To this (Petty Officer Second Class):
Well, it took about two months to get the results back, but right around my birthday I was pulled aside by my Chief and informed that I had made it! I felt so good because I had been within ten points of making it both times I tested before and this time I nailed it right on! Also, I made Second Class before I had even been in the Navy for 3 years.
So, last Tuesday (the 22nd), I was informed to be ready in the auditorium with a new uniform in hand and someone of a higher rank there to frock me. I spent all of Monday night ironing my uniform and shining my boots. Tuesday morning, I asked my dear friend Sergeant B to do the honors of frocking me. I asked him because I not only admire him as an NCO, but also as a Christian, and a family man. Here we are during the actual frocking part.
After I was finished putting on my new uniform blouse, Sergeant B looked me over and made sure I was squared away. Once he saw that everything was ok, he smacked the new rank on my collar so hard that I almost fell over! He was doing what we call "tacking it on". It was so loud and everyone in the room laughed so hard. I'm sure I will remember that moment for the rest of my life.
The picture below is of Captain C (The OIC of our Navy Group) congratulating me.
The next picture is of Master Chief A (Our Senior Enlisted Advisor) congratulating me.
We also had a couple of VERY special guests at the ceremony. The first one is Force Master Chief M. She is the Master Chief over BUMED. You can see in the picture that she is also "tacking it on". She just didn't do it as hard as Sergeant B.
The other special guest was Force Master Chief W. He is the Master Chief over all of the Navy Reserve Forces.
It was a great day and I felt really good. I guess third time really is the charm. So, you can call me RP2 now instead of RP3, OK?
Thats AWESOME!!!!
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