The amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) advanced 13 Sailors to the rank of chief petty officer during a joint ceremony at Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story, Sept. 16.

The ceremony followed an intense six-week training period known as CPO 365 Phase II, which began Aug. 1, the day CPO advancement results were released. CPO 365 Phase I trains first class petty officers year-round.

Throughout the training, senior leaders introduced the CPO selectees to a set of challenges that were designed to strengthen their leadership and mentoring abilities.

"I felt so much pride seeing the chiefs that came before me, and the junior Sailors that will one day earn anchors of their own," said Chief Hospital Corpsman David Slipher, one of the newly promoted CPOs. "So much hard work and sacrifice went into earning this, from those being pinned today to our families who have been there supporting us the entire way."

The pinning ceremony began with soon-to-be CPOs marching from the rear of the auditorium to the stage singing "Anchors Aweigh," showing Navy pride and unity that comes with the title and rank of CPO.

Arlington's Commanding Officer Capt. Sean R. Bailey, addressed the selectees, family members and crew members of the Arlington and Bainbridge.

"Today we witness one of the very finest ceremonies we have in the United States Navy," said Bailey. "Today we recognize the hard work, dedication and training that it takes to advance to the rank of chief petty officer."

Each CPO selectee was called up to the stage individually when it was time to pin anchors onto the collars of their new khaki uniforms and were pinned by family members and spouses. The new chiefs then were capped with their new khaki combination covers by their mentors, marking the next milestone in their careers.

"For anyone who has donned the uniform of a chief petty officer, pinning day is truly special," said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Kenny Mathiesen, the master of ceremonies. "It is also a day where chief petty officers think back to their own pinning, the pride we felt putting on those coveted anchors for the first time, and more importantly, we rededicate ourselves to the ideals of a chief petty officer."

The ceremony concluded with Arlington's acting command master chief, Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Kurt Roth, reading the chief petty officer's creed, and then each newly pinned CPO was congratulated by fellow CPOs and fellow crew members.

"I can talk at great length about chief petty officers who, over the course of 28 years, gave me tough love when I needed it, inspired me to be more, guided and advised me as an enlisted man, junior officer and commanding officer," said Bainbridge Commanding Officer Cmdr. Martin Robinson in his speech to the selectees. "It is now you who have that tremendous opportunity to mentor Sailors and guide junior officers. Our Navy needs you to seize that opportunity and be the leader that you were born to be."

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