Newly selected Navy chief petty officers spent part of their Labor Day weekend participating in the 19th annual Blackberry Festival’s
five-kilometer run in Bremerton, Aug. 30.
Joined by about 100 chiefs, senior chiefs and master chiefs from throughout the region, approximately 75 chief selectees started after
the official run began and ran in formation singing cadence the entire way.
Many of the participants brought their families, who came to watch and support their future chief.
“We do this out here because we like to show the community what we’re all about—the enthusiasm, the unity, and the families get to
come out and see their [Sailors] running in formation,” said Command Master Chief Bill Keith of Submarine Group 9. “The city loves it.
This is our third year doing it and we’ve gotten very good reception from the community here.”
Keith organized the event that comes as part of a six-week induction that newly selected chiefs go through before being officially pinned
with anchors. This is the first year chief selects from so many various commands have gathered to participate in this run.
“I think this lets people know that we’re positive and we’re doing good things,” Keith said.
For the chief selects, they said they were happy to come out on a Saturday morning and run with the community.
“I think that we don’t get the opportunity to come out in the community that often and this is a good chance,” said Chief Machinist’s Mate
(Select) Robert Campbell-Martin from Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor’s Intermediate Maintenance Facility. “The chief selectees and the chiefs
[portray] a positive image to the community.”
Outnumbering the chief selects, the chief petty officer community came to lead the event and show their support for the chiefs in training.
Chief Boatswain’s Mate Andrew Tuttle from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) said his chief’s mess brought their selects out to help them understand
the Navy’s importance in the community. Tuttle said he came out to lead by example and to support the training of the Navy’s future chiefs.
“You have to train them right because if you don’t, all you’ll have is a chief who misrepresents the mess,” Tuttle said.
Tuttle also said the chiefs training process is tough, because the job is tough, and he thinks his selectees are making excellent progress.
Following the five-kilometer run, the newly selected chiefs formed up, and as a whole, recited the Sailor’s Creed and sang Anchors Aweigh
for the festival-goers.
“I think being here, you’re part of something bigger than yourself, you’re part of the global chief’s mess,” said Navy Region Northwest Command
Master Chief Ronald Johnson, who also participated in the run.
Johnson, who plans to retire next year, spoke about training his relief, as this group of chief selects may be the last group he takes part with
in training.
“I have more than 28 years in; I’m getting out of the Navy, and these are my replacements,” said Johnson, who went through CPO induction in
1991. “It’s called ‘train your relief.’”