Andrew Made CHIEF!

This Morning he walked into work a Chief. It took him 10 years, 7 Months, and 22 Days to get here, to this moment, this milestone… Im so so so damn proud.

You wont talk to a person in his Command here in Sasebo that will tell you they didnt expect to see his name SHINING on the List this year of CPO Selects, this is a well deserved accomplishment for Dear Husband, but I dont know if I truly understood what the “Season” was, or what to expect to follow! These last 6 weeks have been challenging, pushing him to the limits of exhaustion, endurance, physically and mentally… So much taught and absorbed in a small amount of time, but he is a rock-star, and powered through. I spent this weekend listening to tales of it all, laughing with him (because its over now, so we can!!) reading his Charge Book, filled with inscriptions of encouragement and wise advice passed down from the Chiefs who he has come to know, and holding him as tight and tangled as I could, trying to make up for these last 4 months apart… This Story is his, its now a part of him, a time in his life he will NEVER forget, will carry with him everyday as he himself becomes a GREAT Chief… As for me? I didnt think it possible, but I have found an even deeper respect for this guy… He just blows my mind.

About mid way into Season, Andrew had to switch ships, leaving the WASP and his Command to finish up on the Green Bay… I can only imagine its like switching junior High with only a month left in the school year… However he met some great people to finish out Season with, had one of his favorite Master Chiefs along side with him, and was able to come home (which we werent sure about) a week before Pinning… Ill take it…

His Pinning Ceremony went great! Im not sharing the video of the Selects marching in and chanting “Anchors Away” or singing the Star Spangle Banner… If I did, you may never see me again!!!! haha But it was fun for me and the kids to see, and by Golly, he looked so DAPPER in those khakis! The chiefs one by one gave them a “Charge” and then we were welcomed onto the stage to pin our guy… I cant believe I held it together, although I was prepared with tissues stuffed in my pockets and waterproof mascara in case I lost it… The Green Bay CO gave a very moving speech, and I cant even imagine how crazy my face looked just gleaming at my guy, couldnt take my eyes off him… After everyones official welcoming into the Mess, they were able to congratulate one another… It was like watching a Football Team just win the big game… All Hugs and Smiles!

I wanted to add in the “Navy Chief Petty Officers Creed” so here ya go:

DURING THE COURSE OF INITIATION, YOU HAVE BEEN CAUSED TO HUMBLY ACCEPT CHALLENGE AND FACE ADVERSITY. THIS YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WITH RARE GOOD GRACE. POINTLESS AS SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES MAY HAVE SEEMED, THERE WERE VALID, TIME-HONORED REASONS BEHIND EACH POINTED BARB.

YOUR FAITH IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS WAS NECESSARY TO OVERCOME THESE HURDLES. THE GOAL WAS TO INSTILL IN YOU THAT TRUST IS INHERENT WITH THE DONNING OF THE UNIFORM OF A CHIEF. OUR INTENT WAS TO IMPRESS UPON YOU THAT CHALLENGE IS GOOD; A GREAT AND NECESSARY REALITY WHICH CANNOT MAR YOU – WHICH, IN FACT, STRENGTHENS YOU.

IN YOUR FUTURE AS A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER, YOU WILL BE FORCED TO ENDURE ADVERSITY FAR BEYOND WHAT HAS THUS FAR BEEN IMPOSED UPON YOU. YOU MUST FACE EACH CHALLENGE AND ADVERSITY WITH THE SAME DIGNITY AND GOOD GRACE YOU HAVE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED.

BY EXPERIENCE, BY PERFORMANCE, AND BY TESTING, YOU HAVE BEEN ADVANCED TO CHIEF PETTY OFFICER. IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY – AND ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY – THE RANK OF E7 CARRIES WITH IT UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIVILEGES YOU ARE EXPECTED TO FULFILL AND BOUND TO OBSERVE.

YOUR ENTIRE WAY OF LIFE IS CHANGED. MORE WILL BE EXPECTED OF YOU; MORE WILL BE DEMANDED OF YOU. NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE AN E7, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER. YOU HAVE NOT MERELY BEEN PROMOTED A PAYGRADE, YOU HAVE JOINED AN EXCLUSIVE FELLOWSHIP AND, AS IN ALL FELLOWSHIPS, YOU HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR COMRADES, EVEN AS THEY HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO YOU. THIS IS WHY WE IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY MAY MAINTAIN WITH PRIDE OUR FEELINGS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ONCE WE HAVE ATTAINED THE POSITION OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICER.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIVILEGES DO NOT APPEAR IN PRINT. THEY HAVE NO OFFICIAL STANDING; THEY CANNOT BE REFERRED TO BY NAME, NUMBER, NOR FILE. THEY HAVE EXISTED FOR OVER 100 YEARS, BECAUSE CHIEFS BEFORE YOU HAVE FREELY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY BEYOND THE CALL OF PRINTED ASSIGNMENT. THEIR ACTIONS AND THEIR PERFORMANCE DEMANDED THE RESPECT OF THEIR SENIORS AS WELL AS THEIR JUNIORS.

IT IS REQUIRED THAT YOU BE THE FOUNTAIN OF WISDOM, THE AMBASSADOR OF GOOD WILL, THE AUTHORITY IN PERSONAL RELATIONS AS WELL AS IN TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS. “ASK THE CHIEF” IS A HOUSEHOLD PHRASE IN AND OUT OF THE NAVY.

YOU ARE THE CHIEF. THE EXALTED POSITION YOU HAVE ACHIEVED — AND THE WORD EXALTED IS USED ADVISEDLY — EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE, CHARACTER, AND PERFORMANCE OF THE CHIEFS BEFORE YOU. IT SHALL EXIST ONLY AS LONG AS YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CHIEFS MAINTAIN THESE STANDARDS.

IT WAS OUR INTENTION THAT YOU NEVER FORGET THIS DAY. IT WAS OUR INTENTION TO TEST YOU, TO TRY YOU, AND TO ACCEPT YOU. YOUR PERFORMANCE HAS ASSURED US THAT YOU WILL WEAR “THE HAT” WITH THE SAME PRIDE AS YOUR COMRADES IN ARMS BEFORE YOU.

WE TAKE A DEEP AND SINCERE PLEASURE IN CLASPING YOUR HAND, AND ACCEPTING YOU AS A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

Congratulations Dear Husband…. Its been an Honor standing by your side since day one of this venture..

After the Ceremony we took a little tour through the ship to the Chief’s Mess.. We saw where Andrew lived, yep yall, thats it… And he says its fancy since they are L shaped to sit up!

Andrew is so thankful for all of you who have helped him with this achievement… This is a big Moment in his Life, he has put on Anchors. Im jumping up and down for this Man. xoxo