April 1st marks the 122nd anniversary of the creation of chief petty officers in the Navy. No other service has an enlisted leader quite like the chief. CPOs are charged with theresponsibility of leading enlisted sailors and advising officers to be the very best the world has to offer and to carrying out that the Navy's missions across the globe.
What does the CPO anniversary mean to you? How do you view their significance to the 21st century fleet?
Navy Times wants to hear from chief petty officers, active-duty, reserve and retired about the special role and significance of the chief. Sea stories welcome! Send your thoughts to callout@navytimes.com, along with your name, rank or rating, warfare qualifications and duty assignment and phone number. Your comments may be featured in a forthcoming story.
On Wednesday, April 1, the Navy's collective chief petty officer mess will be 122 years old.
Commands and regions will be celebrating with CPO Balls and rightly so, it's a time to celebrate the role of the chief petty officer as it has evolved into as unique a position in the U.S. Military as there can be. No other service has a body of enlisteds quite like "the chief."
From what could be called relatively humble beginnings in 1893, chief petty officers have occupy a unique place today as mentors to junior enlisted and junior officers alike. Putting on anchors, for many sailors is the pinnacle of a sailor's career. it's
And Navy Times wants to join the tribute. We'd like to hear from chief petty officers, both active duty and reserve about what the CPO birthday means to you. Retirees, too are welcome to chime in, too — besides we know you will anyway!
Keep it brief and give us a few paragraphs. Tell us personally what it means to you to be a chief. Or tell us what you think is most important about roles as chiefs as it has evolved in today's Navy or even your personal feelings of being apart of not only the fraternity of this serving today, but the heritage of the collective chief's mess going back 122 years.
To be included in our special CPO tribute, please include your rating and any warfare qualifications you hold and the date you made chief petty officer, too. Where you are currently serving would be nice, too. If you are a retiree, please include your rank and dates of service. Officers who were chief petty officers are welcome to chime in , too,
We'll publish the best of the best in a special tribute that's be in next Monday's Navy Times.
