Sixteen Sailors celebrated career milestones as they donned their khakis and joined the ranks of chief petty officers at Training Support Center (TSC) San Diego Sept. 14.

The ceremony was the culmination of a six-week indoctrination that presented opportunities to understand what it means to be a Navy chief and an overview of the scope of responsibilities a chief will face. Selectees participated in physical and mental challenges to test their resiliency and develop leadership skills.

Commands participating in the chief’s initiation included: TSC San Diego; Center for Surface Combat Systems Detachment West; Center for Service Support San Diego; Information Warfare Training Center San Diego; and Surface Warfare Officers School Engineering Learning Site San Diego. The newly pinned chiefs are:

Chief Culinary Specialist Submarine Decovan Williams

Chief Damage Controlman Rene Lopez

Chief Damage Controlman Victor Castellanos

Chief Electricians Mate Jason Fiecke

Chief Electronics Technician John Roberts

Chief Electronics Technician Manuel Lopez

Chief Electronics Technician Shana Beaver

Chief Fire Controlman Aegis Angelica Preciado

Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical) Reed Endsley

Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical) Troutman Yeboah

Chief Gunner’s Mate Michael Vanburen

Chief Hospital Corpsman Latoya Thomas

Chief Information System Technician Joseph Lanig

Chief Information System Technician Brandon Greene

Chief Information System Technician Brodie Clark

Chief Logistics Specialist Timothy Manalansan

Naval Education and Training Command Force Master Chief Karim Cole served as the guest speaker and commended the selectees on their accomplishment.

"You have earned this," said Cole. “You have proven yourself. You have proven yourself to your Sailors, to your leadership, and to the Chiefs Mess. You now have your anchors. Earn them every day.”

To represent the important role of family members and friends, each new chief selected someone to pin on their gold collar anchors and received their combination cover from the chief sponsor that assisted them through the initiation process.

“Congrats on getting here. Now go out there and be that chief,” said TSC San Diego commanding officer Capt. Michael Feyedelem. “Be that chief that develops your Sailors into future chiefs and beyond. Be that chief that takes your command to the next level. Be that chief that is committed to ship, shipmate and self.”

For more information about the traditions and rank of the chief petty officer, visit www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq46-1.htm.For information about TSC San Diego visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/tscsd/Default.aspx.

For more information about Naval Education and Training Command, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/NavalEducationAndTrainingCommand.

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