Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer ( CPO ) is a member of the rank group of non-commissioned officers with portepee in the naval forces of English-speaking countries , best known in the US Navy . A chief petty officer with a bosun's rank in the German Navy is most comparable .
In the Royal Navy , the Chief Petty Officer is the second highest rank in the rank group of NCOs.
The CPO career group is divided into three ranks , although there are several separate uses. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) has a special position here, as this rank is only managed by a single active seaman.
In contrast to the Petty Officer career group , in which promotions are based on length of service, selection tests and special training, a promotion to CPO and thus to the higher career group is awarded after a committee of active senior and master chiefs has made a positive decision.
Promotion to the CPO ranks is the most significant in the ranks of the US Navy NCOs. As a chief, the soldier takes on more administrative tasks. In addition, her uniform also reflects the change, since it is now that of the officers , but with different badges. Soldiers with one of the three CPO ranks have considerable privileges, such as separate dining and sleeping areas. Every ship of a corresponding size has a room that is reserved only for chiefs - this even excludes officers - this is called “ Chief's Mess ” in US Navy jargon (similar to the officers' mess ).
Usage designations
Chief Petty Officers are, on the one hand, responsible persons and, on the other hand, technical specialists, whereby the emphasis shifts more to the management of subordinates with the advancement in the higher career.
Like the Petty Officer, every CPO has a rank ( rate ) and a usage designation ( rating ), similar to the MOS in the other armed forces. The full title of a CPO is therefore made up of these two titles. A Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) whose usage name is "Machinist's Mate" is correctly called "Senior Chief Machinist's Mate".
Each application name has an official abbreviation, for example MM for Machinist's Mate , BM for Boatswain's Mate or QM for Quartermaster . When this abbreviation is combined with the rank, an abbreviation for the particular CPO is created, e.g. B. BMC for Chief Boatswain's Mate . Usually, a CPO is then treated with this abbreviation in correspondence and when printing names.
In normal business use, however, subordinates and superiors alike address CPOs with “Chief”, “Senior Chief”, “Senior” or “Master Chief”, but never with “Mr.” or “Sir”.
In the fabric variants of the ranks on the upper sleeve, the symbol for the designation can be found in the middle. These fabric badges are only worn on the " Dress Blue " uniform, a metal badge (anchor with " USN " and stars) is worn on all other uniforms .
In summary, officers and chiefs are informally referred to as " khakis ", this refers to the color of their mostly used ship service uniforms and is in direct contrast to the ranks E-6 and below (petty officers), which are referred to as " blueshirts ".
Service stripes
The NCOs of the US Navy wear so-called service stripes on the left sleeve of their A-class uniform (not on the daily service uniform). Each of these red crossbars represents 4 years of service. There is also a gold version worn by NCOs who have been in service for at least 12 years and are free from disciplinary measures.
Command Master Chiefs
Master Chief Petty Officers ( MCPO ) are experts in their specialty. Therefore they are mostly used in large fleet units and in staffs. Many Master Chiefs choose the Command Master Chief program. If they are selected for this, they will receive special training in leadership.
In large commands (for example on a ship or on a large base) in which several MCPOs serve, the Command Master Chief ( CMDCM ) (in a fleet Fleet Master Chief ) reports directly to the Commanding Officer ( CO ) and forms the primary one Liaison between NCOs and officers. Usually this is the longest serving Master Chief. He is responsible for needs, discipline, training, and morals.
On smaller ships, this position can also be filled by a Senior Chief, the post of the longest-serving petty officer on a submarine being called the Chief of the Boat ( COB ). Command Master Chiefs wear that of a Master Chief as a badge with the difference that a star can be found in the middle of the angles. A Fleet Master Chief wears the same badge, but with gold stars.
Illustrations of rank insignia
| United States Navy Chief Petty Officer | ||
|---|---|---|
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Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy MCPON |
Fleet / Force Master Chief Petty Officer FLTCM / FORCM |
Command Master Chief Petty Officer CMDCM |
| E-9 | E-9 | E-9 |
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| Master Chief Petty Officer (Boatswain's Mate) MCPO |
Senior Chief Petty Officer (Boatswain's Mate) SCPO |
Chief Petty Officer (Boatswain's Mate) CPO |
| E-9 | E-8 | E-7 |
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