Overheard in the passageway

Cartoon by Eric Smith for USNI Proceedings Magazine

"Shipmates, when all the Chiefs in the Navy are convinced you know how to wear the new NWU uniform, they will tell the MCPON and he will recommend to the CNO that you be allowed to wear the uniform in public places. The NWU is a 'very complicated' uniform with special instructions on how to blouse the trousers and requires a specific belt, t-shirt and boots to be worn with it. Until everyone learns how to wear this complicated uniform properly, you'll just have to wear them on base."


Someone is trying to insult your intelligence - and, it's not me.

Shipmate ?

"I think that the term 'shipmate' is something honorable and it's something that each one of you earns. It should be something to be very proud of."

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SW/FMF) Joe Campa

You don't need the wardroom's permission

“You don’t need the wardroom’s permission to lead Sailors. I really believe it rests in the hands of the chiefs’ mess to fix this (Career Development)."

MCPON Campa

Chief Petty Officer Responsibility

“The chief petty officer can, and should, take the responsibility of keeping every Sailor under his leadership informed. If one of his Sailors has a problem, he has a problem. There should be no excuses. There is a solution to every problem, and it should be pursued until his Sailor is satisfied that every means has been exhausted in the effort to find a solution. I feel very strongly that we need to improve our leadership abilities to keep pace with the high level of technical skill. The rapidity of advancement has caused a need for establishment of more leadership classes at the command level. My feelings are that we must have a chain of command from top to bottom, but even more important, we must have a channel of communication and understanding.”

MCPON Del Black, United States Navy's 1st Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy