I think it is fitting to hold this leadership academy aboard a battleship, particularly this one. Missouri is a symbol of strength and resolve, a battle-tested warship. I hope that in the coming weeks, you will absorb some of that strength and resolve and let it become part of you. Being the Chief will require the absolute best of each and every one of you. May you find the strength you need on your journey.
A couple of months ago, I was on the pier during an epic downpour. I saw sailors leaving the ship after a ceremony, running through the rain, shoulders hunched, heads down. But then a Chief came by. For him, rain didn't matter. Head up, shoulders back, he walked with a steady, determined stride, aloof to the elements. I saw in him the epitome of strength, dignity, pride, and authority, every inch a Chief Petty Officer. Others saw him, slowed down, and emulated him. He had given no order. Yet, by his example alone, he led others. I was so impressed that the only response I could muster was a heartfelt "damn!"
Be the Chief. It's a phrase you've heard a lot, especially lately. I don't know what that means to you, but I know what it means to this old, salty Battleship Chief. The easy and obvious answer lies in the context of the Chief's leadership of our enlisted personnel. But it goes way beyond that.
Chiefs are instrumental in the training of junior officers. We've all served long enough to know the difference between a good officer, and one who's probably better off running an ice cream parlor. But as a Chief, you will have a priceless opportunity to shape and mold an entire generation of Naval officers into the kind of leaders you know full well the Navy desperately needs. So, you're not only the Chief to the E-6 and below, but also to the O-1 and above. You also need to Be The Chief to the Navy as a whole. When you see that something is desperately wrong, but nobody seems interested enough to fix it, that's when you have to step up. These anchors mean yhou not only have the rank, but also the professional, moral, and ethical duty to challenge the status quo; to speak truth to authority. It will be a time when you need to find your voice and make people listen. You see, Chiefs are not just the guardians of tradition. Chiefs are also agents of change. Once you don these khakis, the easy phrase "It is what it is" just doesn't cut it anymore. You need to be ready and willing to call out the Navy when that moment arrives. To quote Henry Fonda, "We all know the Navy is never wrong. But there are times when it's a little weak on being right."
A strong Navy is one that holds on to its sailors. A big part of successful retention is people knowing that what they're doing is meaningful, and that they are valued and respected by those above them in the chain of command. Sailors need to see their Chief advocating for them; fighting for them. That breeds respect and loyalty. And what you give, you will receive back tenfold.
In many ways, Chiefs ARE the Navy, and you can then choose to either be part of a sometimes faceless bureaucracy, or you can choose to Be the Chief.
We know what happened here on December 7th, 1941, but I want to share two accounts from that day.
Chief Watertender Peter Tomich was on duty in the boiler room aboard the Battleship USS Utah when the Japanese aircraft began dropping their bombs. Utah took hits from multiple bombs and torpedoes, and the ship began to capsize. Chief Tomich ordered the boilers to be secured, preventing a powerful explosion, then ordered everyone out of the engineering spaces. He remained behind at his post until he lost his life. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Chief Radioman Thomas J. Reeves was in Main Radio down on the third deck aboard the Battleship California. This ship took severe damage from multiple bomb and torpedo hits, and the lower decks began to flood. Chief Reeves got everyone out of that confined space safely. However, once topside he discovered that the anti-aircraft guns were running out of ammunition. He returned below and organized a detail to pass ammunition from the magazines below to the guns above. Those lower decks were dark and flooding; fires raged, and toxic fumes filled the passageways. As sailors began to feel the effects, Chief Reeves ordered them to safety, but remained behind until he collapsed and died in that passageway. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Both Chief Tomich and Chief Reeves on that day chose to Be the Chief. The question for you today is this: Are you ready to Be the Chief? Are you ready to be those Chiefs?
You're going to learn a lot here from some very smart and experienced people. Pay attention. Absorb that knowledge and wisdom. And put it to work.
I want to share some wisdom that was gifted to me on the day of my pinning, almost thirty-eight years ago. The words came from a Master Chief Bo'sun's Mate, old, crusty, salty...I'm pretty sure he was at one point sitting on the pier waiting for the ocean to fill up. This is what he said:
"You will always be the Chief, in uniform or not, on duty or off. You will always be the Chief even decades after you take those khakis off for the last time. Because you not only wear those anchors on your collar. You also wear them on your heart."
You have a challenging road ahead. But I have no doubt that you will rise and meet those challenges.
Be strong. Be courageous. Be honorable. Be the Chief.
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