Last modified Thu., August 24, 2006 - 10:52 AM
Originally created Thursday, August 24, 2006

CPO Selectees Suit Up During Busy Transition

Story/photos by Paige Gnann, Editor

The Mayport Navy Exchange Uniform Shop closed down last Thursday for Uniform Night, a chance for Chief Petty Officer Selectees to buy uniforms with their sponsors. During the event, the NEX gave away several door prizes, including grills, an iPod, recliner, T-shirts, uniforms and bags.

Chief Petty Officer Selectees from Naval Station Mayport and its tenant commands got to dress up and get dirty last week during the second week of transition.

The Selectees have been busy during the first two weeks of their move from first class petty officer to CPO Mess. After meeting the new MCPON Joe Campa during Boot Camp graduation, the selectees and their sponsors have been rising early to PT, followed by seven hours of Prospective CPO class.

Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, several Selectees spent their time at the USO on Mayport Road to help speed renovations at the center.

HMC(Sel)(SW/AW/NAC/FMF) David Strickland of BHMC Mayport and AGC(Sel)AW Michael Smith of COMUSNAVSO man the grills during a fund-raiser held at the Navy Federal Credit Union parking lot to benefit the CPO Selectees.

''These have been the best volunteers that we've ever had,'' said USO Mayport Director Wendy Layton-Pollack. ''They have been on the ball. We haven't had to look over their shoulder. They're just getting it done.''

Selectees spent three days painting, cleaning, moving, installing and trimming and removing landscape. They put together shelves, hooked up computers, buffed the floor and cleaned windows.

USO Mayport near the last construction phase of a large renovation project that has been ongoing since the end of January.

As part of the project, the center added a new 800-square-foot playroom which is decorated in bright Disney yellow, red and black, along with a new storage room and bathroom. The kitchen has been expanded and new appliances have been added. It is also an ADA-compliant workspace.

USS Gettysburg CPO Selectees, GMC(Sel) Jennifer Kocher, ETC(Sel) Joe Thomas, FCC(Sel) Brian Dodd and CTRC(Sel) Tom Phillips volunteered their time at the USO on Saturday. Photo by ETC Chris Detje

On top of the construction, the center is also adding new computer desks and computers, along with updates to the library. After a hard day of work at the USO, Selectees headed over to the Navy Exchange Mayport Uniform Shop on base where the facility was closed down Aug. 17 for a CPO Selectee Uniform Night.

A ritual of the transition, selectees and their sponsors shop together for their new khakis and hardware. NEX always makes it a celebratory event by catering food, drinks and cake for the attendees and having great door prizes for the selectees. This year, door prizes included grills, Ipods and recliners.