132 to E-7 aboard NAS Jax

The chief selectees, in their crisp summer white uniform, quickly mustered and assumed the Navy ''at ease'' pose, as NAS Jacksonville Command Master Chief CMDCM (AW/SW) Chris Green proceeded to greet each of the Sailors.

''This is a momentous occasion for these men and women standing here today,'' remarked Green. ''They represent just about every tenant command aboard the base and in few weeks, the indoctrination period will be over, a traditional Navy initiation will take place and each one of them will return to their commands and assume positions of leadership and added responsibilities.''

The prospective chiefs learned of their selection last month via a naval message sent by the Chief of Naval Operations.

''When the results were released and I learned that my name was on the list, it felt kind of surreal,'' said a jubilant AG1(SW) Jamie McClain of Naval Atlantic Meteorological Oceanographic Facility, Jacksonville.

''This is my third time up and I am shocked that I finally made it. Now I hope to finish my degree in meteorology and get orders to Germany,'' he added.

According to Green, the 132 selectees have been undergoing intensive leadership training since Aug. 1.

''Everyone who plans to make the Navy their career wants to become a chief,'' Green said. ''However, not everyone has what it takes to wear the Navy khaki uniform and ultimately be accepted into the Chief's Mess. There is a lot of tradition involved in the process and the enlisted leadership aboard the base is ensuring these Sailors are up to the challenge.''

Green further explained that in today's Navy an E7 is a skillful tactician who the commanding officer relies upon when seeking advice or information.

He said that the new breed of chief petty officers are ''smart, well educated leaders, with a strong sense of fairness and a strict adherence to the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment.''

''From sunrise to sundown, these young people are undergoing CPO and CPO21 training,'' Green said.

''These two facets of the indoctrination process cover everything from uniform history and naval tradition to teaching the E7 selectees to think and act like a chief petty officer,'' he continued. ''It's not easy being a blue shirt one morning and suddenly becoming a khaki. It takes training and this is why we spend seven weeks preparing them for the challenge ahead.''

Before the initiation on Sept. 16, some of the chief selects will travel to Boston, Mass. on a heritage trip. During the trip, they will spend time aboard USS Constitution and familiarize themselves with 18th century guns, undergo sails training and participate in physical readiness and community service activities.

''Once they arrive on board USS Constitution, they will become part of the crew and will be able to learn naval history firsthand,'' Green explained, proudly. ''Our 21st century Navy is a technological marvel. However, we owed all of our advances and ingenuity to the Sailors that came before us; to those that often sailed the high seas without food or water.''

The rest of the group will head to Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., where they will revisit the basics of boot camp and learn additional leadership skills.

According VS-22 AM1 (AW/SW) Dawn Bryce, a 16-year Navy veteran, the selection to the rank of chief petty officer is thrilling. ''I have had an outstanding career and I am really looking forward to sharing my experiences with the junior Sailors,'' she said. ''Also, I look forward to playing a leadership role in the development of the future Navy.''

When asked about his selection to E7 and what the future holds, PR1 (AW/SW/FMF) Warren Dykes of Aircraft Interme-diate Maintenance Detach-ment Jacksonville replied, ''Liberating! Because I am actually going to be able to lead and make decisions.'' Dykes ultimate goal is to become a warrant officer.

The newly appointed Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen recently gave creedence to the role of a chief and reminded those present that when a Sailor puts on khakis, he is no longer a machinist's mate or fire controlman or culinary specialist. According to Mullen, ''the Sailor is a chief and he is responsible for one thing, and that is leading.''

The U.S. Navy is full of history, however, some will argue that none is more colorful than that of the chief petty officer. Since April 1883, when the grade of E7 was created thousands of Sailors have undergone the ''chief's initiation.''

But, according naval records, the first Sailor to have the title of ''chief'' was Jacob Wasbie, a cook's mate serving on board Alfred one of Continental Navy warships during the Revolu-tionary War. Navy records indicate that Wasbie was promoted to ''Chief Cook'' on June 1, 1776.