Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Knowing What You Are Doing, and Why You Are Doing it
are the Keys to CPO Initiation Season Success
What exactly is Chief Petty Officer Initiation? Why do we do it? What is its purpose and goals? When anyone asks these questions today, we can answer them quickly. We have pondered these questions over the past several years and have made, as a Mess, a conscious decision to direct the evolution of CPO Initiation in a way which is consistent with our Core Values, our mission, and our traditions.
We now understand our goals and are able to articulate them to others. After years in a defensive, reactive mode, creating an ever growing list of things not to do, we are now clearly focused on the positive. In fact, we have our hands full just prioritizing the many, many positive and worth while things we would like to accomplish. In a very real sense, the positive and useful has crowded out the negative. Our goals and their purposes are multilayered, intertwined, and overlapping.
Even now, after years of pondering, I find no completely satisfactory synonym for "initiation." The words and phrases listed above, however, are all partially synonymous and taken together are fully descriptive of the goals of CPO initiation. Briefly,consider each of them: Congratulations: The beginning of the process must always be a sincere and hearty "congratulations." It is always received with emotion and gratitude.
CMCs and COBs must prepare for this happy duty and emphasize how very important the events ahead are. It is important that every selectee leave the congratulatory session with a zeal for what lies ahead. Don't forget, we must also deal with a melancholy side; the disappointment of those who weren't selected this time. The contrast between the disappointment of those who must wait another year, and elation of those who have attained their goal, is sufficient to impress upon all the importance of the subject with which we are dealing. Be as measured, thoughtful, and thorough in dealing with the disappointments as you are quick and enthusiastic in your congratulations.
Remind them that a 16% opportunity for selection over five years equals to more than 80%, but only if they continues to strive competitively. Welcome: The genuine sense of welcome must be immediately clear to the CPO selectee. Certainly, they are not "welcome" to the benefits and privileges of the CPO Mess until after initiation season, but when the magnitude and sincerity of the coming welcome is clear from the initial congratulations, then the selectee becomes a zealous wannabee" and the process can be all it is meant to be.
We must impress upon selectees that after a short season of training, growth, improvement and celebration, they will be welcomed into the best Chiefs' Mess in the history of the Navy. We have a rich heritage of leadership and pride, but today's CPO Mess is the best ever. Training: The training is all directed at improving CPO selectees and raising their potential for a smooth assumption of their new responsibilities. Not only do the new Chiefs benefit, but every Chief in the Mess does as well. When we require the selectee to learn something, we must review and "relearn" it ourselves. Initiation is a time to focus on improvement not only in the Chiefs' Mess, but throughout the Navy. For example, when our new Chiefs are learning the words and proudly singing our service song, "Anchors Aweigh," we must refresh our memories, too. When we all learn the "Sailor's Creed" now being recited by all recruits, we are becoming current. When we focus on Naval history and tradition, we all benefit.
Good training is creative and sometimes doesn't even look like training," but if it results in learning, improvement, motivation, inspiration, or even in reassessment, it is effective training. Transition: The transition from crews' berthing, to the Chiefs' Mess can be extremely intimidating and the challenges it brings can be overwhelming. Some have compared it to moving abruptly from the factory floor to the corporate office suite - without adequate preparation, it would be a stressful and tense move and the failure rate would likely be high. Structured and meaningful training must not be limited to the CPO Indoctrination Course. Group physical training, with cadence-calling formation runs and robust calisthenics, is very effective team building training. Additionally, this event provides a great opportunity for brief close order drill sessions and other useful dynamics. Individual and group "research" projects, tailored to the command, the warfare mission and the local community, can be used effectively to teach specific lessons.
Civic and community projects accomplished by the selectees in many places last year resulted in pride, a sense of accomplishment and teamwork lessons that were invaluable. Requiring research on Navy traditions and history, protocol, and ceremony is very worthwhile. All scheduled training activities must be required of all selectees. Scheduling and tasking must, of course, be consistent with work and duty requirements. Instilling Trust and Promoting Acceptance: We need to trust (accept) and be trusted by our new Chiefs. This is perhaps the most fundamental of all the goals of CPO Initiation, and when we thoughtfully and energetically plan, this trusting acceptance will happen. I recall how time and time again just minutes after initiation and frocking, while visiting and socializing with the proud new Chiefs, I had immediately accepted them as trusted peers in the Mess barely remembering them ever wearing dungarees as they were just hours ago. This quick acceptance and proud sharing is no accident, and it isn't automatic or spontaneous either. It requires effort -- the teamwork of a CPO Mess working together -- and it is imminently worth the effort. Pride, Camaraderie, Esprit de Corp, Unity: Initiation is a time dedicated to reflect and renew pride in all we are and in all we do. It is immensely valuable to have such an annual season for reflection and celebration. We must not take it lightly.
CPO Mess pride and unity are not givens, they require attention and maintenance if they are to flourish. We must never assume that simply by dressing alike and living and messing together, that we will automatically enjoy camaraderie, unity of purpose, and pride. Creating and sustaining such profoundly important intangible qualities requires purposeful effort. This effort is called Leadership, Teamwork, and Cooperation. When everyone is involved in that effort, then camaraderie, unity, and pride are the inevitable results. Celebration: Everyone involved in the CPO Initiation process has good reason to celebrate. It is a special season of Celebration. Admiral Boorda stated in his congratulatory message in 1994 that "...initiation should be a special time, not just for new Chiefs, but for all members of the CPO community..." The selectees' reason for joy is obvious; attainment of a long sought goal. Each of us has reason to celebrate, too. We have mentored, assisted, trained and prepared those we welcome; we celebrate their success as our own.. -- Celebrate the CPO unity we know as -- "Navy Chief, Navy Pride."
Tradition: CPO Initiation is a part of our future and our history. Its importance should be clearer to us now than ever before. Chief Petty Officers are unique for many reasons, principal among them the traditions we share, preserve, and honor. + History is the body of truth about our past. Tradition preserves and honors those truths.
Chiefs are the guardians of tradition and more than any other group in the Navy, are chartered with maintaining and preserving Navy pride. The CPO centennial celebration and the commissioning of USS CHIEF in 1994 evoked great pride among Chiefs throughout the Navy. So much so, in fact, that last year the USS CHIEF CPO Mess flew almost 1,000 flags requested by retiring shipmates. + Assigning a specific project centered around our proud past. Ships' names, street names on the base, and the symbology of battle streamers, crests and the static displays reflect a proud heritage that we often do not fully understand or honor. The CPO Mess, through the initiation process, should lead the entire Navy in understanding and properly valuing history and tradition. Lets get started. Learning at least the brief history behind the name of every ship in the group, squadron, or class is often very useful and productive. + Consider challenging the selectees to present the mess with a gift for permanent display in the mess (similar to the SEA class gifts displayed throughout the Senior Enlisted Academy.
Think what a great precedent it could set and just imagine how proudly they could accumulate over the years. As in all such projects, creativity and quality control is key to success. Fun, recreation, joy: "Stand Alone" fun and enjoyment are appropriate to any celebration. Everything about initiation need not pass some "value added" test. Activities need not be "politically correct," they must be "just plain correct." They must, of course, be tasteful and not contradictory to our Core Values. Creative, fun activities must be thoughtfully planned and need only pass the test of common sense and be above reasonable criticism. There are creative minds in our midst who have amazing talents -- use them!
Well planned social events for the sole purpose of relaxing and having fun are not merely okay, but good, essential, and healthy. The talent shows, costume contests, courtroom activities, and skits, jokes, and gags which I have seen the past few years have been creative, humorous, entertaining, and effective without contradicting our values or compromising our standards. Strengthen Understanding of Our Core Values: As discussed in the article "Honor - Courage - Commitment,"our Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment are complex intangible character traits and can not be treated as a simple bumper sticker. CPO Initiation season provides a really valuable opportunity to examine, discuss, and learn more about our core values and to provoke the thinking of not only the new selectee, but also the entire CPO Mess. Every part of the CPO Initiation season provides opportunities to discuss, learn about, or display our Core Values. The most potential for real important opportunity is centered around the professional reading requirement and CPO Indoctrination Course.
When we proudly frame our Core Values in the perspective of our Naval service, its history, traditions and mission, they become somewhat easier to articulate. When Sailors proudly identify with their service, it's heritage, traditions and mission, they are much more likely to care how their behavior and conduct reflects on the organization. Caring, truly caring, is essential to living our Core Values. The special worship service in honor of the newest Chiefs is worthy of your support and says something about the values of those who organize and attend.
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