The Making of a Chief Religious Program Specialist

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (NNS) -- The chiefs pinning ceremony dates back to April 1, 1898 and is among one of the most admired and unique Navy rights of passage. Each September, chiefs from all over the Navy gather to welcome newly frocked members of the mess.

Chief Religious Program Specialist Alan Grow, is humble, mild mannered, soft-spoken and a newly frocked chief petty officer (CPO) in the United States Navy.

Grow, 27, a native of Bogalusa, La., quickly rose through the ranks to become the youngest of only 40 chief religious program specialists (RPC) in the Navy.

"I have been blessed to have worked with some great Sailors. Some are already CPOs and some are still climbing the ranks," said Grow. "I had superiors, CPOs and peers that took care of me and set me up for success. Now as the chief, it is my job to set them up for success so they can achieve their goals."

Grow's pinning ceremony took place on Sept. 16 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Marching in solo to the ceremony, Grow led the 30th Naval Construction Regiment's (30 NCR) chiefs in a rendition of "Anchors Aweigh" followed by the "Song of the Seabees" before being welcomed into the 30 NCR's chiefs mess.

"Being the only CPO selectee within the command, I was given a lot of mentoring and training from the chiefs mess," said Grow. "Most CPO selects do not get as much one on one time with the CPOs that I was given."

Grow, who is currently assigned to 30 NCR, joins the unique and elite position of one of only two RPCs assigned to the Naval Construction Force or Seabees.

Grow's duty within the regiment is to coordinate and facilitate religious programs, coordinate religious ministry training for chaplains and RPs and is the United Through Reading program manager.

"As an RPC, we are usually over a much larger area," said Grow. "RPCs not only take care of the command they are assigned to, but also take care of all the commands in their AOR [area of responsibility]. For instance, a RPC would be the senior RP for a whole carrier battle group."

Achieving the rank of chief symbolizes one's deckplate-leadership, institutional and technical expertise, professionalism, character, loyalty, active communication and sense of heritage.


For more news from Chaplain Corps, visit www.navy.mil/local/crb/.