USA: Northwest Chief Selects Graduate Chief Petty Officer Legacy Academy

Thirty chief petty officer (CPO) selectees from naval installations throughout the Pacific Northwest graduated from the second annual USS Turner Joy CPO Legacy Academy, Aug 30.

Class 002 boarded museum USS Turner Joy Aug. 25 to spend a week living, working and training aboard the Vietnam-era warship along with a group of CPO mentors.

“Over the course of the week you put aside your normal life routine and your sometimes hectic work schedules to work together as a collaborative group and bring the good ship Turner Joy back to life,” said Navy Region Northwest Command Master Chief (SS) Brian Schell, guest speaker for the graduating class.

Sailors performed daily upkeep and maintenance on the ship and participated in multiple community relations projects.

“This was a dream week,” said Chief (select) Machinist’s Mate (SS/SW) Jon Parker, assigned to the Ohio-class fleet ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739), blue crew. “We learned so much about the Navy and what it means to be a chief petty officer in the Navy.”

The group of CPO mentors provided leadership and training on naval history as well as the heritage of the CPO community.

“We do this to bring back the heritage, bring back what the past Sailors and chiefs have done for us to bring us to where we are today,” said Senior Chief Culinary Specialist (SS) Kingsley Van Duzer, CPO Legacy Academy Director. “We want to make sure we never forget who we are and where we come from.”

During the ceremony Schell emphasized the importance of becoming a new CPO to the CPO selects.

“You will always be held to a higher standard as a chief petty officer,” said Schell. “Our goal this week was to instill … a sense of pride and camaraderie and it is our hope that you apply the lessons you have learned here to the CPO messes you will join on the September 13th. I promise you, you will not be disappointed with the results.”

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Press Release, September 03, 2013; Image: US Navy