Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

A Seaman saying, "I learned this in Boot Camp..."
A Petty Officer saying, "Trust me, sir..."
A Lieutenant JG saying, "Based on my experience..."
A Lieutenant saying, "I was just thinking..."
A Chief chuckling, "Watch this shit..."

RoswellAlien

I’ll take the last. Heard the Ltjg enough. Even worse coming from an ensign — especially one wearing pilot’s wings 🤪

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

In the south its "Hey y'all Watch this shit..."

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

The laws of the Navy: https://digital.lib.uh.edu/contentdm/file/get/p15195coll22/1159/1160.pdf

SAVH Loc: La Jolla, CA

I believe the "generic" phrase is, "Here, hold my beer and watch this......!"

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

usnret Loc: Woodhull Il

Good evening Shellback! Thanks for the humorous antics related to the ranks,, reminds me of my first crossing of the equator while aboard the USS Farragut on our way to Sydney Australia. The ensign in front of me gave it up about five minutes into the initiation. Seems he had issues with the egg shells and hot sauce in his skivvies and made it clear to everyone in earshot that he was above that sort of barbaric mistreatment. He sure missed out on a fine steak dinner that evening. Fair winds and following seas to you and yours!!

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

This is the law I lived by:

United States Navy Chief Petty Officer Creed

During the course of this day, you have been caused to suffer indignities, to experience humiliations. This you have accomplished with rare good grace and therefore, we now believe it fitting to explain to you why this was done. There was no intent, no desire, to demean. Pointless as it may have seemed to you, there was a valid, time-honored reason behind every single deed, behind each pointed barb.

By experience, by performance and by testing, you have been this day advanced to CHIEF PETTY OFFICER. You have one more hurdle to overcome. In the United States Navy and only in the United States Navy, E-7 carries unique responsibilities. No other armed force throughout the world carries the responsibilities nor grants privileges to its enlisted comparable to the privileges and responsibilities you are now bound to observe and expected to fulfill.

Your entire way of life has now been changed. More will be expected of you, more will be demanded of you. Not because you are an E-7, but because you are now a CHIEF PETTY OFFICER. You have not merely been promoted one pay grade--you have joined an exclusive fraternity, and as in all fraternities, you have a responsibility to your brothers, even as they have a responsibility to you.

Always bear in mind that no other armed force has rate or rank equivalent to that of the United States Navy. Granted that all armed forces have two classes of service: enlisted and commissioned, however, the United States Navy has the distinction of having four i.e., Enlisted, CHIEF PETTY OFFICER, Commissioned Warrant Officer and Commissioned Officer. This is why we in the United States Navy may maintain with pride our feelings of superiority once we have attained the position of E-7.

These privileges, these responsibilities do not appear in print, they have no official standing, they cannot be referred to by name, number nor file. They exist because for over 200 years the CHIEFS before you have freely accepted responsibility beyond call of printed assignment, their actions and their performance, demanded the respect of their seniors as well as their juniors.

It is now required that you be a fountain of wisdom, the ambassador of good will, the authority in personnel relations as well as their technical application. "Ask the Chief" is a household word in and out of the Navy. You are now the "CHIEF".

The exalted-position you have now received, and I use the word "exalted" advisedly, exists because of the attitude, the performance of the Chiefs before you. It shall exist only so long as you and your compatriots maintain these standards.

So this is why you were caused to experience these things. You were subjected to humiliations to prove to you that humility is a good, a great, a necessary change which cannot mar you-which in fact, strengthens you, and in your future as a CHIEF PETTY OFFICER, you will be caused to suffer indignities, to experience humiliations far beyond those imposed upon you today. Bear them with the dignity, and with the same good grace, which you bore these today.

It is our intention that you will never forget this day. It is our intention to test you--to try you--to accept you. Your performance today has assured us that you will wear your hat with aplomb brothers in arms before you.

I take a deep, sincere pleasure in clasping your hand, and accepting you into our midst.

RoswellNM Loc: SW Indiana

I was an airedale reservist who made E5 while on active duty (Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club) and I had and have utmost respect for E7-9!

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Thanks,
Your story brought back some good memories - I crossed on the USS Kitty Hawk during the Iran / Iraq conflict in ‘87 while in the IO, we sailed down to Mombasa from the gulf for a break - I was a Chief and the CO was behind me in the line - we had a good time - he took everything in stride…

I actually thought the blue water CPO initiation I did on the USS Saratoga was harder - the spinach and hot sauce on dry bread was not my favorite breakfast and the truth serum was definitely a challenge

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

I resemble that remark! Seriously though, an Ensign with wings? When I went through flight school in 68 it took over a year and so we all made Jg before we got our gold wings.

randave2001 Loc: Richmond

Yeah, I remember that day as if it were yesterday, but the thing that sticks with me best is the pinning on ceremony at the end.

A chief petty officer never drinks, but if he does drink he never gets drunk, but if he does get drunk he never falls down, but he does fall down he does so in such a manner as to hide his insignia and be mistaken for a junior officer!

GO NAVY!

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Trust the Chief! if in doubt
Trust the Chief!

One Rude Dawg Loc: Athol, ID

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

Not sure if I knew the true author of this little poem, I first heard/read it while as Navy Corpsman at the US Naval Hospital, Hospital Point, Camp Lejeune, NC, way back in 1969.

You can tell a Navy Seaman by his look of great alarm.
You can tell a Petty Officer by the crow upon his arm.
You can tell a Navy Captain by his scrambled eggs and such,
And you can tell an Ensign, but you can't tell him much.