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Naval Hospital Bremerton holds pinning ceremony for new Senior Chiefs
Story Number: NNS130627-15
6/27/2013
By Douglas H Stutz, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs
BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- The stars were aligned for three Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) staff members who became the command's newest senior chief petty officers on June 27.
Senior Chief Hospital Corpsmen Joseph Haner of NHB's Branch Health Clinic Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Senior Chief Boatswain Mate Trevor Parrish of NHB's Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP), and Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Michael Therkildsen added a star to their uniforms in front of friends, family and co-workers in the time-honored Navy tradition of the advancement ceremony.
"There are many milestones in a Navy career. This is a big deal. Adding the star is a pinnacle of leadership. The Navy only gives this to the best and brightest of our chief petty officers. This is well deserved. Well done. Congratulations. Let's make them Seniors," said Capt. Christopher Culp, Naval Hospital Bremerton's Commanding Officer.
Haner was pinned by his wife Barina and father-in-law Rich, Parrish was pinned by his wife Tricia and daughter Kierra, and Therkildsen was pinned by his wife Dana and Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Mick McKown.
"Without the support of my family, this wouldn't be possible," said Parrish, who has been in the Navy for 17 years, with the last three months assigned to SARP. Parrish attests that his advancement is directly related to his continued caring and concern for the professional development and personal livelihood of his Sailors.
"The Sailors that worked for me, such as at my last command, USS Ingraham (FFG 61), had success. I helped them to advance in rate and lead them in doing what needed to be done day in and day out," said Parrish.
Chief Hospital Corpsman Michael Mussett, master of ceremony for the event, shared a concise explanation of the pinning.
"The paygrades E-8 and E-9, senior chief and master chief, were created effective June 1, 1958, under an amendment to the Career Compensation Act of 1949. Eligibility for promotion to the senior chief level was restricted to chiefs with a minimum of four years in grade and a total of 10 years of service. For elevation from chief to master chief, a minimum of six years in grade as a chief petty officer with a total of 13 years service was required. Today, these three chief petty officers will follow in the footsteps of those first senior chief petty officers and those who have attained the rank since." Mussett said.
"These three have worked their tails off their whole career to get here. Our Navy realized it. These three have improved and impacted Sailors. Their challenge is to continue to better their Sailors as they have done, along with their command. They'll continue to get out there and do great things," commented Naval Hospital Bremerton's Command Master Chief Douglas George.
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For more news from Naval Hospital Bremerton, visit www.navy.mil/local/nhb/.