[Mouton]

My uncle, a WW2 Flying Chief, died this past year. I am sure he would have a lot to say on this subject and nothing in support of the change. He often remarked he loved being in a position wherein he had the respect of both “his men” and those whom he served under.

[Da Coyote]

Of all our services, it appears that the Navy is the most politically correct.

One would think they’d be trying to make up for Carter and McCain - a task which would take at least a millenia.

[ansel12]

How about a clue of what this is about?

[dblshot]

I have been on both sides of a Chief's initiation. I have had to deal with uninitiated chiefs who had trouble getting paperwork etc through an initiated chief's office. I have been at honorary chief's initiations where a civilian warranty engineer riding the ship for an extended period was deemed worthy. I always figured the initiation process was kinda like a pack of dogs peeing on a new dog so he smelled like everyone else in the pack. Supposedly the Hell's Angels actually pee on their initiates. I am really ambivalent about initiations. On the one hand they are useful on the other they can cause embarrassment and rifts between initiated and uninitiated chiefs. By definition some of the “trials” are harassment. The line in the chief's creed about the embarrassments being done not to humiliate but to teach that humility is good really doesn't work if there are not some humiliating exercises. Boot camp isn't what it used to be either. Neither are 180 or shellback etc initiations. What's an old salt to do?

[wxgesr]

“Bill Randall is a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief.”

Not only that, I relieved him in 1992 as the COMSIXTHFLT Meteorologist. He has run for Congress in Raleigh, NC and is one hell of a man and shipmate!

I hope he runs again, when the time comes. He is one of those goshdarned conservative minorities that the left hates.

[oh8eleven]

The U.S. Navy CPO wears a unique insignia on his/her collar device, the fouled anchor.
It's not unique - the Marine Corps emblem has the same "fouled anchor" ...

The article bemoans the loss of "time honored tradition" - well, how about the Navy's new "work clothes?"
Why does a sailor need blue cammies?

[Mathews]

Short of my marriage and the births of my two boys, CPO Initiation was the best thing that ever happened to me. Sincerely saddened with this news. Where have all the good men gone?

[Portcall24]

Thanks for posting. Very interesting discussion and especially the comments. Reminds me of my father-in-law becoming a Shellback in WWII. Real big deal. It does appear that several parts could have been altered to consider the New Navy rather than throw everything in the crapper. If you have time the video about USS Forrestal tragedy is exceptional. There walked some real heroes and patriots to the core. May their sacrifice not be forgotten.

[Fast Moving Angel]

To all of you who served/are serving, THANK YOU for your service. I’m just glad my dad and stepdad, both retired Navy Chiefs, aren’t around to see what has happened to their beloved Navy.