Last modified Wed., June 11, 2008 - 05:49 PM
Originally created Thursday, June 12, 2008

Underwood Frocks 5 Senior Chiefs

By Lt.j.g. B.L. Montgomery, USS Underwood

Ship life can become rather routine: morning quarters, cleaning stations, meetings, following the pattern of daily watches, meals, and inspections. However, the morning of May 23rd was anything but routine for five chief petty officers on board Underwood. The result of many years of hard work and service had finally paid off with the honorable frocking to Senior Chief Petty Officer.

As the names were called, four Underwood crew members, and a recently transferred shipmate were frocked. The five new senior chiefs are Senior Chief Storekeeper (SW/AW) Steve Owens, Senior Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Ladon Washington, Senior Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Edward Johnson, GMCS (SW) John Wilson, and Senior Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Duane Spears ( who transferred in April).

"The Underwood's group of newly-selected senior chiefs is one of the strongest I've ever seen. After years of hard work, this is a truly deserving moment for each senior chief," states the Command Master Chief, Steve Roberts.

A Frocking Ceremony was held on Underwood's Flight Deck.

After the conclusion, Senior Chief Storekeeper (SW/AW) Steve Owens, one of the newly pinned Senior Chiefs, stated "This is a great accomplishment in my career and I could not have achieved this without the outstanding contributions from my junior Sailors, peers, and seniors, but most of all the support from my family. I will continue to lead and train sailors to achieve this significant milestone that I have accomplished throughout my career."