The guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46, Detachment Six welcomed four new chief petty officers (CPOs) to the Chief's Mess, Sept. 16.

Following the completion of a six-week training period known as CPO 365 Phase II, Chief Fire Controlman Matthew Cline, Chief Electrician's Mate Francisco Eraula, Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate Ryan Kerley, and Chief Machinist's Mate Richard Roberts received their gold-fouled anchors during a pinning ceremony held on the flight deck while at sea.

"It has truly been a great experience, often humbling, but great nonetheless," said Roberts. "It is truly an honor to have been selected and to now become a chief. I've learned a lot along the way, and today is a great day that only happens once in a Sailor's life."

During the ceremony, amid readings of the history of the CPO pinning ceremony, the tradition of piping the side and the CPO creed, one could not help but feel a sense of pride around the Farragut Chief's Mess, both for their storied history and for the four newest members.

"The CPO pinning ceremony was the culmination of Farragut's CPO 365 Phase II, comprised of heritage, leadership, organizational and physical training," said Command Master Chief Martin Roberts. "Our four new CPOs performed superbly during the six-week period just as they had throughout Phase I. By donning their fouled anchors underway on a forward-deployed warship, our new Chiefs were able to directly connect with our greatest traditions and heritage."

In donning their new collar devices and combination covers while wearing khakis, Cline, Eraula, Kerley and Roberts were reminded of the responsibility that comes along with promotion.

"Your new responsibilities and privileges do not appear in print. They have no official standing; they cannot be referred to by name, number, nor file. They have existed for over 100 years. Chiefs before you have freely accepted responsibility beyond the call of printed assignment," said Chief Quartermaster Rafael Romero, reading from the CPO Creed.

"Their actions and their performance demanded the respect of their seniors as well as their juniors. It is now required that you be the fountain of wisdom, the ambassador of good will, the authority in personal relations as well as in technical applications," he said.

Upon conclusion of the ceremony, the four newest chiefs were welcomed with open arms by their brothers and sisters. They saw fit to make the first cut into their celebratory cake together - an act which symbolized both the collective end of their training phases and the beginning of their naval careers as 'the chief.'

Farragut is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. The ship is homeported in Mayport, Florida.

Farragut is part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG), which is comprised of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and the guided-missile destroyers USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). TRCSG will conduct operations in the U.S. Navy's 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.

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For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), visit www.navy.mil/.