As 2018 CPO season draws to a close, NEXCOM has for decades been an integral piece of every new Chief Petty Officer’s career.

NEXs around the globe, from NEX Oceana to Whidbey Island to NEX Guam, honored this important milestone. NEX Great Lakes joined Morale, Welfare and Recreation to celebrate with a DJ, food, refreshments, games and vendor prizes with the new CPOs at the annual Great Lakes Navy Chief/Navy Pride Run. NEX Charleston put on a uniform fashion show displaying and featuring all uniforms worn by U.S. Navy Chiefs while Chief selectees gave the history and explained the proper wear for each. NEX Guam celebrated with a lip sync challenge, with over nine commands participating and voting on the best Chief selectee.

For every new Chief is the memory of putting on that first set of khaki uniform. Behind that time honored tradition is a team of NEXCOM tailors, uniform experts, specialists and researchers. These team members ensure every new Chief remembers that special step in their career, and it’s because most of them have also worn the uniform. In fact, over half of all NEXCOM team members are military retirees, reservists, veterans or family members. They know their customer because they’ve been in their shoes and have also served with pride in uniform, the cloth of our nation.

NEXCOM tailors and uniform specialists pride themselves on going the extra mile, going above and beyond to assist our nation’s Sailors. “Taking care of our Sailors is a top priority,” said Jo Johnson, NEXCOM, Uniform Operations Specialist. “Timely care and attentiveness is what we aim to do,” said Peppino Panecaldo, NEXCOM, Uniform Program Specialist.

NEX uniform shops set time aside for entire commands to be fitted together, sometimes 100 people at a time. Tailors measure by hand each new Chief to ensure the perfect fit. If needed, they even fly out to ships deployed abroad to fit Sailors while also training the Chiefs mess on proper fit and wear. When time is of the essence, NEX tailors work overnight, ensuring a 24-hour turnaround on a uniform for Sailors on special duty.

This year, NEXCOM Command Master Shannon Howe shared a message to all the new Chiefs, as words of encouragement and some lessons to live by. In her note she stated, “Be proud and humble – earn your acceptance with competence and courage. Chiefs face chaos and challenge every day, even failure on occasion. If you fail, fail fast and own it with moral courage, a sense of purpose, and a desire for excellence.  Success will follow but more importantly – your Sailors will follow because you’ve earned their respect.”

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