Fifty-six Sailors from Recruit Training Command (RTC) were promoted to the rank of chief petty officer at a ceremony held at the Blue Jacket Memorial Chapel, Sept. 16.

Before the ceremony, the new chief petty officers made their final march together as Chief Petty Officer Selectees from the USS Yorktown to the Blue Jacket Memorial Chapel.

Upon arrival, they were met by their family, friends, and over 300 staff members from the command, including Rear Adm. Stephen Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command, Capt. Doug Pfeifle, commanding officer, RTC, and Command Master Chief Matthew Laing, command master chief, RTC.

"To have 56 new chiefs at the same command is truly an extraordinary accomplishment, not only for these individuals who have worked hard to reach this point in their career, but also for the command as a whole," said Laing. "We are charged with a challenging job here, but hard work pays off and now these Sailors have the honor to lead as a chief Petty Officer at the same place their Navy careers began."

Due to the large number of promoted chief petty officers, the Sailors marched on stage four at a time where they were met by loved ones and mentors who pinned on their anchors and placed a combination cover on their heads.

According to Chief Builder Alfred Fehling, III, this also gave him time to reflect on those who helped him reach this point in his career.

"The first thing that popped in my mind when I found out was all the people that helped me get here; up and down the chain of command," said Fehling. "It was not just the chiefs that mentored me but it was the junior Sailors that worked for me and put me in a position to be where I am today."

Chief Hospital Corpsman Marion Cruse felt the same sense of gratitude for those that helped him.

"When I was told that I was selected chief my mind went completely blank," said Cruse. "It took me about an hour for it to sink in. I then got on the phone and started calling everybody to thank them for helping me reach my goal."

Both Fehling and Cruse attribute part of their success to the command and the Chief's Mess.

"Working at Recruit Training Command has assisted in gaining better time management skills," said Fehling. "It also helped having one of the biggest Chief's Messes in the Navy. They were great mentors and really pushed me to success."

Cruse added, "It was great having the Chief's Mess assist and push me along the way. It was such a positive experience."

The rank of chief petty officer is that of a senior non-commissioned officer, and was established April 1, 1893 for the U.S. Navy. Congress first authorized the Coast Guard to use the promotion to chief petty officer, May 18, 1920.

RTC is primarily responsible for conducting the initial Navy orientation and training of new recruits. The command is commonly referred to as "boot camp" or "recruit training".
Boot camp is approximately eight weeks, and all enlistees into the United States Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms familiarization, firefighting and shipboard damage control, lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline.

Since the closure of RTCs in Orlando and San Diego in 1994, RTC Great Lakes is, today, the Navy's only basic training location, and is known as "The Quarterdeck of the Navy." Today, approximately 38,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.

For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.