37 Sailors Frocked aboard USS Mesa Verde

Thirty-seven Sailors aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) advanced to the next pay grade during a frocking ceremony June 3.

Frocking, a naval tradition that dates back to the early 1800s, authorizes newly advanced Sailors to wear the rank and assume the responsibilities of the pay grade for which they have been selected.

“I feel so relieved now,” said Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Chance Philips, who had been a seaman for more than three years. “I feel like I can progress with my career; making rank has given me the chance to stay in the Navy.”

Philips struck the rate of Gunner’s Mate after spending two years as an undesignated Sailor in deck department and he said he dedicated a lot of time to preparing for this advancement cycle.

Undesignated Sailors have to apply for rates once a month through Career Way Point. The Navy uses this program to help organize manning and to designate seamen, firemen and airmen into rates.

“Anyone who has been assigned to deck department as an undesignated seaman knows you can get discouraged,” said Philips. “You question whether or not you will be able to pick up rate, then rank, now having both rate and rank is an amazing feeling.”

Mesa Verde Sailors scored higher than the Navy’s overall average in every pay grade during the March advancement cycle.

“I couldn’t be happier,” said Capt. Kenneth Reynard, commanding officer. “During the hardest time of our deployment we were able to be above the Navy’s standards in every category for third, second and first class petty officers.”

Overall advancement opportunity for active duty Sailors decreased by 4.26 percentage points since last year’s test cycle, according to a press release from Chief of Naval Personnel, resulting in all pay grades from E-4 through E-6 seeing a decrease in the probability to promote.

“Advancing to SH3 (Ship’s Serviceman 3rd Class) was 5.05 percent,” said Ship’s Serviceman Seaman (SW) Rachel Wolfer, who took the exam for the first time this cycle.

Though advancement opportunities are down from previous cycles, Sailors remain optimistic for next test cycle.

“I am quite hopeful that I will make 3rd class in September,” said Wolfer. “However, I am going to hedge my bets and start studying now.”

Mesa Verde is currently deployed as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

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Press Release, June 05, 2014; Image: US Navy