Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (SUBLANT) advanced three chief petty officers to their new paygrade during a pinning ceremony, Nov. 19.
The newest Sailors to take on new positions of leadership and responsibility in SUBLANT’s chief mess are Chief Yeoman Brittney Devera, Chief Information Systems Technician (Submarine) Rory Erhardt, and Chief Electronics Technician (Navigation) Adam Aiello.
“As deckplate leaders, chiefs must be the foundation of both wisdom and technical expertise,” said Vice Adm. William Houston, Commander, Submarine Forces. “However, the responsibilities of a chief do not end there. They must continuously exercise their Sailors’ academic, professional and moral development. They must ensure good order and discipline is maintained so that the focus and energy remains on the mission. Finally, they must ensure that the hearts and souls of our incredible Submarine Force, our Sailors, are fit and ready to fight when the need arises.”
The rank of chief petty officer is regarded as a significant milestone in an enlisted Sailor’s career. With the advancement comes an increased responsibility of taking charge and training the Sailors of the Submarine Force.
“Today, chiefs join a community that prides itself of being the backbone of the Navy,” Force Master Chief Steve Bosco. “As chiefs, their ability to endure adversity will be tested and they will take on challenges both unfamiliar and daunting. I am confident these newly pinned chiefs will not remain on the sidelines as they are now ‘the chief.’”
SUBLANT’s chief pinning was part of a larger ceremony held aboard Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. Chief selects from multiple tenant commands were simultaneously pinned at the bases’ POW/MIA memorial field with family, friends and guests in attendance.
The U.S. Submarine Force provides the training, logistical plans, manpower and operational support to maintain the ability of the Force to respond to both peacetime and wartime demands while ensuring the U.S. Navy maintains undersea superiority into the future.
The mission of the Submarine Force is to execute the Department of the Navy’s mission in and from the undersea domain. In addition to lending added capacity to naval forces, the Submarine Force, in particular, is expected to leverage those special advantages that come with undersea concealment to permit operational, deterrent and combat effects that the Navy and the nation could not otherwise achieve.
The Submarine Force and supporting organizations constitute the primary undersea arm of the Navy. Submarines and their crews remain the tip of the undersea spear.