Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst -- JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – Four sailors from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst joined the ranks of the chief petty officer’s mess in a pinning ceremony held at Naval Support Activity Lakehurst Nov. 19.
The joint base’s newest chiefs are Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Eddy Eugene, Chief Electrician’s Mate Gregory Lipetzky, Chief Electronics Technician Anthony Roman and Chief Aviation Support Equipment Technician Henry Seeger.
Capt. Frank Ingargiola, NSA Lakehurst Commander and Joint Base MDL Deputy Commander-Navy, opened the ceremony to expand on the significance of the role the new chiefs would inherit.
“Yesterday, I spoke to the chief selects about the metamorphosis between being a petty office first class and becoming chiefs,” Ingargiola said. “Despite this metamorphosis, they are still the technical experts but now they are the chief. Everyone knows when you need something done in the Navy, you go ask the Chief.” The pinning ceremony culminated a six-week initiation period for the Navy chief selects where they receive intensive training, professional development and mentoring in the senior enlisted roles they are now expected to fill. As is tradition, local chief petty officers organize and lead the initiation program to try, test and accept their own into their ranks.
“CPO Initiation is a time-honored tradition preserved and conducted by the Chiefs Mess to help develop and prepare the new chiefs for the next journey in their careers,” said Command Senior Chief Jeffrey Jones, , NSA Lakehurst command senior enlisted leader. “Chiefs are considered the backbone of the Navy. We are tasked with developing sailors and junior officers. We do not take this responsibility lightly. CPO Initiation provides the chiefs mess a forum to come together and share our experiences in hopes of becoming a stronger team and Navy.”
Each Chief had their anchors pinned on by family, friends and their fellow chiefs. For Seeger, it was a proud moment and the culmination of 13 years of hard work and service.
“It’s a huge privilege and a great honor to join such a brother and sisterhood as the chief’s mess,” Seeger said. “The best part has been the camaraderie that you get and knowing you can always rely on the mess. Now, I’m looking forward to using everything I’ve learned to give back to the sailors and junior officers I’ll be training.”
The history and traditions of the Navy chief petty officer began in 1893 and every year, chiefs across the Navy conduct Chief Season to train, try and accept the new members of their mess.