Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony

Chief Petty Officer Timothy Spicer is presented his chief petty officer combination cover during a pinning ceremony at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Sept. 21, 2013. Rich in traditions and rituals, which guide much of Navy life, the chief petty officer pinning ceremony is preserved to ensure Sailors stay consistent with the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment. Spicer is a logistic specialist assigned to the Expeditionary Warfare-Fleet Marine Forces, hails from Rogers, Mn., and assigned to Navy Air Cargo Handling Battalion 7, Great Lakes, Il. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joselito Aribuabo)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony

Senior Chief Petty Officer Laura Johnston sings the national anthem during the chief petty officer pinning ceremony at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Sept. 21, 2013. Rich in traditions and rituals, which guide much of Navy life, the chief petty officer pinning ceremony is preserved to ensure Sailors stay consistent with the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment. Johnston is the Combined Air and Space Operations Center Naval and Amphibious Liaison Element leading senior chief petty officer deployed from Fort George G. Meade, Md., and hails from Oklahoma City, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joselito Aribuabo)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony

New U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officers, Timothy Spicer and Michael DeMartin, sing “Anchors Away” during the chief petty officer pinning ceremony at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Sept. 21, 2013. Rich in traditions and rituals, which guide much of Navy life, the chief petty officer pinning ceremony is preserved to ensure Sailors stay consistent with the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment. Spicer is deployed from Navy Air Cargo Handling Battalion 7, Great Lakes, Il., hails from Rogers, Mn., and DeMartin’s hometown is Detroit, Mi., assigned to NAS Sigonella 0192, both are logistic specialists. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joselito Aribuabo)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony

New U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officers, Timothy Spicer and Michael DeMartin stand at “parade rest” while waiting to pin on their gold anchors and don their chief covers during the CPO pinning ceremony at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Sept. 21, 2013. Rich in traditions and rituals, which guide much of Navy life, the chief petty officer pinning ceremony is preserved to ensure Sailors stay consistent with the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment. Spicer is deployed from Navy Air Cargo Handling Battalion 7, Great Lakes, Il., hails from Rogers, Mn., and DeMartin’s hometown is Detroit, Mi., assigned to NAS Sigonella 0192, both are logistic specialists. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joselito Aribuabo)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony

Chief Petty Officer Michael DeMartin is pinned by his sponsors during a chief petty officer ceremony at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Sept. 21, 2013. Rich in traditions and rituals, which guide much of Navy life, the chief petty officer pinning ceremony is preserved to ensure Sailors stay consistent with the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment. DeMartin’s hometown is Detroit, Mi., and assigned to NAS Sigonella 0192. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joselito Aribuabo)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony

Newly pinned Chief Petty Officer, Timothy Spicer for the first time salutes as a chief after being piped into the chief petty officer’s mess during the CPO ceremony at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Sept. 21, 2013. Rich in traditions and rituals, which guide much of Navy life, the chief petty officer pinning ceremony is preserved to ensure Sailors stay consistent with the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment. Spicer is a logistic specialist assigned to the Expeditionary Warfare-Fleet Marine Forces, hometown Rogers, Mn., and deployed from the Navy Air Cargo Handling Battalion 7, Great Lakes, Il. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joselito Aribuabo)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony

Chief Master Sgt. Rory Wicks congratulates newly pinned Chief Petty Officer Michael DeMartin during a CPO ceremony at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Sept. 21, 2013. Rich in traditions and rituals, which guide much of Navy life, the chief petty officer pinning ceremony is preserved to ensure Sailors stay consistent with the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment. Wicks is the 379th AEW command chief and DeMartin is a logistic specialist assigned to the Expeditionary Warfare-Fleet Marine Forces, deployed from NAS Sigonella 0192 and hometown is Detroit, Mi., (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joselito Aribuabo)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony

Published Sept. 27, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Joselito Aribuabo
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- U.S. Navy chief petty officer selectees were welcomed into the ranks at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here Sept. 21.

Their chief petty officer combination covers were placed on their heads by their sponsors, a bell was rung, and they were then announced to the attendees for the first time by their new title as "Chief". Through this ritual they were welcomed into the "Chief's Mess." Advancement to CPO not only requires time in service, superior evaluation on scores, and specialty examinations, but also an added requirement of a peer review.