When I was 17-18-19, THAT is what all Chiefs looked like.
A Navy Chief comes equipped with a frown, somewhat of a ‘pot’ belly, slouched hat and if a ‘working’ Chief - Engineman etc - he is allowed a little wrinkle to his Khakis.
I realize the Navy has some Chiefs today but they also have an ungodly # of E7/E8/E9.
Story about a Senior Chief that was treasurer of the Chief’s Mess and he (gasp) absconded some funds.
They were getting into the Courts Martial and ‘they’ kept referring to him as “E8 JONES” and finally his lawyer said
“They are prejudicing the Board with this constant calling Senior Chief Jones “E8 JONES” To which the President of the Court replied, “No sir! E8 JONES is fine, a Senior Chief in the United States Navy doesn’t steal from his shipmates”.
I think I read somewhere that the Navy made Borgnine an honorary Chief.