NMRTC Bethesda Hosts Regional Pinning Ceremony, Welcomes Ten New Chiefs to the Mess

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alec Kramer

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. — Ten First Class Petty Officers from across the National Capital Region, including two assigned directly to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Bethesda, officially joined the ranks of the Chief Petty Officer Mess during a unified pinning ceremony.

The time-honored ceremony, representing over 133 years of naval heritage, served as the ultimate milestone for NMRTC Bethesda’s own Chief Petty Officer Derek Calloway and Chief Petty Officer Lorenzo Watts, who stood alongside eight of their NCR peers to receive their gold fouled anchors and combination covers. NMRTC Bethesda was also honored to sponsor and welcome fellow Walter Reed National Military Medical Center teammate, MSgt Jesenia Gutierrez in the Chiefs Mess, demonstrating the commitment to leadership development across the services.

"Today marks one of the Navy's most time-honored traditions, the pinning of our Chief Petty Officers," noted Command Master Chief Aaron Paul during the opening remarks. "Today is about more than joining an exclusive body; it is about taking on greater responsibility to serve those next to us. The anchor does not make the Chief; what you do with the responsibility behind it makes the Chief."

Guest speaker Master Chief Petty Officer Anthony Lark, U.S. Navy (Ret.), a former Force Medical Master Chief, emphasized the collective bond of the regional Mess who supported these selectees through a demanding six-to-ten-week CPO Initiation season.

"Putting on those anchors for the first time... you step into a whole new world. You lose your first name, you are now 'Chief'," said Lark. Quoting Proverbs 27:17, Lark reflected on the collective nature of naval leadership: "'As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.' The Chief Petty Officer is not forged alone. We are shaped by the Chiefs who came before us, strengthened by the Chiefs who stand beside us, and charged to forge those who follow."

The frocking order was read, officially directing the selectees to assume the authority and obligations of Chief Petty Officers. Each new Chief was then individually pinned, covered, and piped aboard with the traditional sounding of two bells by the sideboys.

The ceremony ended with the reading of the Chief Petty Officer’s Creed by Command Master Chief Chevas Watts and the benediction led by Master Chief Religious Program Specialist Jason Boykin.

NMRTC Bethesda’s mission is to maximize warfighter performance through optimized medical readiness tailored to operational requirements; enhance the readiness of the medical force to sustain expeditionary medical capability; and train and develop the Navy Medicine Force.

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