In the spirit of naval tradition, the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) First Class Petty Officer Association (FCPOA) and other Sailors assigned to the command personally stitched the cover insignia for the newest petty officers during a frocking ceremony, June 9.

"My First Class Petty Officer Association brought back a tradition that I thought had been long lost," said Information Systems Technician 1st Class Amy Bartels, who was frocked during the ceremony. "The [pinning] of a new crow when a Sailor advances is a great honor."

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Ashely Gray, representing the FCPOA, spoke of the Navy tradition which dates back to the early 1800s.

"The practice of frocking in the Navy dates back to 1802 when personnel wore the uniform of the next highest rank to assume the duties and responsibilities of that rank," said Gray. "Today's ceremony was a testament of how traditions may come and go, but they are still part of our naval heritage."

NECC Command Master Chief Corey Heinrich praised the FCPOA for making the ceremony truly special for the newly advanced Sailors, family members and the NECC HQ staff.

"Today I got to witness firsthand some of the finest Sailors in the Expeditionary Force," said Heinrich. "Our first class petty officers demonstrated professionalism and a thorough understanding of Navy heritage by reviving an old tradition of hand stitching on the newest Petty Officers' crows."

Bartels further emphasized the appreciation for the FCPOA in bestowing her hand-sewn cover.

"Receiving my cover brought out a sense that my accomplishments are truly recognized and appreciated," she added. "I feel wholeheartedly welcomed into the Navy's community of front line leaders."

Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Benjamin Wooddy, one of the newly frocked Sailors assigned to NECC, appreciated the naval tradition the first class petty officers included into the ceremony.

"This is a great tradition to have within our force because it shows our investment in our Sailors and speaks to the camaraderie we share as a Navy," said Wooddy.

NECC is an enduring warfighting force providing sea-to-shore and inland operating environment capabilities across the full range of military operations that is focused on delivering combat effective expeditionary forces ready for worldwide operations now and into the future.

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