Congratulations To Yokosuka Base Chief Petty Officer Selectees

• CSC(sel) Florentino Aliban - CFAY

• NCC(sel) Milagros Ballaran - NRD Los Angeles

• CSC(sel) Kenneth Batten Jr. - CFAY

• ITC(sel) William Bennet - ATGWP

• EMC(sel) Efren Benoza - CFAY

• CTTC(sel) Willie Brewer - USS Shiloh (CG 67)
 
• LSC(sel) Adrian Copiaco - FISC Yokosuka

• ETC(sel) Patrick Davis - COMSUBGRU 7

• MMC(sel) William Deville - CFAY

• NCC(sel) Katrina Goodman - FISC Yokosuka

• MAC(sel) James Guthrie - CFAY

• YNC(sel) Marvin Harris - CFAY

• ITC(sel) David Hicks - CNFJ

• FCC(sel) Phillip Ketsdever - CSCS

• MCC(sel) Jonathan Kulp - AFN Yokosuka

• LSC(sel) Brian Leech - FISC Yokosuka

• QMC(sel) Michael McJohn - ATGWP

• LSC(sel) Brooks Parks - ATGWP

• GSMC(sel) Jason Rogers - USS Shiloh (CG 67)

• ETC(sel) Rashann Stromann - COMSUBGRU 7

• CSC(sel) Rufino Valdez - CFAY

• GMC(sel) Brian Wilbanks - COMDESRON 15

• DCC(sel) Morren Wilkinson - USS Shiloh (CG 67)

• ETC(sel) Mary Williams - NMC Det Yokosuka

RADM R. Wren providing guidance and advice to the Far East CPO Selectees after today's Chief Selectee Training.

Yay! Congrats everyone! I'm looking forward to a good car wash tomorrow! lol

Community Congratulates New Chiefs During Pinning Ceremony
By Mark Elrod, CFAY Public Affairs


(Left) Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Command Master Chief Gregory Vidaurri congratulates newly pinned chief CSC Rufino Valdez at the Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony held in the Fleet Theater Sept. 16.
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Dominique

During a pinning ceremony here in the Fleet Theater Sept. 16, 26 chief selectees donned new uniforms, combination covers and fouled anchors, and became chief petty officers.

The new chiefs’ rank and its insignia are steeped in years of pride and tradition. The chief petty officer rank was established nearly 120 years ago, in 1893. A ccording to the Naval History and Heritage website, the fouled anchor insignia they wear is a symbol at least 500 years old and has it origins in the British traditions adopted by the United States naval service.

“No other organization in the world instills the pride that we as chief petty officers have,” said Command Master Chief (SS) Bob Shannon, who is Commander U.S. Naval Forces Japan regional master chief and served as guest speaker for the event.

“No other careers that any of us will transition to will ever give us individually, or collectively, the pride that we all have.

“Being a chief is not what we do, it is what we are. We do what we do for the absolute pride of being a chief petty officer.

When I look back on my naval career, I will tell you that no other event or achievement even mirrors that of being selected to and serving as a chief petty officer,” Shannon continued.

“Now you have been, selected, tested, tried and accepted.” H owever, simply being selected and promoted to the rank is only the beginning for the new chiefs. Now they will be expected to lead by example with knowledge and integrity.

“Our profession is one filled with dangers,” said Shannon. “We fly aircraft from floating cities. We sail all the oceans of the world. We navigate the depths of water from pole-to-pole.

We even build bridges and schools, wearing full body armor. We work side-by-side with other nations to bring relief to countries that are ravaged by nature. And because we are the military, sometimes we are attacked.

When that attack occurs… your Sailors will now turn to you chief. They will turn to you and simply ask, ‘What do I do chief?’ So, each morning you need to ask yourself, ‘what will today bring, and am I ready?’

“Today, more that ever, the chiefs must lead our Navy is a way that instills pride, professionalism and integrity.

When you leave here today, there will be a seaman who will need your compassion, a first class who will need your mentorship, a young division officer who will need your guidance, a fellow chief who will need your shoulder and a commanding officer and command master chief, who will need your answer; all of them will need your leadership.”

Congrats to the 2010 Yokosuka Chief Petty Officers!!! 

Congrats to all the new Chiefs...

2011 Yokosuka Chief Petty Officers

Congratulations to the new CFAY Chiefs!!!

PSC Aboubakrine Sene

MAC Pamela Almozon

CSC John Capili

CSC Ferdinand Cruz

YNC Lakeisha Harris

MMC Chad Hemric

PSC Dennis Jimenez

ENC Charles Le

MAC Edward Pare

CFAY Pins Newest FY 2012 Navy Chief Petty Officers
Story and photo by MC2 (SW/AW) John Smolinski, CFAY Public Affairs

A standing room only crowd of family, friends and shipmates filled Fleet Theater aboard Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) to witness 43 Sailors receive their fouled anchors and don the khakis of a chief petty officer (CPO) during a CPO pinning ceremony Sept. 16.

“This is a very special day in the Navy for us all,” said Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Shellinda Miller, who was guest speaker. “Today’s ceremony is more than just a pinning. Today you are formally welcomed and accepted into our Navy’s chief mess.”

The chief selectees had been working their entire career to reach the goal of becoming a chief, but they have spent the past six weeks prior to the pinning ceremony working closely with mentors, their chief sponsors, volunteering at base events and, of course, running together to further instill the values and ethic demanded of the CPO mess.

“For the past six weeks you have been challenged in ways you may not yet fully understand,” said Miller.


Newly pinned fiscal year 2012 chief petty officers stand in ranks on stage in conclusion to the Far East Chief Petty Officer’s Mess Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony Sept. 16 at Fleet Theater aboard CFAY Sept. 16.

“You have been through the wringer, and I would bet that there is at least one of you that will not fully understand the significance of that hard work until you feel that combination cover placed on your head.”

Their commitment to achieving and maintaining the highest levels of training, operational readiness and personnel readiness within their commands has helped forge the U.S.

Navy into the most formidable naval fighting force the world has ever seen. The newest chiefs aboard CFAY have a proud tradition to take strength from, and were selected to help instill that tradition of leadership.

“You were selected to become chief petty officers because you have proved to your Sailors and leadership that you get it and that you care,” said Miller.

The grade of chief petty officer was established more than 118 years ago. Chiefs have a dual role as a technical expert and as a leader. Their highest responsibility is to their people, enlisted, junior officers and family members. “Being a chief comes with it a great sense of pride,” said Chief Yeoman Marvin Harris, leading chief petty officer of CFAY Admin Department. “These Sailors will be expected to lead and guide Sailors and send them down the right path.” The emblem of the rate of the chief petty officer of the U.S. Navy is the gold-fouled anchor, with a length of chain and the letters U.S.N.

The letters officially stand for United States Navy, but according to naval tradition, the “U” stands for the unity of cooperation, harmony and purpose, the “S” stands for service to their faith, Navy and fellow man and the “N” stands for navigation reminding the Sailor to keep on a true course.

SRF-JRMC’s welcomes its newest chief petty officers
Story and photo by Keiichi Adachi, CFAY Public Affairs

Forty-three Sailors from 17 commands across Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka had their anchors pinned on in a ceremony held at Fleet Theater in culmination of a sixweek training process that stressed teamwork, leadership and tradition Sept. 16. Among them was one selectee from the Combat Systems Office at Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) who completed this rite of passage to Chief Petty Officer (CPO).


During the Chief Petty Officers’ pinning ceremony, ICC (SW) Thomas Greer’s anchors are pinned on by FCC (SW) Ricky Davis (left) and FCC (SW) Tim Hicks. CPOにピンを授与する式典で、ICC(SW)グレアーの錨のピンはFCC(SW)リッキー・デイビス(左)とFCC(SW)ティム・ヒックスによって取り付けられた。

SRF-JRMC’s newest CPO, Chief Interior Communications Electrician (SW) Thomas Greer said, “In all honesty, I didn’t think about becoming a Chief. I had always wanted to be a Chief, but never felt I was ready to don the uniform and ‘Be the Chief.’”

Promotion to CPO is a bit different in the United States Navy. The Navy is the only one of the U.S. Armed Forces that treats advancement to E-7 with such ceremony.

Advancing from Petty Officer to Navy Chief is such an important transition, that Chiefs wear a different uniform and wear the fouled anchor insignia on their collars. CPO Selectees also receive a great deal of training after notification until the pinning ceremony to ensure that they, as future Chiefs, fully understand their new role.

According to Greer, he could not have made CPO without the support of his various commands and especially from those leaders who mentored him during his career.

“I wouldn’t and couldn’t be here today as a CPO if not for the hard work of my divisions onboard USS Ponce (LPD 15), USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) and USS Higgins (DDG 76), and the support of my chain of command, from my commanding officers to division officers, and each ship’s CPO mess. I really appreciate the mentors I have had of knowledge and wealth of information combined throughout the Chiefs’ Mess is astonishing. I realize that the greater good is taking care of our Sailors, and supporting and completing our missions,” said Greer.

Another SRF-JRMC selectee, Chief Cryptologic Technician Technical (SW) Blake Berry, was unable to complete his indoctrination and pinning due to unforeseen family circumstances. Berry expressed, “Becoming a Chief Petty Officer is the greatest accomplishment of my life. Words cannot express how happy I am now. I need to complete my required training so that I can become a real CPO.”

“Chief has been something I have wanted to become for a long time,” stated Berry. “It is going to be a hard job. However, with the support of my fellow brothers and sisters in the Mess, anything can happen.’”

Master Chief Machinist Mate (SW/AW) Shane Lazio, SRF-JRMC Command Master Chief, said that he expects new Chiefs to take care of their junior Sailors and to mentor them to be successful. “Chiefs must meet the ever-changing mission of today’s Navy – Chiefs make the Navy run.” He added, “The Navy would not be where it is today without a strong Chief’s Mess. Chief Greer and Chief (Sel) Berry have vital roles at SRF-JRMC in making sure our Forward Deployed Naval Forces are mission ready!”

Greer observed, “I will lead and mentor my Sailors so they can progress in their careers and help the Navy mission. I will work hard to take care of all Sailors and to support the Fleet as a member of the SRF-JRMC team. There is no greater responsibility than being a CPO in the United States Navy!”