{"id":36562,"date":"2018-09-07T14:24:04","date_gmt":"2018-09-07T14:24:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/07\/new-mcpon-to-incoming-chiefs-earn-this\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:27:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:27:39","slug":"new-mcpon-to-incoming-chiefs-earn-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/09\/07\/new-mcpon-to-incoming-chiefs-earn-this\/","title":{"rendered":"New MCPON to incoming chiefs: \u2018Earn this\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There’s no downhill run in the road to becoming a chief petty officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with two weeks left in initiation season<\/a> \u2014 leading to the Sept. 14 pinning of 5,414 new chief petty officers \u2014 the Navy\u2019s newest MCPON says becoming a chief means the road will just get tougher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis selection is not a reward for what you\u2019ve done throughout your extraordinary career,\u201d Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SW\/IW\/AW) Russ Smith<\/a> wrote in his \u201ccharge letter\u201d to this year\u2019s crop of new selectees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These letters are a tradition in the Navy, combining both expectations from senior leaders and advice on how the recipients should act. This year\u2019s MCPON message is no different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEarn this every day,” Smith wrote. “Be worthy of the sacrifice and love of the many who gave you this exalted opportunity. This is now your job, your sacred duty … to be \u2018The Chief.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“With your every act as a junior sailor, you prepared yourself for this moment, and we are now calling on that talent and demanding \u2014 through your acceptance of this advancement \u2014 more from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou will be expected to work longer hours, solve far more difficult problems and challenges, do more to empower your junior sailors, and provide better and more seasoned advice to your officers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t