So yesterday August 1st right after my sister arrived (she is moving here) Josh logged into see the results of the CPO selection board. For those who have no idea what this is, its a very competitive selection board in the Navy for each job field. Only the top notch performers are selected to be "Chiefs" or "Experts" in their field. Josh was picked and we are
sooooooooooooooo happy for him and for us. Yes, this means a long
strenuous 6 week "boot camp" style indoctrination. Mostly physical and
psychological games. I know he will be fine, but will I/WE???? I got a call from his old Senior Chief who encouraged me to call them if there is any out of the ordinary behavior "stress/depression" at home. He said to expect noto see him for 6 weeks, up to 18 hour days. I actually had to ask him if that is any different then what I'm already experiencing in the Navy, I mean really he is NEVER home!!! I'm the mom and the dad but
thats just what we do I guess.
He is pinned and changes his unform on September 16
th, exactly on my 37 week of pregnancy! So I was hoping to get this baby out on my 38
th week, but that is only 1 week of rest before he comes!!! I guess we will see what baby Spencer decides to do. If he comes early (Caleb at 36 weeks) then Josh will be there of course.
However, 4-6 weeks after baby comes bye bye Josh for half a year! Yep, no daddy, husband or friend for a while. Its going to be crazy and I mean that in every way possible but I am one of the strongest people I know so I have faith God will use my strengths to pull all four (including 3 boys) through it! Keep us all in your prayers. This is going to be a crazy 8 months ahead but something tells me if we have faith and trust that God brought us here knowing that we can survive, we will be okay!
More very interesting info on Chiefs and what it means in the Navy:
Chief Petty Officer is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Petty Officer First Class and below Senior Chief Petty Officer, and is a senior non-commissioned officer. The grade of Chief Petty Officer was established on April 1, 1893 for the Navy.[1] The United States Congress first authorized the Coast Guard to use the promotion to Chief Petty Officer on 18 May 1920.[2]
Unlike Petty Officer First Class and lower ranks, advancement to Chief Petty Officer not only carries requirements of time in service, superior evaluation scores, and specialty examinations, but also carries an added requirement of peer review. A Chief Petty Officer can only advance after review by a selection board of serving Senior and Master Chief Petty Officers, in effect "choosing their own" and conversely not choosing others.[3]
Advancement into the Chief Petty Officer grades is the most significant promotion within the enlisted naval ranks. At the rank of Chief, the Sailor takes on more administrative duties. In the Navy, their uniform changes to reflect this change of duty, becoming identical to that of an officer's uniform except with different insignia. Sailors in the three Chief Petty Officer ranks also have conspicuous privileges such as separate dining and living areas. Any naval vessel of sufficient size has a room or rooms that are off-limits to anyone not a Chief (including officers) except by specific invitation (if one is invited to eat in the Chief's Mess, it is customary to eat everything on the plate no matter what condiments are added by members of the Chief's Mess to enhance one's dining experience). In Navy jargon, this room is called the Chief's Mess, or tongue in cheek, the "goat locker". In addition, a Chief Petty Officer, no matter how much he was on "first name" basis with other petty officers before promotion, is always addressed as "Chief" by subordinates and superiors.
Chief Petty Officers serve a triple role as technical experts, leaders, and inspectors, with the emphasis being more on leadership as they progress through the CPO ranks. A recognized, collateral duty for all Chiefs is the training of Junior Officers. Like Petty Officers, every Chief has both a rate (rank) and rating (job, similar to an MOS in other branches). A Chief's full title is a combination of the two. Thus, a Chief Petty Officer who has the rating of Gunner's Mate would properly be called a Chief Gunner's Mate.[4]
Each rating has an official abbreviation, such as QM for Quartermaster, BM for Boatswain's Mate, or FC for Fire Controlman. When combined with the petty officer level, this gives the short-hand for the chief's rank, such as BMC for Chief Boatswain's Mate. It is not uncommon practice to refer to the chief by this short hand in all but the most formal correspondence (such as printing and inscription on awards). Mostly, though, they are simply called "Chief", regardless of rating.
The Chief Petty Officer's insignia is a perched eagle with spread wings (often, affectionately, referred to as a "crow") above three chevrons topped by a rocker. These are red, but if a Navy chief has at least 12 consecutive years of good conduct service in the armed forces, the chevrons and rocker may be worn in gold. A Coast Guard chief petty officer's sleeve insignia is always gold regardless of the conduct of service. In either case, the Chief's particular rating emblem is displayed below the crow, within the area bordered by the rocker and the uppermost chevron.
U.S. Navy arm insignia for a Chief Yeoman (This is what I was in the Navy)
On the dress blue uniform (and variants such as mess whites), the insignia is worn on the left arm of the uniform blouse (or "suit coat" in civilian terminology). On all other uniforms, the insignia used is worn on the collar and has become universally accepted as the symbol of the Chief Petty Officer, which is a fouled (entwined in the anchor chain) gold anchor superimposed with the letters "USN" in silver in the Navy, or a silver shield in the Coast Guard.
In the U.S. Navy, officers and Chiefs are often colloquially referred to as "khakis". This is a reference to the color of their most common shipboard working uniforms, and is a direct contrast to those in pay grades E-6 and below (deckplate sailors, or blueshirts). However, the Navy has a new working uniform for paygrades below E-7 which consists of a khaki shirt and black trousers. This has caused some dissent within the upper enlisted and officer ranks.[5][6][7] In the Coast Guard, petty officers, chief petty officers, warrant officers, and commissioned officers all wear similar uniforms.
[edit] Induction
Previously, once selected for advancement to Chief, the selectee was made to endure a period of indoctrination and mentoring by his or her cognizant Chief's Mess. The selectee was assigned a sponsor who supervises the selectee's indoctrination. A "charge book", decorated in the manner with advice from the Sponsor, was presented by the selectee for signature to every Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief in the local area. These Chiefs would provide written tasks, ask questions, or provide guidance to the selectee. The Chiefs would also assess favors, "offenses to the Mess" or "charges" written in the selectee's charge book in the case of the selectee's performance being "fabulous". The charge book would be taken into evidence at the end of the indoctrination period. The indoctrination period would culminate with a ceremony known as Initiation.
Initiation would commonly begin at midnight and last throughout that night and into the next day ending around midday, typically 16 September, the day Chief Petty Officers are pinned yearly. Schedules vary depending on command policy and mission availability. selectees were ordered to muster in their utility uniforms with the "Dixie Cup" Sailor's white hat. At some point during the initiation, the selectee's "Dixie Cup" hat is laid to rest and usually eulogized by the selectee. This represents the transition into the Chief's community.
Initiations were attended only by previously initiated active duty and retired Chiefs. During initiation the selectee would stand before "" and be judged for his favors as read from his charge book. The sentences varied by the severity of the offenses. "Punishment" was carried out as part of the initiation. A selectee may, at any time after selection results are posted, elect to forgo the initiation process. Participation in the initiation ceremony was purely voluntary.
After initiation, the selectees were then recognized by their peers as fellow Chief Petty Officers and welcomed into the "Chief's Mess". The selectees were then allowed to bathe and don their new Khaki uniforms, sans collar devices and Combination Covers.
"Initiation" has changed over the years in accordance with the changes in Navy policy, regulations and guidelines. "Induction" is currently the term used for the weeks of training, mentoring and the final night of Chief-select training. MCPON Campa dubbed the term, and ordered its use beginning with the FY07 Induction season.
Pinning of the new Chief was, and is, conducted by their Command Master Chief, with the participation and approval of the Commanding Officer, where their "Anchors" are pinned on by a person of their choosing, usually a family member or Chief, and they are presented with their Combination Cap by the Chief's Mess.
New Chief Petty Officer inductees typically sing [[]] at the pinning ceremony.
In some contexts, the term "Chief Petty Officer" can refer to the class of non-commissioned ranks of this rank and higher:
Emblem
The Navy Chief Petty Officer emblem is symbolized by a fouled anchor with the letters "USN" centered on the anchor. Officially the letters stand for United States Navy. According to naval tradition, the letters are symbolic of the following:[9]
- Unity: to symbolize camaraderie of the fraternity.
- Service: to symbolize service to one's god, fellow man, and the Navy.
- Navigation: to symbolize true course before God and man.
