Forward deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), held a pinning ceremony for two newly selected senior chief petty officers. In honor of the selectees, more than 200 Sailors stood in formation on the ship's flight deck during the ceremony, Jun 3.

Close family, friends and mentors attended the ceremony honoring Senior Chief Machinist's Mate Benjamin Stanton and Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Charles Brown.

Three senior chiefs aboard the ship played an important role in Stanton's ceremony by pinning new rank insignia on the selectee's shirt collar and placing a cover with the rank on Stanton's head.

Stanton joined the Navy July 2002 as an engineman. He said he enjoys being more in control of how things are accomplished, but that he still enjoys doing maintenance and troubleshooting with his junior Sailors.

"I tell my guys that nothing in life is ever handed out for free," said Stanton. "If you want it, then go get it. That counts for training, advancement and even life after the Navy."

Stanton now aims to be a recruit division commander at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes.

"Now that I've excelled through the ranks, I want to go back to where it all began," said Stanton. "I really enjoy training and mentoring my junior guys, so this really called to me."

Leading by example was a common theme for the two newly pinned senior chiefs.

"Our success comes from the hard work and dedication of our junior people," stressed Brown. "We wear our khakis and anchors because of them, and we need to pay it forward."

Brown had his collar devices pinned on by his wife, retired Chief Yeoman Allyson Brown, and was covered by Command Master Chief Jeremiah Montanez.

"It was a blessing having my wife, a fellow chief, pin me," said Brown. "It was a great moment in both of our lives."

Brown joined the Navy March 1995 and began working toward his goal to advance.

"It motivated me, seeing Sailors being advanced," Brown said. "I looked at them and thought, 'I want to be in their shoes one day.' That's why I always push forward, because I'm not satisfied with anything less than the best I can be."

Brown said he hopes to go to Afloat Training Group as his next assignment, so he can train, lead, and give back to the community.

The ceremony concluded with Sailors and family members congratulating their newly advanced senior chiefs. With less than 12 percent advancement across the Navy for senior chief, earning this promotion was not an easy task.

The fiscal year 2017 senior chief petty officer selection board had to review the records of 13,516 eligible E-7 Sailors. The overall advancement opportunity the 2017 cycle was 11.93 percent.

Curtis Wilbur is on patrol with the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

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