More than 200 First Class Petty Officers from the Hampton Roads area attended the eighth annual leadership symposium held at the Joint Forces Staff College, May 27.

The event, themed "Anchor Bound," provided the first class petty officers (FCPOs) with leadership and career guidance to help them achieve the rank of chief petty officer. Following each presentation, the Sailors were provided with a Q&A session.

Quartermaster 1st Class Myesha Randle, vice president, Naval Station Norfolk First Class Petty Officers Association, said this year's symposium was very beneficial to all those who attended.

"For the past seven years we have been holding this conference over a two-day period, but this year was our first time holding everything in one day," said Randle. "We had powerhouse speakers, and the information presented showed the direction the Navy is going and how to relay that information on to our junior Sailors."

The event featured keynote speakers such as Fleet Master Chief April D. Beldo, Fleet Master Chief Charles Clarke, Force Master Chief Susan A. Whitman and other senior enlisted leaders throughout the area. Attendees covered a gambit of topics from the Career Navigation Program and Career Waypoints Program (CWAY) to Suicide Prevention, Hazing and, Sexual Assault Prevention.

Beldo addressed those in attendance as "Chiefs-in-Training," and stressed the importance of leading by example. She gave guidance to those in attendance on ways they can better prepare their subordinates to one day serve as their replacements as they advance.

"Always ask yourself, how am I going to be a success today. How am I going to lead by example and give my Sailors not just guidance, but guidance with conviction," said Beldo, Fleet Master Chief for Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education (MPT&E).

Beldo said that Sailors who attend leadership conferences like the symposium are given the tools they need to become more effective leaders for their Sailors.

"When you talk to your Sailors, you need to have credibility," Beldo said, referring to training and experience. "Give your Sailors all the tools they need to be successful and never allow your integrity to be questioned."

Randle hopes that attendees are able to take a lot of the information they learned back to their commands and share with their peers, especially information about advancement from petty officer first class to chief petty officer.

"The feedback that I received is that one of the highlights of the event was the Q&A with the Chief Selection Board Panel. They were able to answer so many questions on a personal and situational level, and I heard that it was invaluable to many who participated," Randle said.

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