Three Sailors from Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) Detatchment Goodfellow were frocked as chief petty officers (CPOs) during a pinning ceremony at Goodfellow Air Force Base Sept. 13. The event also pinned as honorary chiefs two master sergeants from the Air Force 17th Training Wing who went through Chief Initiation.

Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Dickdale Pascual, Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Joshua Phillips and Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Morgan Griffin were pinned in front of family, friends and shipmates. They were joined by Air Force Master Sgts. Corey Gerard and Shelby “Will” Woodrum. The two had volunteered to undergo the CPO initiation process.

"The Navy has a long history of including joint service partners in the CPO initiation, and each of these members is considered a Navy chief within the CPO Mess,” said Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Joe Reynolds, senior enlisted leader of CIWT Det. Goodfellow. “While they wear a different uniform, there's a set of chiefs' anchors in their hearts." 

After learning of their promotion July 31, the new CPOs participated in six weeks of rigorous training known as Chief Initiation. Selectees were presented challenges designed to strengthen their leadership skills and to provide a better understanding of what it means to be a Navy chief. They also learned the history and traditions of the Chiefs' Mess.

"CPO initiation was the best professional military education I have ever had in my military career, and was the most difficult and rewarding thing I have ever done in my life," Woodrum said after the pinning ceremony. “I strongly recommend that other Airmen go through it, but I will warn them: Be ready; it is not for the faint of heart."

Goodfellow is one of two detachments assigned to CIWT. With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT has been recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning center the past three years. Training over 21,000 students every year, CIWT delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians and officers in the information warfare community.

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