Fifteen Sailors received their anchors in a chief petty officer pinning ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Sept. 16, along with hundreds across the world who advanced to the prestigious rank through hard work and determination.

For one Sailor, this ceremony had an even deeper meaning as he shared it with his family in a unique way.

Chief Hospital Corpsman Aaron Deguzman, a medical laboratory instructor for Navy Medicine Training Support Center (NMTSC) at the Medical Education Training Campus (METC) at Fort Sam Houston, was selected to advance only months after his brother Ensign Roi Marrion Deguzman, stationed aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) reached a own major milestone in the Navy by receiving his commission. Perhaps even more special was when Aaron found out he and his brother, Chief Hospital Corpsman Mitchel Deguzman, stationed aboard Pre-Commissioning Unit John P. Murtha (LPD 26) was pinned to chief the same day.

"I was so happy and proud when Captain [Brent] Kelln and CMC (Command Master Chief) [Anthony] Guzman told me that I got selected," Aaron about his notification from his commanding officer and command senior enlisted leader. "I am happy not only for myself, but more especially for my family. After calling my wife, I immediately called my brother [Mitchel] to see if he also got selected. And when I found out he did, I was probably the happiest and proudest brother. Him being our 'Kuya,' eldest brother, he always wants the best for us, Roi Marrion and me. I was so happy that all his hard work and sacrifices had been rewarded."

Aaron and Mitchel joined the Navy together in 2003, went to boot camp together and even reported to their first command, guided-missile frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46), at the same time. Now they will share the special memory of joining the chief petty officer ranks the same day.

"Being pinned to the rank of chief petty officer is already a great deal of accomplishment on itself," said Mitchel. "Being pinned the same day as your brother makes it even more special. Me and Aaron went to boot camp at the same time, we were both undesignated on the same ship for our first command, and we both went to Hospital Corpsman "A" School, although not at the same time. We have shared most of our naval career together, and it is such a wonderful feeling to share another milestone with my brother."

Of course working up the ranks alongside a family member can carry a greater level of competition. According to Mitchel, the hospital corpsman rating is especially competitive in and of itself, where advancement opportunities are below Navy average, and competing with his brothers added an increased friendly rivalry.

"It's definitely competitive," agreed Aaron. "We kept a very healthy competition between the three of us. We always tracked on everything that each one of us was doing. We push and motivate each other to not just be a better Sailor, but more especially a better person. Although all three of us are very competitive in nature, we are very proud and happy for each other's achievements."

Through competition, all three brothers have excelled in their careers and are very happy with their progress and recent accomplishments, attributing much of their success to the support of their family.

"Both of my parents and my little sister are very proud of all of our achievements in our career in the Navy," said Aaron. "They were always there for us to provide guidance and support. They always told us to do the right things and stay positive and focus on our goals."

Roi Marrion believes the support they receive from their family helps tremendously and the brothers are succeeding in making them proud.

"Our family has always been there for us," he said. "They might not know exactly, nor understand everything that we do, but they have always been involved in our lives. I know that they know how much this means to us, and they're really happy for us."

Mitchel agreed and added, "I could not speak for them, but I sure do hope that we are making them proud. It is every parent's dream to witness their children succeed on their chosen path, and to that effect I believe that me and my brothers have done a decent job of fulfilling our parents' dreams."

Both Aaron and Mitchel agreed this milestone meant a lot to them, as they learned more about leadership and personal development in the weeks leading up to the pinning ceremony than in the rest of their careers.

"It is a very humbling and eye-opening experience for me," said Aaron. "It made me learn how to accept my weaknesses and learn how to acknowledge it and move on to better myself. It also made me appreciate more all the guidance and support that I received from my family, mentors, peers and junior Sailors. That, in turn, made me realize that I didn't make it to the top alone and that it's part of my duties now to give back to all those people that helped me -- especially to my junior Sailors."

After completing the necessary training, Aaron was welcomed into the Chiefs Mess by his command master chief.

"I'm honored to announce that the fiscal year 2017 chief petty officer selectees have successfully completed their training," said Guzman during the ceremony. "The Joint Base San Antonio CPO Mess has tested and found them worthy of entry into the ranks of chief petty officer. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it, but I take it it is well worth it."

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For more news from Navy Medicine Education and Training Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.