CPO
Birthday
01 April 1893 – April 2004
111 Years of Leadership
111 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.”
111 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.”
111 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.”
111 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.”
111 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-inarms before them to wear "the
hat" with tremendous pride.”
The Fouled Anchor
The Fouled Anchor is the emblem of the Rate of Chief Petty Officer
of the United States Navy. Attached to the Anchor is a length of
chain and the letters U.S.N. To the novice, the anchor, chain and
letters only identify a Chief Petty Officer of the United States
Navy, but, to a Chief, these have a more noble and glorious
meaning.
The "U" stands for Unity, which reminds us of cooperation,
maintaining harmony and continuity of purpose and action. The
"S"stands for Service, which reminds us of service to our God,
our fellow man and our Navy. The "N" stands for Navigation,
which reminds us to keep ourselves on a true course so that we
may walk upright before God and man in our transactions with
all mankind, but especially with our fellow Chiefs.
The Chain is symbolic of flexibility and reminds us of the chain of
life that we forge day by day, link by link and may it be forged
with Honor, Morality and Virtue.
The Anchor is emblematic of the hope and glory of the fulfillment of
all God's promises to our souls. The golden or precious Anchor
by which we must be kept steadfast in faith and encouraged to
abide in our proper station amidst the storm of temptation,
affliction and persecution.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
CPO Ratings as of
April 1, 1893
Seaman Branch
Chief Master-at-Arms
Chief Boatswain's Mate
Chief Quartermaster
Chief Gunner's Mate
Artificer Branch
Chief Machinist
Chief Carpenter's Mate
Special Branch
Chief Yeoman
Apothecary
Band Masters
by CWO-4 Lester B. Tucker,
USN (Retired)
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
exam inations 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.
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 Propulsionman
– Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman
– Master Chief Avionics Technician
– Master Chief Precision Instrumentman
– Master Chief Constructionman
– Master Chief Equipmentman
Chief Medal of Honor
Recipients
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
Chief Medal of Honor
Recipients
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
Chief Medal of Honor
Recipients
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
Chief Medal of Honor
Recipients
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., Chief Machinist's Mate, USS Memphis, 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.
Chief Medal of Honor
Recipients
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
MCPON’s
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
MCPON’s
Master Chief Gunner Mate Delbert D. Black, USN 13Jan67 - 01Apr71
Master Chief Aviation Machinist 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 Operations Specialist 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 Machinist Mate (SS/SW/AW) James L.Herdt 27 Mar. 1998 –22APR02
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SS/AW) Terry D. Scott 22APR02 - Present
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.
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.
Admiral Halsey
Halsey looked at me 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!!"
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.
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.
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.
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!!!"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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...
“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
,
Bancroft Hall at the U. S. Naval Academy.
Chief’s lost in the line of duty
 HMC(SEAL) Matthew J. Bourgeois
Lost in Kandahar, Afghanistan March 28, 2002.
 ITC Donald McArthur Young, ITC Gregg Harold
Smallwood and RMC Marvin Roger Woods USN
(RET)
Lost at the Pentagon, September 11, 2001.
 ETC Richard Costelow & ENC Andrew Triplett
Both lost onboard USS COLE DDG 67 on October 12,
2000.
 ENC (SEAL) Don McFaul
Lost in Panama on December 21, 1989.
 ETC Michael W. Gorchinski, & HMC George W.
Piercy
Lost in Beirut, Lebanon on October 23, 1983.
Created & updated by
CSCS(SW/AW) Binda
USS NIMITZ CVN 68
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Be safe, be strong and lead from the front!