U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Pins Chief's Anchors on Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cynthia Z. De Leon, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet Public Affairs.

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) welcomed 13 Sailors, eight active duty and five reserve, to the ranks of chief petty officer in a pinning ceremony at Naval Support Activity (NSA), Bahrain Sept. 16.

Among those promoted were Chief Electrician's Mate (SW) Dale Brownie and Chief Cryptologic Technician (AW/SW) Heidi Rankin.

Brownie, a reservist attached to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine, has been working in Knowledge Management since April.

"I've learned how to help my Sailors more," Brownie said. "It's an honor, it's a privilege, it's a great responsibility; one that I accept fully and completely accept."

Rankin, who works in the intelligence directorate, is from Houston and has been in the Navy fewer than six years.

"We were elevated to the next level and we feel proud and honored, and will continue to carry on and help junior Sailors," Rankin said. "Advancing to chief helps us help junior Sailors even more."

NAVCENT Command Master Chief (AW) Marco Ramirez said this chief induction season is always a busy time for him, which begins with helping those who made board, prepare packages to submit to the board, teaching selectees how to be efficient chiefs and then guiding first-year chiefs.

"The chief's mess is the central network that bridges the gap up and down," Ramirez said. "They not only help the Sailors below them, they also help the junior officers above them because each one of those junior officers is a potential commanding officer."

The ceremony also included 24 new chiefs from NSA Bahrain and tenant commands. Retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa attended as guest speaker.

"For me, there is no greater honor or greater challenge than serving as a chief petty officer on the deckplates of the world's greatest Navy," Campa said to the new chiefs. "Your chiefs welcome you, your Sailors have confidence in you, and your Navy is depending on you."

The NAVCENT/ U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) encompass approximately 2.5 million square miles of area including the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, parts of the Indian Ocean and 27 countries. Fifth Fleet's priority mission is to conduct persistent maritime operations to deter and counter disruptive countries, defeat violent extremism and strengthen partner nations' maritime capabilities in order to promote a secure maritime environment in the U.S. Central Command AOR.