CNO Advances Four Sailors of Year to Chief Petty Officer

Navy NewsStand ^ | July 22, 2005 | UNKNOWN

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Vern Clark meritoriously advanced the 2005 Sailors of the Year (SOY) to chief petty officer during a ceremony July 21 at the Pentagon. The advancement was Clark’s last official act before his retirement.

CNO Shore SOY, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) Shannon R. Dittlinger; Atlantic Sea SOY, Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class (AW/SW) Richard B. Rainer; Pacific Fleet Sea SOY, Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class (AW/SS/NAC) Matthew J. Waxenfelter; and Naval Reserve Force SOY, Utilitiesman 1st Class (SS) Thomas E. Mock each received a Navy Commendation Medal prior to receiving their anchors.

Throughout the week, the four Sailors of the Year and their spouses met with Defense Department and Navy leaders, visited historical sites, and enjoyed special events in their honor in the Washington, D.C., area.

“The Navy has once again selected fine representatives of the incredible talent and wonderful Sailors we have throughout the entire Navy,” said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Terry Scott, who hosted the week’s events, along with the variety of activities held in honor of the Navy's top performers.

“I want to thank all of you family members for the role that you play in making our Navy a reality,” Clark said, beginning his speech before a crowd of more than 200 family members, shipmates and on-lookers in the Pentagon courtyard. “I thank you for the support of these Sailors and what you do to make their service possible.”

“It’s a wonderful thing to join the ranks of the chiefs,” said Clark. “I have told audiences all over the world that I love chief petty officers, and I’m proud of the relationship that I have with chief petty officers.”

Clark said there have been many chiefs that directly contributed to his own success throughout his career, and he expects the four new chief petty officers to make a strong impact, as well.

“You’re being selected to make a difference. This institution is not going to make you a chief so that we can focus on your past. This institution is going to make you a chief because we’re focusing on the future, and we expect you to make a difference in our future. We expect you to fulfill the role chief petty officers fill in our Navy. You will be a most influential leader in our Navy and you will make a difference for America.

“There are a set of promises made in our institution when young men and women come in and raise their right hand. They promise to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and to serve,” continued Clark. “I believe that it’s very important for us to ask leaders the question, ‘What do you promise in return?’ For the four of you, that question will continue to be asked of you.”

Throughout the Sailor of the Year competition, Dittlinger has represented her former command, Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan, where she supported the Navy’s Human Capital Strategy there as the command career counselor. Through establishment and training of a command retention team and oversight of career action requests for 1,200 members, her efforts helped retain quality Sailors and sustained improvement to her command’s mission. Born in Annapolis, Dittlinger is a 12-year Navy veteran and is currently assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, N.C., Marine Wing Service and Support 272 New River Air Station, N.C.

A native of Burlington, Vt., Rainer represented his former command, USS Wasp (LHD 1), where his leadership and support of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship’s mission and genuine concern for his Sailors inspired him to guide the physical fitness efforts of more than 1,200 Sailors aboard his ship, and to coordinate a comprehensive, specific program to improve the fitness and health of more than 85 at-risk Sailors aboard that ship. He also coordinated more than 40 recreational activities to help improve the morale of his shipmates. Currently, he is assigned to the Strike Group Oceanography Team East as part of the AG Sea Warrior initiative, and is playing an important role in the further development of the Navy’s Five Vector Model.

Waxenfelter was born in Ojai, Calif., and is a native of Russellville, Ark. A 14-year Navy veteran, he currently is assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 4, where he managed 13 critical programs as branch and leading petty officer (LPO) last year for the command, tracking more than 3,000 qualifications for all ground and air crew personnel. He also contributed to the command mission as the primary command fitness leader and enlisted aviation warfare specialist coordinator.

Mock, a native of Long Island, N.Y., enlisted in 1978 as a machinist’s mate in the Navy’s nuclear program. After 10 years of service, he left the Navy for a career in the civilian nuclear power sector. He reenlisted in the Navy Reserve in June 2001 as a utilitiesman and subsequently was assigned to Navy Supply Support Battalion 1 Maintenance Company in Phoenix. He was mobilized to active service as Force Protection LPO last year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and assigned to Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Forward Alpha Fuels at Camp Anaconda, Balad, Iraq. He created a well-disciplined and motivated 84-member expeditionary team from 11 separate reserve centers across the nation for crucial, direct support of the global war on terrorism.

CNO Adm. Elmo Zumwalt initiated the Sailor of the Year program in 1972 to recognize outstanding Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Sailors; the next year, the program honored the top Shore Sailor of the Year. Sponsored by the CNO, the program annually provides recognition to the Navy's outstanding Sailors through numerous presentations, awards and meritorious advancement to the next pay grade.

For related news, visit the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/mcpon/.

[SandRat]

050721-N-0962S-001 Washington, D.C. (July 21, 2005) - The Navy's 2005 Sailors of the Year (SOY) pose in the Pentagon courtyard following their meritorious advancement to chief petty officer. From left, Navy Reserve Force SOY, Chief Utilitiesman Thomas E. Mock; Chief of Naval Operations Shore SOY, Chief Hospital Corpsman Shannon R. Dittlinger; Pacific Fleet SOY, Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Matthew J. Waxenfelter and Atlantic Fleet SOY, Chief Aerographer's Mate Richard B. Rainer. The Sailor of the Year program was initiated in 1972 by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt to recognize outstanding enlisted Sailors. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 1st Class Brandan W. Schulze (RELEASED)

[SandRat]

Navy PING!

Four sailors toss away the Dixie-Cup.

[Coldwater Creek]

It is the Chief's that run the Navy!!!!!!!!!

[BluH2o]

Making CPO in the Navy means you actually get to wear a decent uniform. The enlisted and NCO ranks, up to CPO, are burdened with having to wear those ridiculous bell bottom uniforms. Of course I'm speaking as a former Marine ... who spent a great deal of time on Navy ships.

[Junior]

Well, they ain't chiefs until they've been initiated.

[SandRat]

Yeah

[WildTurkey]

It is the Chief's that run the Navy!!!!!!!!!

Things sure must have changed since I was in the Navy ...

[patton]

What is a "chief?" E-3? E-4?

[SandRat]

Pay grade E-7.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Sounds like all these sailors were LPOs. Nothing against these fine sailors, but I'm surprised that only First Class was represented. I would have expected Second Class or Chief to also be there.

[exnavychick]

Only the dress ones, now. They did away with the old dungs.

[patton]

Oh, I thought it was like the air force - everybody above E-2 was some sort of NCO.

LOL.

11B2PLGMH

[thejokker]

go navy...!

[Chief_Airframer]

I'm sure September 16th can't get here fast enough for them. Personally, I had a blast during my "transition" to Chief. But then I wasn't a SOY either.

[SandRat]

You know you could be in for some serious chiding from Tonk, Jim Robinson and a few others for a comment like that.

[patton]

Bring it on - I have my own credentials, and they don't include a despaerate need for clean sheets.

LOL.

[Greenpees]

Ooooh. I wish I could assist them through a nice, calm, non-violent Seabee Chief initiation. (Bwaaahaaa)

I've only been out for less than a year..but those were good times. I'll always remember.

Congratulations to them all.

[CWOJackson]

"Well, they ain't chiefs until they've been initiated."

You haven't seen initiations lately. They'll still be E-7's when it's over.

[Junior]

I had a blast during my "transition" to Chief. But then I wasn't a SOY either.

Mine's a bit of a blur, but what I do remember isn't all that pleasant. Of course, I had an old-style initiation, which gives me a little bit of a bragging right over some of the more recent chiefs.

[SandRat]

I can remember "wetting down my bars" oooooooooWWWWWW! that hangover still hurts!