One of my former Sailors was promoted to Chief Petty Officer

[BOSSHOG]

He called me up to tell me and asked me if I would come to his promotion ceremony next month and pin on his anchor collar devices. This old swabbie teared up a bit. Four years ago at my retirement ceremony I gave him my CPO collar devices and told him he better find some use for them. He has kept them and they will be the one's I will pin on him. For the "uninitiated" it is a great honor to be asked to be a part of a CPO promotion ceremony.

I also now have an event to wear a flag lapel pin to. Not for some "conservative" fake patriotism, but for a truly American event like the celebration of new Chiefs to carry on a 213 year tradition.

[xultar]

1. What an honor for you and Congratulations to him!

[Nickster]

2. Awesome news. So glad to hear your protege is moving up. BTW, I'd wear

one of my ITMFA flag lapel pins, but that's just me. :-)

[Ilsa]

3. This is really cool, Bosshog!

:thumbsup:

And congratulations to your your old swabbie buddy! All the best to him and everyone at his pinning! :applause: :patriot:

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Congratulations Chief

and you are right, a great honor indeed

[w8liftinglady]

5. what a great story.You inspired him to succeed.

[BOSSHOG]

39. Thankyou Mam!

Actually I was just passing on the inspiration that was passed on to me by those who served before me. There are bad eggs in the uniforms of our armed services but there are a ton of professionals serving proudly every day.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. Everyone who's anyone knows...

Chiefs run the Navy. They just let the ossifers play with their toys and keep their butts out of the screws.

Now, are you gonna continue to kick your baby squid's but till he takes the Master Chief's exam?

[BOSSHOG]

8. I will lovingly counsel him

However there is no exam anymore for promotion to Senior and Master Chief. The Navy made the right decision. Why should we waste the paper to test Chiefs on their rating knowledge?

The system is quite sound. Officers decide what we are gonna do and then Chiefs make sure it happens (after a reality check.) Officers manage. Chiefs Lead.

[madokie]

15. You are so right

and the Chief's would just roll their eyes at some of the asinine shit some of the Ensign's would come up with. those were the days.

[BOSSHOG]

22. Or a LCDR

I didn't mess with CDR's and up (didn't have to) but the junior officers always had to be watched for their own protection. The good ones ran everything by the Chief. I took a hit for a dumbass mistake a JG made; I got over it and I had an ally for life.

[maxrandb]

32. A good joke if you have a minute

A young Ensign reported on his first ship and met the Command Master Chief.
The Ensign said; "Master Chief, they taught us a lot about officer ranks in school, but they never explained the significance of the different collar devices.

The Master Chief said; "well, when you're an Ensign, we give you a gold bar. Gold is a precious metal, but it is also soft and pliable. This signifies that you are precious to us, and that you can be molded."

"When you make LTJG, we give you a silver bar. Silver is still a precious metal, but it is a little more hardened than gold. This signifies that you are still precious, but are getting a little more firm in your ways."

"When you make LT, we give you another silver bar and add a backbone to it. This signifies that you're becoming more confident and more assertive, but you're still percious to us."

"Then there is the silver eagle. This is a symbol of the grace and power of a Captain soaring above us".

"When you put on a star, it symbolizes that bright shining light in the sky leading us and guiding the way".

The Ensign said; "thanks Master Chief, but what about the gold and silver oak leaves?"

The Master Chief smiled and said; "the tradition of the gold and silver leaves goes all the way back to the beginning of time. When Adam and Eve were in the garden and realized they were naked, God came to them, handed them two leaves and said; 'From now and for all time, you will wear these leaves to cover your PRICKS AND ASSHOLES'".

[BOSSHOG]

37. I gotta say

in my experience it seemed that Lieutenants had to get stupid to get an oak leaf. I worked for some awesome LT's but when they made O-4 it was distance city. I'm happy to say I don't know about secret handshakes and pecking order protocol that goes on in the wardroom. Does it approach incest? However, every Chief considers Lieutenant Commanders, Junior Officers and no doubt that pisses them off.

[maxrandb]

41. Not incestuous, but there is a bit

of "spirited ribbing" between the JOPA (Junior Officer Protection Association) and the O4's.

Common knowledge is that you get a labotomy when you go from O3 to O4.

They had to do some serious surgery on me when I went from CPO to O1E :)

I'll tell you this. My transition from PO1 to CPO was harder than my transition from CPO to Officer.

You put on Chief, you get instant credibility...and you'd better be ready for it.

[BOSSHOG]

42. I like this cuffing about O-4's

they seemed to line up to pounce on the boot Chief on his/her first day at work in Khaki; expecting them to be the be all, know all, and end all, never realizing the goatlockers got their back. I just gotta say it, Lieutenant Commanders are dumbasses. I appreciate your career path and wish you well, but I could not imagine taking off my anchors and replacing them with Ensign bars even though I did get a BA in uniform. No disrespect whatsoever Maxrandb; you are one of my favorites here at DU.

[PsN2Wind]

44. My Brother-in Law

was pressed to apply for LDO. He told them to stuff it(in more diplomatic terms) but told everyone else that he had worked too hard to be somebody to return to being a nobody.
Do Chiefs still have a period as acting Chiefs before their rate is finalized? When I was in, way back when, you would see for example ATNCA for acting. Just to add because of the difference in uniforms then, making Chief was referred to as "getting his hat".

[BOSSHOG]

47. CPO's may be "frocked."

In other words you are wearing the uniform but not getting the paycheck until your seniority month approaches. Back in the olden days (before me) there was no frocking and initiations happened on a monthly basis. But if you are promoted in FY-whatever, you will be senior to anyone promoted FY-whatever-plus one.

[maxrandb]

45. Thanks Bosshog. Once a Chief, Always a Chief

I chose the LDO route for several reasons. Perhaps the biggest one was exposure to two LDO's on my first tour. One was a former BMC that did back to back riverboat tours in Vietnam. The other was an HT1 on the USS LIBERTY and was onboard when the Israeli's attacked her. They were "real" Sailors and took me under their wings.

And I can't lie, another big reason is the money and the advancement opportunities. In my rate, advancement opportunity for E8 was 8.7%. My designators promotion rate to O4 is 85%. I had a better shot at making O1E than I did at making E8. Like we say, you have to try not to make LCDR.

My dad pinned on my anchors, but passed away shortly after that. It was one of his proudest days. I had my mom pin on my Ensign bars.

It's different coming in as an LDO. You're not treated like a "wet behind the ears" Ensign fresh out of ROTC, and any Officer that attempts to treat you like that gets the message right quick.

When I made Chief, I told myself that I had gone further in the Navy than I ever thought I would. Everything else is just gravy.

And guess who runs my shop? The Chiefs!

[BOSSHOG]

46. You are my Hero Maxrandb

Good on ya, and there ain't nothing wrong with that financial thing. My Dad, who served in the Navy did not make my pinning ceremony. I was pinned on my mom's birthday, she died in January and I was pinned in September. He couldn't handle it. My wife did a fine job. You chose the LDO route because you are wise beyond your years. Fair winds my friend.

[maxrandb]

57. No BOSSHOG, You're my Hero!

Sailors like you blazed the trail for Sailor like me. I don't intend to hi-jack this thread, which is after all, to honor one of your Sailors that made Chief, but for the life of me, I can't understand how the Repugs have hi-jacked the military.

I get so pissed I can't see straight when folks see me in uniform, or find out I'm in the military, and assume that I must be a "knuckle-dragging, wingnut, Retuglican".

Truth be told, the military E1-E9 ought to be the base of the Democratic Party.

Democrats fought so hard to take care of our troops, after WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Gulf War I. Policies passed by the Democratic led Congress throughout the years enabled that Vet to buy there first home, get a college education, enjoy quality medical benefits, earn decent wages, etc. Basically, Democrats have helped move Active Duty Military and Veterans into the middle class and higher. I don't know why, or how the Repukes have been so successful at painting the Democratic Party as "weak on defense". I guess if you oppose building a ship, like LHD-7, that the Navy said it did not need, or want, and you want to use that money for a raise for the troops, or for better kevlar vests, or for better medical benefits, you're "weak on defense".

Maybe it's the "Pattonization" of our nation by the right-wing keyboard commandoes and hate radio hosts, but IMHO, we need a hell of a lot more Omar Bradley, and a hell of a lot less George Patton.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

54. I like you, Boss.

So I'll assume you are referring solely to line O-4's, and not staff O-4's like yours truly.

[maxrandb]

55. Please tell me we don't have a "Chop" amongst us

Staff, Line, I don't think it matters. Going to O4 is kind of like going from E5 to E6. You now may be in a Department Head billet, and like an LPO, you sometimes have to piss people off.

Some handle it well, and some don't.

[Blue_Tires]

56. k+r

and Chiefs DO run the Navy!

[Gormy Cuss]

7. How cool for you and him. n/t

[rocktivity]

9. SIR! Congrats to you both, SIR!

I feel the same way when a rookie rock band or an album I've championed hits the big time. It's never easy watching 'em leave the nest, is it?

:headbang:
rocknation

[sarge43]

10. It's always a great day when one of your kids does good. n/t

[BOSSHOG]

16. I love it when some

fatass blowhard chickenhawk coward on the radio says that our Servicemembers are not kids and they shouldn't be called kids. Speaking from total ignorance. Everyone of my Sailors were my kids and were referred to by me as such collectively (just like everyother Chief does.) And no one fucked with my kids but me. I told them my only job was to get them promoted and I'm damn proud of my track record of taking care of "my kids" despite the greatest efforts of the military experts who never served a day but are extremely medieval when behind a microphone.

[sarge43]

23. Yup

You and I and all the other Big Bags O'Stripes are the only people who've earned the right to call a fire eating, grey haired hard ass "kid".

I do get lock jaw when they're called boys. Yo, me and 3 million others were never boys, a-hole. And all the others stopped being boys about six weeks in.

[madokie]

11. makes me tear up just reading,

congratulations,
a Great Honor
peace

[javadu]

12. Congratulations!!! n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Thank you for reporting this! nt

[Recursion]

14. There's nothing quite so much like God on earth...

...as a CPO or Gunnery Sergeant who's pissed about something :)

Congrats to him.

[BOSSHOG]

18. I can't remember the Movie

but Tommy Lee Jones played a Marine Colonel tangling with a National Security Advisor and the Advisor threatened the Colonel and the Colonel said, do you want a pissed off Marine after you? Thought the guy was gonna shit his pants.

My last deployment was in Saudi Arabia 10 years ago. We had 12 Marines with us, I never felt safer. Those guys were insane, but it was a controlled insane.

[Recursion]

21. Rules of Engagement n/t

[sarge43]

17. Don't forget to take some klenex or a hankie with you. n/t

[BOSSHOG]

20. I had the whole

crowd in tears during my retirement ceremony because I talked alot about those who died so that we could have such ceremonies. And the story about how my father in law lost his arm in WWII but still walked my wife down the aisle had some wailing. Tears will be flowing on the 15th of September. Tears of Joy! I am blessed. Hell I'm crying now.

[two gun sid]

19. Congrats to the new CPO...

and it is a great honor to pin those anchors on him. You must have been a pretty good Sea Daddy.

Reading your post made me think of the Chief who took me under his wing and made a difference in my life. So, Chief Teddy Mac, if you're reading DU, thanks for everything.

[BOSSHOG]

24. Most of us

turned out pretty good. I remember my first tour, I was a typical Seaman Apprentice away from home for the first time back in the early 70's with only pussy and beer on my brain. I spent three months in the first lieutenants office with old Chief Campbell. My first assignment, sweep down the Capt'ns ladder. That didn't take very long. When I got back to the shop, I said Chief I swept the ladder, now what. He said go sweep it again. Trying to change the subject, I said Chief you were in the Navy before I was born. He said, listen you lil fucker if your lucky you'll be on the other end of this conversation soon, but if that ladder ain't spotless you won't be. Sure enough, I heard it more times then I care to remember - "Hey Chief, you were in the Navy before I was born." What a great time I had.

[StaggerLee]

25. Congrats Bosshog

There is no doubt in my mind that you earned it. That last story gave me quite a chuckle. I was 17 when I joined and I talked much garbage the first couple of years I was in. I'm surprised I survived it.

Did six and got out in 1990.

Congrats again. It's quite an honor.

[BOSSHOG]

27. Roger that Teammate

and thanks for your service. Yeah, I was my own worst enemy till I made third then I was sposed to be responsible for stuff.

[two gun sid]

26. LOL.

My old Chief used to use pet names like "lil' fucker", too.

[maxrandb]

34. Got into a little bit of trouble on liberty when I was an SA

By the time I got up the Acom Ladder, my Master Chief was standing there in shorts and a t-shirt with a cup of coffee in his hand. It was the absolute best ass-chewing I have ever been on the receiving end. I think he called me everything but a human being. How I kept from laughing is beyond me, cause it was pretty damn funny, but laughing was the last thing on my mind. To this day, I borrow parts of Master Chief's rant when I want to get my point across to some "knucklehead".

Oh, and he didn't spill a drop of his coffee.

[BOSSHOG]

48. Your subject line is hilarious and brings back some kind of memories

An ass chewing by an anchorclanker is more effective and less damaging then a Captain's Mast. We were fucking Gods.

[driver8]

28. My father is a retired CPO and I know that the proudest day of his life

was when he became a chief.

Bosshog, I know what an honor it is for you to be able to pin those anchors on one of your sailors. Congratulations to you and to him!!

[BOSSHOG]

29. Thanks Driver8

It sure was a memorable time. Fair winds and following to you and your Dad.

[driver8]

38. When my father retired from the Navy, he took a job with the State of NY.

One of the guys he was working with was an ex-Navy second class.

When he met my father and found out he was a retired chief, he says, "Oh, a lifer, huh? Well, when I was in, I used to tell my Chief..."

My father said, "Wait a minute. I was in the Navy for twenty years and I can guarantee that a second class doesn't tell his chief anything. "

My father was also very proud of the uniform and hated when people wore it incorrectly. He was in a bar one night and the local recruiter came in for a couple of beers.
The recruiter was a chief, and was sitting at the bar with his sleeves rolled up and his tie loosened. My father sat there for awhile trying to decide if he should say something. He finally
went over and introduced himself. He told the chief, "Chief, I wore that uniform and was very proud when I wore it. The way you are wearing it now is disrespectful."

He said the Chief sat there for a minute and my father didn't know what to expect. The Chief looked at my father and said, "You are absolutely right. I will be right back."

The Chief went out to his car and when he came back, his tie was tied, his sleeves were rolled down and he was wearing the uniform correctly.

My father thanked him and the Chief said, "I should be thanking you."

[maxrandb]

30. Bosshog! How long have you been in the Navy son?

All me bloomin' life sir,
me mother was a mermaid.....

I made Chief in 1996, then crossed over to the "dark-side" as an LDO.

One of my former Sailors asked me to speak at his Fleet Reserve ceremony. It was one of the honors of my life to be on that podium with this fine Sailor.

There is nothing better than seeing one of the folks you helped get promoted. I've always tried to go back and thank the leaders that have helped me along the way. There was this one First Class Petty Officer who was never going to make Chief. He was one of the finest, most hard-working Sailors I had ever had the pleasure of working for, but his record read like a "skin-book".

When I made Chief, I searched him out to thank him. I learned more about hard work, dedication, and being a good Sailor from that guy than anyone else along the way.

Woody Hayes used to say; "I got tired of lying to the people that helped me by telling them I would 'pay them back'. How can you ever pay back the people that helped shape your character? It's impossible, so I pay ahead instead. And you pay ahead by giving the people in your life the same love, compassion, understanding and help that was given to you".

It's unfortunate he's only remembered for punching a guy.

[BOSSHOG]

36. ALL ME BLOOMING LIFE

And just what do you do with a drunken Sailor?

That "dark side" retainer pay will come in handy for the 40 or 50 years you'll be around after you retire sir! (well, after you hit the 30 year mark, then the retainer will disappear.)

I recall doing staff duty several years back and was told that I would have to vacate my office space because some computer geek ensign would be requiring my location. A preemo office space I had commandeered. A fucking Ensign would get it. My anchors were on fire. A month later he strolled into the office space which I had mostly vacated. Some Ensign. Five rows of ribbons and two warfare devices; a former ENC. He won me over quickly.

I've spoken at several retirement ceremonies since I've retired (and before) and the tingle in my spine and heart were unbearable. As an old skipper told me, "geez I've seen your GCT/ARI scores, you'll never be a diesel mechanic." But, I was a monster on the podium.

I've had so many great shipmates that helped me along the way. In an awesome display of irony, my most knowledgeable LPO could never pass the Chief's Test and retired as a First. He knew more then me, but retired with a smile on his face.

Hang in there Buckeye.

[driver8]

40. One of my father's best friends in the Navy made first class three times.

He just couldn't seem to stay out of trouble. My father said he would have made a great chief but it was never going to happen for him.

I was in the Navy for 6 years. My father came to my boot camp graduation and wore his uniform. You should has seen those recruits straighten up when they met him. Five gold hash marks looks pretty impressive!!

[Shipwack]

31. What an honor, Boss...

Congratulations to both him and you... I just got passed over for the last time, and not making chief will always be one of my life's disapointments... Glad to see some quality people put on khaki.

[myrna minx]

33. Congratulations Bosshog!

:toast:

[knitter4democracy]

35. My grandpa was chief on the Minneapolis in WWII.

Wear that flag with pride and know that there still is honor and always will be honor in the ranks.

I hope he never has to deal with what my grandpa did. His ship's bow got blow off in the Battle of Tassafarango, so they had to limp to an island, build a bow with palm trees, and run the ship on salt water to limp back to Pearl Harbor. It took them months, and no one would tell my dad's stepmom if they were dead or what. My dad will always remember looking out and waiting to see his dad's ship.

[B Calm]

43. When I was in the Navy I had my deepest respect for my Chief, but

the LTJG that was in charge of the department I wanted to throw him overboard!

[Hekate]

49. Thanks, Bosshog & the rest of you old salts for letting me listen in...

(...if "old salts" is still a term in use.) My father's father was in the Navy -- long ago enough that he and his shipmates took part in rescue operations after the great San Francisco earthquake in 1906.

It makes me proud to know you all. It gives me hope that once the neocons are kicked to the curb, that folks like you (and those you brought along) can restore honor, pride, and good sense to the US military.

It's been a pleasure listening in. :toast:

Hekate

edited for typo

[TacticalPeek]

50. Roger that.

My son let us know a couple of days ago that he was being promoted to Chief.

Greater pride hath no man - notwithstanding my hitch in the plan old Army many moons ago.


:patriot:

[haele]

51. When I put the anchors on in the early 1990's

I was a reservist working in a civilian job with five retired Chiefs - normal, seniors, and masters (including a retired "Master Fire Control Chief" with the last name of Bates). I did not have a moment of peace for three months until I got pinned; and of course, they all wanted to take part in the ceremonies.

A year later, my father, who in a fit of mid-life crisis - decided to supplement and upgrade his youthful 8-year stint in the California ANG with a 14-year stint in the Navy reserves (after he saw the deal I got after I left my 12 years of active duty) got selected for Chief. He, being somewhat naive as to how the selection process went, asked me to be his "defense attorney".


"Your Honors, before we start, I have to state I have no idea who this person is or how he got here. Apparently, he just looked up his name in DEERS and thought since we had similar names I might be sympathetic..."

Heh...memories

Enjoy the event. It's great when you see them make the change from E-6 and become a "Chief".

Haele

[Geoff R. Casavant]

52. Awesome, Boss!

One of my current sailors got the nod and will pin on his own anchors soon. I'm hoping he considers me worthy to invite to his initiation!

[me b zola]

53. Congrats and job well done, Chief!

This is the best feel good thread in a while. Tell your sailor that all of us here are celebrating with him. :hi:

[Lisa]

58. that's cool!

"Four years ago at my retirement ceremony I gave him my CPO collar devices and told him he better find some use for them. He has kept them and they will be the one's I will pin on him."

Clearly this means a lot to both of you!

I guess in my life so far, the equivalent is having your supervising prof put the regalia on you at graduation ... I still tear up when I remember that my supervisor delayed an overseas trip, because he wanted to be the one to do this at my ceremony.

Wear that flag pin with pride, Bosshog!