01 April 2011

118 Years of Leadership

FM: 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.”

FM: 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.”

FM: 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.”

FM: 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.”

FM: 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.”

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.

The Continental Navy established the foundation of relative grades and

classifications that led to the ultimate establishment of the CPO grade

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.

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.

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.

On March 13, 1893, U.S. Navy Regulation Circular No. 1 established the classification of Chief Petty Officer. Initially, only eight ratings were included in the chief petty officer classification.

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.

Seaman BranchChief Master-at-ArmsChief Boatswain's MateChief QuartermasterChief Gunner's Mate

Artificer BranchChief MachinistChief Carpenter's Mate

Special BranchChief YeomanApothecaryBand Masters

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.

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

Spanish American War 1898

Bennett, 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 1898

Cooney, 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 1898

Johnsen, Hans, Chief Machinist, USS Winslow, Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898

Montague, Daniel, Chief Master-at-Arms, USS Merrimac, Santiago de Cuba, 2 Jun 1898

Sunquist, Axel, Chief Carpenter's Mate, USS Marblehead, Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898

1899

Shanahan, Patrick, Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Alliance, 28 May 1899

Stokes, John, Chief Master-at-Arms, USS New York, off Jamaica, 31 Mar 1899

Boxer Rebellion 1900

Clancy, Joseph, Chief Boatswain's Mate, 13, 20, 21, and 22 Jun 1900

Hamberger, 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

1903-1910

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

Vera Cruz 1914

Bradley, George, Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Utah, Vera Cruz, 1914

1915-1916

Crilley, Frank W., Chief Gunner's Mate, Honolulu, T.H., 17 Apr 1915

*Rud, George W*Rud, George W., Chief Machinist's Mate, USS ., Chief Machinist's Mate, USS MemphisMemphis, Santo Domingo, 29 Aug 1916, Santo Domingo, 29 Aug 1916

Smith, Eugene P., Chief Watertender, USS Decatur, 9 Sep 1915

World War I

MacKenzie, John, Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Remlik, 17 Dec 1917

Ormsbee, Francis E., JR., Chief Machinist's Mate, NAS Pensacola, FL, 25 Sep 1918

Schmidt, Oscar, JR., Chief Gunner's Mate, USS Chestnut Hill, 9 Oct 1918.

1927-1939

Badders, William, Chief Machinist's Mate, USS Squalus, 13 May 1939

Crandall, Orson L., Chief Boatswain's Mate, USS Squalus, 13 May 1939

Eadie, Thomas, Chief Gunner's Mate, off Provincetown, Mass., 18 Dec 1927

McDonald, James H., Chief Metalsmith, USS Squalus, 23 May 1939

World War II

Finn, John W., [then a Chief Petty Officer], NAS Kaneohe Bay, TH., 7 Dec 1941

*Peterson, Oscar V., Chief Watertender, USS Neosho, 7 May 1942

*Tomich, Peter, Chief Watertender, USS Utah, 7 Dec 1941

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:

1) MCPON Delbert D. Black, USN 13Jan67 - 01Apr71

2) MCPON (NAC/CAC) John "Jack" Whittet, USN 01Apr71 - 25Sep75

3) MCPON Robert Walker, USN 25Sep75 - 28 Sep79

4) MCPON (NAC) Thomas S. Crow, USN 28Sep79 - 01 Oct82

5) MCPON (NAC) Billy C. Sanders, USN 01Oct82 - 04Oct85

6) MCPON (SW) William H. Plackett, USN 04Oct85 - 09Sep88

7) MCPON (AW/NAC) Duane R. Bushey, USN 09Se88 - 28Aug92

8) MCPON (SW/PJ) John Hagan, USN 28Aug92 - 27Mar98

9) MCPON (SS/SW/AW) James L.Herdt 27 Mar. 1998 – 2002

10) MCPON (SS/AW) Terry Scott 2002 – 10 Jul 06

11) MCPON (SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr 10 Jul 06 – 08 Dec 12

12) MCPON (SS/SW) Rick West 10 Dec 12 - Present

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 side-boys.

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.

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 don’t understand. You go down to Long Beach, and you see those battleships sitting there, and you think that they float on the water, don’t 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!!"

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.

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.

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.

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!!!"

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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 coin holder. 

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…

– BECAUSE THESE SAILORS ARE THE SEEDS OF FUTURE CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS.

– I LIVE BY THE NAVY'S CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.

– 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.

– 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...

NAVY CHIEF…NAVY PRIDE!

During the course of this day you have been caused to humbly accept challenge and face adversity. This you have accomplished with rare good grace. Pointless as some of these challenges may have seemed, there were valid, time-honored reasons behind each pointed barb. It was necessary to meet these hurdles with blind faith in the fellowship of Chief Petty Officers. The goal was to instill in you that trust is inherent with the donning of the uniform of a Chief. It was our intent to impress upon you that challenge is good; a great and necessary reality which cannot mar you - which, in fact, strengthens you. In your future as a Chief Petty Officer., you will be forced to endure adversity far beyond that imposed upon you today. You must face each challenge and adversity with the same dignity and good grace you demonstrated today. By experience, by performance, and by testing, you have been this day advanced to Chief Petty Officer. In the United States Navy - and only in the United States Navy - the rank of E7 carries with it unique responsibilities and privileges you are now bound to observe and expected to fulfill. Your entire way of life is now changed. More will be expected of you; more will be demanded of you. Not because you are a E7 but because you are now a Chief Petty Officer. You have not merely been promoted one paygrade, you have joined an exclusive fellowship and, as in all fellowships, you have a special responsibility to your comrades, even as they have a special responsibility to you. This is why we in the United States Navy may maintain with pride our feelings of accomplishment once we have attained the position of Chief Petty Officer. Your new responsibilities and privileges do not appear in print. They have no official standing; they cannot be referred to by name, number, nor file. They have existed for over 100 years, Chiefs before you have freely accepted responsibility beyond the call of printed assignment. Their actions and their performance demanded the respect of their seniors as well as their juniors. It is now required that you be the fountain of wisdom, the ambassador of good will, the authority in personal relations as well as in technical applications. "Ask the Chief" is a household phrase in and out of the Navy. You are now the Chief. The exalted position you have now achieved - and the word exalted is used advisedly - exists because of the attitude and performance of the Chiefs before you. It shall exist only as long as you and your fellow Chiefs maintain these standards. It was our intention that you never forget this day. It was our intention to test you, to try you, and to accept you. Your performance has assured us that you will wear "the hat" with the same pride as your comrades in arms before you. We take a deep and sincere pleasure in clasping your hand, and accepting you as a Chief Petty officer in the United States Navy..

"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.

Chiefs will use heritage to connect Chiefs will use heritage to connect Sailors to their past, teach values and Sailors to their past, teach values and

enhance pride in service to our country.enhance pride in service to our country.

By: RPC (SW/SCW) Patrick Mondragon