Navy Region Singapore commands advanced five Sailors to the rank of chief petty officer (CPO) during a pinning ceremony, Sept. 16.

The ceremony featured chief selects from Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC), Commander Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 and Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Yokosuka Site Singapore.

"There is no greater honor and no greater privilege than leading Sailors while wearing anchors on your collar," said Capt. Randall Martin, chief of staff, COMLOG WESTPAC/Task Force 73, speaking to the CPO selectees during his keynote remarks. "Your Sailors will now look to you for leadership, guidance and direction, but you will have to earn their trust as a new member of the CPO mess."

The chiefs' pinning ceremony is a tradition unique to the Navy, which dates back to 1893 when the chief petty officer paygrade was established. The ceremony signifies a new position of leadership and responsibility that Sailors assume when they become chiefs.

The CPO selectees were ceremoniously pinned to the rank of chief in the company of family members and fellow chief petty officers.

"To a leader there is no better feeling than the pride and satisfaction that comes with the advancement of our Sailors," said Command Master Chief Richard O'Rawe. "CPO 365 is the enabler of continual career development for our chief petty officers and first class petty officers that culminates in six weeks of close-quarters training for those selected as chief petty officers."

The ceremony commemorated another generation of chief petty officers who were trained and ready to lead the upcoming Sailors below them.

"We all appreciate and admire how the CPO Mess makes our Navy unique among the services and even other navies around the world. It is this reliability and dependability of each Chief that constitutes the body of the CPO Mess and makes it so consistently effective - year after year - for well over a century," said Martin.

COMLOG WESTPAC is the U.S. 7th Fleet's provider of combat-ready logistics, operating government-owned and contracted ships to keep units throughout 7th Fleet armed, fueled, and fed. Additionally, COMLOG WESTPAC is 7th Fleet's Theater Security Cooperation agent for South and Southeast Asia.

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