Naval Station Norfolk Hosts Annual 'Run with the Chiefs' 5k

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Molly A. Greendeer, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Station Norfolk (NSN) hosted the ninth annual "Run with the Chiefs" 5k, Aug. 24.

 More than 2,900 chiefs, senior chiefs, master chiefs, chief petty officer (CPO) selectees and participants from throughout the region, ran in support of the 2013 CPO selectees, singing cadence along the way to celebrate the selectees' pride and camaraderie.

Command Master Chief David Carter, NSN, was among those leading the pack.

"This event is a great opportunity to commit ourselves to a lifestyle of physical fitness and to set the example as leaders in fitness," said Carter. "It is also a great way to build camaraderie and esprit de corps among ourselves, our leaders, and our Sailors."

The event was part of the six-week induction process, a Navy tradition chief petty officer selectees go through before being officially pinned with anchors.

Carter said that induction season is also a time for existing CPOs to renew their commitments the Navy, each other, and to reconnect to the history and heritage of the CPO rating.

"Tradition is the bedrock upon which our core values are formed," said Carter. "Tradition guides us and gives us direction. Without tradition, our Navy would be adrift like a ship without a rudder."

NSN Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) were among the many committees that sponsored and organized the race.

Duffy Drum, NSN MWR athletic director, said he was very pleased with the turnout.

"We had a third more participants come out this year than last and I hope to see an even bigger turnout next year," said Drum.

The race itself did not generate any profits, but the NSN CPO Induction Committee raised money for the CPO Scholarship Fund by selling limited-edition souvenir T-shirts. The CPO Scholarship Fund provides family members of CPOs with scholarship awards.

After the run, participants and spectators gathered for the "best guidon design" contest. The judges were NSN Commanding Officer Capt. Mike Culler, Sublant Force Master Chief Kirk Saunders and Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Command Master Chief Dominick Torchia.

The four winners of the guidon contest were presented with plaques. Naval Air Station Oceana won best overall, NSN won most CPO heritage, George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) won the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy favorite and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth won best original design.

Carter told the CPO selectees that putting on anchors is just the beginning.

"Chief petty officers have to earn their anchors every day," said Carter. "Anchor up, shipmates. Hooyah!"

The Navywide pinning ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 14.