Today is the 116th anniversary of the United States Navy's establsihment of the Chief Petty Officer grade, marking the birth of one of the most effective, tightly-knit and unique professional fraternities the world has ever seen.

US Navy Chiefs around the world will pause today to reflect on the honored traditions of our Mess and the heritage associated with it. This is what binds us together as Brothers- and Sisters-In-Arms, enhances our effectiveness as Leaders and Mentors, and enables us to collaborate to solve problems, motivate our Sailors and ultimately, effectively fight the ship.


I became a US Navy Chief Petty Officer on September 16th 1984, before many of those serving in our Navy today were born. It was, without question the best day of my life. I learned how to be a Chief through lessons I learned from Chiefs for whom I had worked over the years as a junior Sailor, and closely observed the members of the Chiefs' Mess on my ship to develop my skills to first lead a shipboard Division of Sailors and ultimately serve as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commanding Officer. Those years brought me professional and personal fulfillment beyond words and to this day, having stowed my uniform some years ago, there is nothing more important to me than the CPO Fellowship in which I knew trust in the other Chiefs and made lifelong friendships.

Today I salute all of my fellow Navy Chiefs, as well as those who will follow in our footsteps, for your service and personal sacrifices, your dedication in the defense of our Nation's freedom.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHIEFS!

Follow this link for detailed history of US Navy Chief Petty Officers

UNIT SITREP 201930Z MAR 09 First Official Action IRT Operation Homeport Change Puna

As this weblog was begun with the intention to be the log that chronicles our progress in eventual move to the Big Island for our retirement, I am posting today to announce the first of our series of milestones toward that end.

Yesterday I bought a ticket for a round trip flight to Hilo in mid-April, where I will be looking at acreage in the Puna District on which to build our retirement home when we finish up our business here on the Mainland. I expect to be there about 5 days, during which time I hope to find that one of the places on my list will prove a suitable piece of land for our hale likaia.

Mahalo nui to my friend and Shipmates Lee and Patty for their gracious invitation to allow me to impose on their Hale 'Ohana during my visit. I am also looking forward to face-to-face talk story with several of my BI makamaka whom I have met through PunaOnline, Damon Tucker's Weblog and Devany Vickery Davidson's My Hawaiian Home.

More to follow along this subject line after completion of my trip. Aloha nui.

UNIT SITREP 111400Z MAR 09

Still alive and kicking here, claiming victory over recent engagement with locally circulating flu bug. Work schedule exceedingly aggressive here lately, impeding my attention to posting. Pushing through this crunch and will be back soon.

Meantime, 6 mooring lines doubled up, tending fair. Quarterdeck, Cold Iron and Sounding Security Watches set with all but Duty Sections in a liberty status. All conditions normal; the Captain is ashore.

Aloha

Binnacle List

Have been Tango Uniform for the better part of the last week with a respiratory crud. Recovering, but still feeling punk. Will get back to full operational status soon. Meantime, any takers on the significance to this post of the image shown here?

Back soon...Aloha nui.