While the rest of the world may have been playing pranks on April 1, 2013, the day held another meaning for sailors at the Naval Health Clinic Quantico, who gathered on the clinic’s quarterdeck to mark the 120th anniversary of the naval rank of chief petty officer.

Navy Capt. Marvin Jones, the clinic’s executive officer, said even officers “secretly want to be honorary chiefs” because they envy the camaraderie of the Navy’s top enlisted ranks. “They are the backbone of the Navy. They’re the ones that make it work,” Jones said.

He said chiefs have the responsibility not only to groom those under their command to eventually take their place, but also to train the junior officers to lead sailors.

Ten of the 14 chiefs in the clinic’s command were on deck to celebrate the traditions of the Navy chief.

“The chief is required to be a fountain of wisdom, the ambassador of goodwill and the authority on personnel relations, as well as the technical expert,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer José Esquilin, senior enlisted leader for NHCQ’s Directorate for Clinical Support Services. “Whether active duty or retired, a chief petty officer never ceases to welcome challenges and always produces results.”

In keeping with tradition, the youngest and oldest chiefs present, as well as the chief for The Basic School’s Medical Platoon, cut the celebratory cake with a cutlass after they read congratulatory letters from their senior leadership.

“As chiefs, it’s important to remember that we must be all in, all the time,” Chief Petty Officer Subrina Strauss, the clinic’s youngest chief and the senior enlisted leader for the Officer Candidates School’s branch health clinic, read from a letter from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike D. Stevens. “Being a chief petty officer is not for the weak of heart or lazy of mind and body.”

— Writer: mdicicco@quanticosentryonline.com