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax

YN1 Robert Parker, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax

AT1 Kurt Prenger, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax

AD1 Paul Schweickert, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax

AD1 John Steele, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax

AD1 Amado Valencia, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax

HM1 Jennifer Williams, Naval Hospital Jax

AX1 Dwayne Carswell, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AM1 Scott Graziani, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AS1 Michael Hopper, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AS1 Timothy McDormack, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AT1 Rodney Rose, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AT1(AW) Lucio Salazar, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax

AE1 Victor Barrera, HS-15

AZ1 Jerome Crawford, HS-3

AE1 Michael Debord, VS-31

AE1 Bernard Flynn, HS-5

AZ1 Trent Harris, HS-5

AZ1 Perrish Ingram, HS-7

AT1 Heather Lunny, HS-5

AO1 Nestor Ortiz, HS-15

AM1 Linda Smith, HS-7

AZ1(AW) Jessie Barton, VP-5

AM1(AW) Travell Davis, VP-5

AO1 Robert Eidson, VS-31

AD1 Dianna Fiordiliso, Naval Air Depot Jax

IT1(SW) Latrina Lovette, VP-5

CS1(SW) Marco Phifer, VP-5

AD1 Paul Starcher, VP-5

AD1(AW) Chris Tabler, VP-5

AM1(AW/NAC) Alfred Wilson, VP-5

AO1(AW/SW) Corey Bossardet, Sea Control Weapons School

PR1 Robert Colgan, VS-31

NC1 Aaron Jackson, VS-22

SK1 Carolyn Joseph, VS-24

AD1 David King, VS-24

AE1 Tara Novakowski, Transient Personnel Unit Jax

AD1 Kenneth Smith, VS-24

AM1 Mark Benino, VP-30

AT1 Scott Gamble, VP-30

AT1(AW/NAC) John Markee, VP-30

IT1 John Muller, Naval Hospital Jax

AT1 Leonard Myers, VP-30

AM1 Jason Partagas, VP-30

AW1 Shannon Roy, VP-30

GM1 Sherman Stevenson, IBU-28

OS1 Robert Hendrickson, NCWS-26

OS1 Barry Hagen, IBU-28

HM1 Damon Anderson, MIUW 207

GM1 Gary Nelson, IBU-28

YN1 Jennifer Ceci, IBU-28

YN1 Angela Witherspoon, NMCB-14

AW1 Douglas Martin, VP-30

AE1(AW/NAC) Everett Evans, VP-62

YN1 Christina Lupton, VP-30

SK1 Dedrick Middleton, VR-58

AM1 Bryan Maney, VP-62

AM1 Brian Scott, HS-5

AM1 Leonard Franco, VR-58

YN1 Natarsha Bell, HS-75

YN1(AW) Christopher Reid, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Southeast

PR1(AW) Johnny Ridling, HS-75

HM1 Jonathon Wells, DVECC Jax

AW1 Kevin Ambuehl, HS-75

AO1 Damon Smith, Navy Operational Support Center Jax

YN1 Michael Woods, Personnel Mobile Team

HM1 Natalie Avery, Naval Hospital Jacksonville

SK1 James Hightower, Navy Operational Support Center Jax

MA1 Thomas Hill, Navy Operational Suppor t Center Jax

HM1 Michelle Duncan, DVECC Jax

AE1(AW) Quintin Townsend, VP-62

GSE1 Mat Legaspi, Navy Operational Support Center Jax

YN1 Carmen Rivera, VR-58

AW1 Jason Haynes, VP-62

MC1 Dawn Montgomery, Public Affairs Center Det. 208

AW1 Gerald Jones, VP-30

SK1 Henry Vinson, Navy Operational Support Center Jax

AW1 Christopher Billings, HS-75

AW1 Michael Johnson, VP-62

AE1 Jeannette Wright, VP-62

BU1 David Heesch, CHB 11

MA1(SW) James Douglas, Navy Operation Support Center Jax

IS1(SS) Eric Lewis, Navy Operation Support Center Jax

AM1 Leyton Saunders, VR-58

HM1 Hubert Williams, Naval Hospital Jacksonville