Thanks for participating in the field research for Chiefs – Backbone of the Navy We anticipate this book will be published by the Naval Institute Press early next year. While we can’t promise that everyone’s story will make it into the book, at the very least we’ll give you credit in the acknowledgements section of the text, and we’ll try as hard as we can to get at least one “quote” in there from every respondent.

Directions:

There are two sections this request. The first solicits biographical data, and the second asks several specific questions to help us categorize responses more effectively. You may either compose your reply directly in the body of an email message (sort of like a CASREP or other pro-forma message!), or compose it as an attachment to your email message. If you chose to go the attachment route, MSWord files in .doc format are greatly appreciated.

Section I

a. Your Name

b. Your email address

c. Your rate at the time of retirement or transfer to the Fleet Reserve

d. Month and Year you entered the Navy

e. Month and Year you made Chief Petty Officer

f. Month and Year you retired

g. Evening telephone number, should you care to participate in a more detailed interview (optional!)

Section II:

  1. What was the most exciting/dangerous/scary thing that happened to you while you were a CPO? On what ship/command did that take place?
  1. What was the most difficult task that you had to perform as a chief?
  1. There’s been lots of discussion of “Chiefness”. What, in your opinion, makes a chief different from, say an Air Force Master Sargent or an Army SFC?
  1. Describe, in as much detail as you care to, your CPO initiation. Where did that take place? What was that CPO mess/association like?
  1. There’s been much discussion about the “watering down” of the initiation process, based upon SECNAV’s 1997 guidelines regarding hazing. Your thoughts on that subject?
  1. Is there one CPO who sticks out in your memory as a “great chief”? Was he/she a mentor to you? What made him/her a “great chief”?
  1. What’s the best advice about being a chief that you ever received? What would you tell a young chief today?
  1. One task dictated by the CPO Creed is the mentoring of Junior Officers. Have you any stories to share about good/bad/strange/famous Junior Officers who you encounter as a chief?
  1. What were your thoughts at your retirement ceremony? Looking back now, how do you see your years as a Navy CPO?
  1. What sea stories would you like to share with today’s newest chiefs?

Please do try to keep replies brief (250 words per question maximum) and on target. If you’d like any additional guidance, a quick email to us at will bring a speedy reply.

Thanks Again!

Jack Leahy

Naval Writers Group

614-537-7435