NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY, Italy –
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet (CNE-CNA/C6F), headquartered in Naples, Italy, pinned two new master chief petty officers, May 3, 2019.
The newly-pinned master chiefs are Master Chief Intelligence Specialist Dwayne Edmond and Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Matthew Bauer.
CNE-CNA Fleet Master Chief Ray Kemp emphasized during the pinning that Sailors who advance through the ranks to become master chiefs often have unique opportunities to make a difference and give back to the junior Sailors who helped them reach this goal.
“The chief’s mess is where community service and navigation is a lifestyle rather something cliché or interesting to say,” said Kemp. “I am privileged to be here. To remove the stars from my khaki combo cover and affix it to a new master chief’s cover is a tremendous honor. It is important that we keep our customs, values, and traditions, and being here is giving back to what the Navy stands for.”
For most, reaching the rank of master chief petty officer is the ultimate goal in an enlisted Sailor's naval career. The road to master chief is challenging, and the rank is only achieved by a select few.
“U.S. Code Title 10, the armed forces law, says that only one percent of our Navy members are entitled to be master chiefs,” said Kemp. “Now that you put those stars on your anchor, it doesn’t mean you get to leave work early or sit around and tell sea stories. The way it works is that you are the leader, and more is expected from you. Our expectations are that you shall continue to grind, continue to push, and continue to work hard.”
CNE-CNA/C6F, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.