https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/happy-birthday-chiefs.67258/
I figured that would get Mid Cake and some of the BGOs!
Personnel in pay grades E-7 through E-9. As are the senior NCOs of the other branches, Navy Chiefs are the middle leadership in a command and the technical experts in their field. US Navy CPOs though enjoy privileges and responsibilities not experienced in any other branch or in any other of the world's militaries. These privileges and responsibilities are not written in any instruction or manual but have been earned and must be preserved by solid deckplate leadership and sage advice to juniors and superiors. Tom Clancy who many accused of having way too much access to classified information once said, "It's possible the Navy could operate without its officers, but there is NO WAY IN HELL it could operate without its CHIEFS." I don't believe that but Clancy had an affinity for US Navy Chiefs. He also stated the collapse of the Soviet Union was partly due to a lack of a professional NCO force and especially deckplate leaders in their navy. Most Chiefs are the friendliest and most mild mannered people you'll ever meet and you will be proud to turn your children over to them.
