CPO Birthday

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CPO Birthday

• 01 April 2003
• 110 Years of Leadership

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100 Years of Leadership

• from CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1,
  1993
• In the United States Navy, the title "Chief
  Petty Officer" carries with it responsibilities
  and privileges no other armed force in the world
  grants enlisted people. These responsibilities
  and privileges exist because for 100 years,
  Chiefs have routinely sought out greater
  challenges and assumed more responsibility.

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100 Years of Leadership

• from CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1,
  1993
• The example set by Chiefs for the last century
  inspires our young men and women of today. Indeed
  what Americans see in our impressive young
  Sailors is the tradition of devotion and
  dedication the first Chiefs established with
  their sacrifices and valor.

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100 Years of Leadership

• from CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1,
  1993
• In large measure they have not only ensured my
  success, but the success of every person who has
  served in our Navy. I encourage each of you to
  mark this significant anniversary with
  appropriate ceremonies to show our respect,
  admiration, and appreciation for those who have
  served our Navy as Chief Petty Officers.

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100 Years of Leadership

• from CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1,
  1993
• Their successors, today's Chief Petty Officers,
  are no less dedicated. They prove their worth
  every day and continue to meet great challenges
  and endure adversity to protect our nation's
  interests.

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100 Years of Leadership

• from CNO Admiral Frank B Kelso II on April 1,
  1993
• Our challenge to Chief Petty Officers of the
  21st Century is to reaffirm the commitment to
  faith and fellowship that have allowed their
  comrades-in-arms before them to wear "the hat"
  with tremendous pride.

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The First CHIEF
The Continental Navy established the foundation
of relative grades and classifications that led
to the ultimate establishment of the CPO grade

• During the Revolutionary War, Jacob Wasbie, a
  Cook's Mate serving on board the Alfred, one of
  the first Continental Navy warships, was promoted
  to "Chief Cook"
• On June 1, 1776. Chief Cook is construed to mean
  Cook or Ship's Cook which was the official rating
  title at that time. This is the earliest example
  of the use the term "Chief" located to date by
  the author.

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The Most Senior Rate?

• As one can determine from the foregoing evidence,
  Boatswain's Mates have not always been the senior
  rating in the Navy. However, if one tries to
  enlighten some of them they will usually get
  their danders up and argue until red in the face.
  Likewise, Aviation Machinist's Mates have not
  always been the senior rating within the Aviation
  Branch. From 1924 to 1933, and again from 1942 to
  1948, the rating of Aviation Pilot topped the
  mechs as well as all other aviation ratings.

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The Most Senior Rate?

• Navy Regulations of 1865, 1870, and 1876 fail to
  show Chief Boatswain's Mate and Chief Gunner's
  Mate as different rates or levels from
  Boatswain's Mate and Gunner's Mate respectively.
  It therefore follows that to justify calling the
  Chief Boatswain's Mate and the Chief Gunner's
  Mate additional rates one has to depend upon
  General Order 36 of May 16, 1864 (effective July
  1, 1864), and Tables of Allowances for the 1870s
  which list them as rates or ratings along with
  Boatswain's Mate and Gunner's Mate. To answer the
  question of whether the Chief Boatswain's Mate,
  Chief Gunner's Mate, and Chief Quartermaster or
  Signal Quartermaster of the 1863-93 era were or
  were not actually Chief Petty Officers is
  elementary. They were not Chief Petty Officers
  due to the fact that the grade had not yet been
  created.

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The Most Senior Rate?

• On January 1, 1884, when the new pay rates became
  effective, there existed the three aforementioned
  rates carrying the word Chief--Boatswain's Mate,
  Gunner's Mate, and Quartermaster--all paid 35.00
  per month. Several other rates were paid higher
  amounts, ranging from 40.00 to 70.00 per month.

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The Most Senior Rate?

• On April 1, 1893, two important steps were taken.
  First, the grade of Chief Petty Officer was
  established secondly, most enlisted men received
  a pay raise. The question is often asked, "Who
  was the first Chief Petty Officer?" The answer is
  flatly "There was no first Chief Petty Officer
  due to the fact that nearly all ratings carried
  as Petty Officers First Class from 1885 were
  automatically shifted to the Chief Petty Officer
  level." Exceptions were Schoolmasters, who stayed
  at first class Ship's Writers, who stayed the
  same but expanded to include second and third
  class and Carpenter's Mates, who had been
  carried as second class petty officers but were
  extended to include chief, first, second, and
  third classes. Therefore, the Chief Petty Officer
  grade on April 1, 1893, encompassed the nine
  rates shown in Table 2.

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CPO Ratings as ofApril 1, 1893  
by CWO-4 Lester B. Tucker, USN (Retired)
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Senior Master Chief...

• The pay grades of E-8 and E-9, Senior Chief and
  Master Chief, were created effective June 1,
  1958, under a 1958 Amendment to the Career
  Compensation Act of 1949. Eligibility for
  promotion to E-8, the Senior Chief level, was
  restricted to Chiefs (Permanent Appointment) with
  a minimum of four years in grade and a total of
  ten years of service. For elevation from E- 7 to
  Master Chief, E-9, a minimum of six years service
  as a Chief Petty Officer with a total of 13 years
  service was required. The E-5 through E-9 levels
  included all ratings except Teleman and Printer
  which at the time were being phased out of the
  naval rating structure. People holding those
  ratings were absorbed or converted to Yeoman or
  Radioman from Teleman and primarily to
  Lithographer from Printer. Service-wide
  examinations for outstanding Chiefs were held on
  August 5, 1958, with the first promotions
  becoming effective on November 16, 1958. A few
  months later, a second group of Chiefs from the
  February 1959 examinations were elevated to E-8
  and E-9 effective on May 16, 1959. The names of
  the first two groups of selectees are listed in
  Bureau of Naval Personnel Notices 1430 of October
  17, 1958, and May 20, 1959. It is noted that
  after the May 1959 elevations, promotions to E-9
  were through Senior Chief only.

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Compression of Rates

• On July 1, 1965, compression of several ratings
  at the two top grades was enforced. Six new
  rating titles were created
• Master Chief Steam Propulsion man
• Master Chief Aircraft Maintenance man
• Master Chief Avionics Technician
• Master Chief Precision Instrument man
• Master Chief Construction man
• Master Chief Equipment man

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Chief Medal of Honor Recipients

• Spanish American War 1898Bennett, James H.,
  Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Marblehead,
  Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898 Brady, George F.,
  Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Winslow, Cardenas, Cuba,
  11 May 1898Cooney, Thomas C., Chief Machinist,
  USS Winslow, Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898 Itrich,
  Franz A., Chief Carpenter's Mate, USS Petrel,
  Manila, P.I., 1 May 1898Johnsen, Hans, Chief
  Machinist, USS Winslow, Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May
  1898 Montague, Daniel, Chief Master-at-Arms, USS
  Merrimac, Santiago de Cuba, 2 Jun 1898Sunquist,
  Axel, Chief Carpenter's Mate, USS Marblehead,
  Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898

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Chief Medal of Honor Recipients

• 1899Shanahan, Patrick, Chief Boatswain's Mate,
  USS Alliance, 28 May 1899Stokes, John, Chief
  Master-at-Arms, USS New York, off Jamaica, 31 Mar
  1899Boxer Rebellion 1900Clancy, Joseph, Chief
  Boatswain's Mate, 13, 20, 21, and 22 Jun
  1900Hamberger, William F., Chief Carpenter's
  Mate, 13, 20, 21, and 22 Jun 1900 Petersen, Carl
  E., Chief Machinist, Peking, China, 28 Jun to 17
  Aug 1900

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Chief Medal of Honor Recipients

• 1903-1910
• Bonney, Robert Earl, Chief Watertender, USS
  Hopkins, 14 Feb 1910Clausey, John J., Chief
  Gunner's Mate, USS Bennington, 21 Jul 1905Cox,
  Robert E., Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Missouri, 13
  Apr 1904Holtz, Aug, Chief Watertender, USS North
  Dakota, 8 Sep 1910Johannessen, Johannes J.,
  Chief Watertender, USS Iowa, 25 Jan 1905Klein,
  Robert, Chief Carpenter's Mate, USS Raleigh, 25
  Jan 1904Monssen, Mons, Chief Gunner's Mate, USS
  Missouri, 13 Apr 1904Reid, Patrick, Chief
  Watertender, USS North Dakota, 8 Sep
  1910Shacklette, William S., Hospital Steward,
  USS Bennington, 21 Jul 1905Snyder, William E.,
  Chief Electrician, USS Birmingham, 4 Jan
  1910Stanton, Thomas, Chief Machinist's Mate, USS
  North Dakota, 8 Sep 1910Walsh, Michael, Chief
  Machinist, USS Leyden, 21 Jan 1903Westa, Karl,
  Chief Machinist's Mate, USS North Dakota, 8 Sep
  1910

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Chief Medal of Honor Recipients

• Vera Cruz 1914 Bradley, George, Chief Gunner's
  Mate, USS Utah, Vera Cruz, 19141915-1916Crille
  y, Frank W., Chief Gunner's Mate, Honolulu, T.H.,
  17 Apr 1915Rud, George W., Chief Machinist's
  Mate, USS Memphis, Santo Domingo, 29 Aug
  1916Smith, Eugene P., Chief Watertender, USS
  Decatur, 9 Sep 1915World War IMacKenzie,
  John, Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Remlik, 17 Dec
  1917Ormsbee, Francis E., JR., Chief Machinist's
  Mate, NAS Pensacola, FL, 25 Sep 1918Schmidt,
  Oscar, JR., Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Chestnut
  Hill, 9 Oct 1918.

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Chief Medal of Honor Recipients

• 1927-1939Badders, William, Chief Machinist's
  Mate, USS Squalus, 13 May 1939Crandall, Orson
  L., Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Squalus, 13 May
  1939Eadie, Thomas, Chief Gunner's Mate, off
  Provincetown, Mass., 18 Dec 1927McDonald, James
  H., Chief Metalsmith, USS Squalus, 23 May
  1939World War IIFinn, John W., then a Chief
  Petty Officer, NAS Kaneohe Bay, TH., 7 Dec
  1941Peterson, Oscar V., Chief Watertender, USS
  Neosho, 7 May 1942Tomich, Peter, Chief
  Watertender, USS Utah, 7 Dec 1941

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MCPONs

• Though in the works for many years, the position
  formally was established as "Senior Enlisted
  Advisor of the Navy" in January 1967. Its title
  officially was changed to "Master Chief Petty
  Officer of the Navy" three months later. The
  individual rating specialty marks for the MCPON
  was replaced by an inverted star in 1971.
• These individuals have served as Master Chief
  Petty Officer of the Navy

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MCPONs
Master Chief Gunner Mate Delbert D. Black, USN
13Jan67 - 01Apr71 Master Chief Aviation
Machinists Mate John "Jack" Whittet, USN 01Apr71
- 25Sep75 Master Chief Operations Specialist
Robert Walker, USN 25Sep75 - 28 Sep79 Aviation
Master Chief Thomas S. Crow, USN 28Sep79 - 01
Oct82 Master Chief Avionics Technician Billy C.
Sanders, USN 01Oct82 - 04Oct85 Master Chief
Radioman William H. Plackett, USN 04Oct85 -
09Sep88 Master Chief Aviation Electronics
Technician Duane R. Bushey, USN 09Se88 -
28Aug92 Master Chief Electronics Technician (SW)
John Hagan, USN 28Aug92 - 27Mar98 Master Chief
Machinists Mate (SS/SW/AW) James L.Herdt 27 Mar.
1998 2002 Master Chief Machinists Mate
(SS/AW) Terry Scott 2002 - Present
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Admiral Halsey

• The following is a true story told to ATCS(AC)
  Jack Reese USN Retired by his uncle, John Reese.
• AT the end of World War II, all the towns and
  cities across the country were looking for a
  Home town boy makes good person to celebrate
  the victory with. Los Angeles chose Admiral
  Halsey, whom it was rumored had done quite well.
  The ceremony was held on the steps of the LA
  county courthouse, and at the end of it when
  Halsey was leaving, they had a line of sideboys.

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Admiral Halsey

• They were active duty and retired Chief Petty
  Officers that had been brought in from all over
  the country. As he walked through the ranks, my
  uncle walked apace on the outside. As Halsey
  approached one old CPO that my uncle described as
  being older than God, my uncle saw them wink at
  each other.
• Later, at a cocktail party, my uncle had the
  opportunity to have a chat with the great
  Admiral. He commented on the wink between Halsey
  and this old Chief, and asked Halsey if he would
  mind explaining it.

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Admiral Halsey

• Halsey looked at my uncle very seriously, and
  said this " That man was my Chief when I was an
  Ensign, and no one before or after taught me as
  much about ships or men as he did. You civilians
  dont understand. You go down to Long Beach, and
  you see those battleships sitting there, and you
  think that they float on the water, dont you? My
  uncle replied, Yes sir, I guess they do. You
  are wrong, replied Halsey they are carried to
  sea on the backs of those Chief Petty Officers!
• ATCS(AC) Jack Reese USN Retired says "For all of
  my uncles fame and money, he thought I had the
  best job and position in the world. I think he
  was right!!"

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CPO Coin History

• Leisure time in Vietnam was a commodity, but when
  it came it was utilized to the max catching up
  on sleep, writing letters home, or letting off
  steam at the hootch bar. The latter proved to be
  the most popular. But eventually, it too, could
  become boring and mundane.
• To heighten excitement and foster unit esprit de
  corps, bullet clubs were formed. These were
  comprised of small, elite front line fighters who
  each carried a personalized bullet from the
  weapon they carried in combat. The ultimate use
  of the bullet, usually carried in a hip pocket,
  was to deny the enemy personal capture.

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CPO Coin History

• When an individual entered the hootch bar he
  would be challenged by fellow team members to
  produce his bullet. If he did, the challengers
  would pay his bar tab for the rest of the
  evening. If he failed to produce his bullet, he
  bought drinks for the remainder of the night.
• Eventually, personalized bullets took on
  disbelieving proportions. Some "teamies" took to
  carrying 20-, 40-, or even 150MM cannon shells.
  Clearly these were not personalized, coup de
  grace munitions, but rather manifestations of
  perceived individual prowess in combat or perhaps
  on R R.

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CPO Coin History

• At the height of the bullet club's heyday, it was
  not an uncommon sight to see strewn across a
  barroom table, a very respectable representation
  of the full range of bullets, rockets, cannon and
  artillery shells used in Southeast Asia.
• In order to gain control of the situation and to
  avoid accidental discharge of the large, fully
  functional munitions, bullets were traded for
  coins, which reflected the units symbol and
  pride. A controlled number and/or the
  individual's name personalized each coin. The
  rules remained the same, although today they are
  greatly expanded.

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CPO Coin History

• Loss of your coin was, and remains, tantamount to
  eternal disgrace and banishment. To forget your
  coin, in anticipation of a challenge, results in
  minor death.
• Emerging from those small, elite groups using
  bullets are today's coin challengers. Known to
  strike anywhere, at anytime, they insidiously
  stalk, waiting for the right moment to attack. An
  innocent bystander may never hear the challenge,
  only the challengee's despairing cry, "OH I
  FORGOT MINE!!!"

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CPO Coin Challenge Rules 

• 1. Rules of the coin game must be given or
  explained to all new coin holders.  
• 2. The coin MUST be carried at all times. You can
  be challenged for it anywhere, at any time. You
  must produce the coin without taking more than 4
  steps to produce it.  
• 3. When challenging, the challenger must state
  whether it is for a single drink or a round of
  drinks.  

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CPO Coin Challenge Rules 

• 4. Failure to produce a coin, for whatever
  reason, results in a bought round or single
  drinks (whatever the challenger stated). Once the
  offender (coinless challengee) has bought the
  drink or round, they can't be challenged again.  
  
• 5. If all that are challenged produce their
  coins, the challenger loses and must buy the
  drinks for all respondents. This too can be
  expensive, so challenge wisely.  

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CPO Coin Challenge Rules 

• 6. Under no circumstances can a coin be handed to
  another in response to a challenge. If a person
  gives their coin to another, that person can now
  keep the coin -- it's theirs!!! However, if a
  person places the coin down and another person
  picks it up to examine it, that is not considered
  giving and the examiner is honor-bound to place
  the coin back where they got it. The examiner
  can't challenge while they hold another's coin.
  After negotiating a "reasonable" ransom", the
  examiner must return the member's coin.  

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CPO Coin Challenge Rules 

• 7. If a coin is lost, replacement is up to the
  individual. A new coin should be acquired at the
  earliest opportunity -- losing a coin and not
  replacing it doesn't relieve a member of his or
  her responsibilities. This is especially true if
  your fellow CPO's know that you traditionally
  carry a coin.  

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CPO Coin Challenge Rules 

• 8. The coin should be controlled at all times.
  Giving a coin to just anyone is like opening a
  fraternity to just anyone. It is an honor to be
  given a coin, let's keep it that way. A given or
  awarded coin is of more personal value than a
  purchased coin.  
• 9. No holes may be drilled in a coin.  
• 10. The above rules apply to anyone who is worthy
  to be given/awarded a coin, has a purchased coin,
  or who is known to be a previous coinholder. 

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THE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER'S PLEDGE

• I AM A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES
  NAVY...
• I SERVE MY COUNTRY AND HER PEOPLE WITH PRIDE AND
  HONOR.
• I SEEK NO SPECIAL FAVORS.
• I MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, AND DO THE BEST I CAN DO.
• I AM CHARGED WITH A LEADERSHIP ROLE LIKE NO
  OTHER IN THE WORLD.
• I DEVELOP JUNIOR OFFICERS AND MOLD MY SAILORS.
• I ACKNOWLEDGE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTIONS
  OF MY SAILORS

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THE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER'S PLEDGE

• BECAUSE THESE SAILORS ARE THE SEEDS OF FUTURE
  CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS.
• I LIVE BY THE NAVY'S CORE VALUES OF HONOR,
  COURAGE AND COMMITTMENT.
• I SET THE EXAMPLE.
• I ESTABLISH THE STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE.
• MY SAILORS ARE STUDENTS AND I AM THEIR TEACHER.
• I GUIDE AND INFLUENCE THE LIVES OF THESE YOUNG
  MEN AND WOMEN.

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THE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER'S PLEDGE

• IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, I WILL DETERMINE THE
  QUALITY OF THESE SAILORS.
• THEY LOOK UP TO ME BECAUSE I TREAT THEM WITH
  DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
• BECAUSE THEY NEED A LEADER, I AM THERE FOR THEM.
• AFTER ALL...
• I AM A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES
  NAVY...

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• "I can imagine no more rewarding career. And any
  man who may be asked in this century what he did
  to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond
  with a good deal of pride and satisfaction 'I
  served in the United States Navy.'
• President John F. Kennedy, 1 August 1963, in
  Bancroft Hall at the U. S. Naval Academy.

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Stay safe, be strong and lead from the front!