19,588 applicants, 3500 selected and Aaron is one of them!!!

       I have attached a great article that explains the Chief Petty Officer Selectee process. I had know idea until Aaron was well into the fight.  The Navy emailed me a 60 page PDF document titled Guidelines for the Spouses Wife.  He has two sponsors that have reached out to me as well as their wives. Like I said we had know idea. They wanted me to know what to expect from Aaron over the next few months; basically he would be tired, irritable and it would be rare for me to hear from him.
     Aaron spends his time away from his normal job (the mission), working on CPO Selectee obligations. Sleep is rare. It doesn't matter that he is deployed. The entire United Sates Navy selectees go through the same steps and process at the same time.

A message from Aaron:

Five weeks down, six to go. The pace is mind numbing. The ‘training’ is like trying to get a drink of water from a fire hydrant! I had no idea the tradition and history involved. I will not be the same person when this is over. According to our instructors this will never be over. The induction is the easy part. Once we earn our anchor and are genuine Chief the adventure truly begins, the mentoring and growing of the junior enlisted will be placed firmly on our shoulders

 Navy Announces Newest Chief Petty Officers

Story Number: NNS110804-11 Release Date: 8/4/2011 11:18:00 AM 0 Comments   Font Size: A A A 2 0

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Maria Yager, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- More than 3,500 Sailors were selected to join the chief petty officer ranks when the Navy announced the results of the fiscal 2012 active duty chief petty officer selection board Aug. 1. "This is just the beginning for those selected, starting a new journey in their military career," said Navy Personnel Command Force Master Chief (AW/SW/NAC) Jon Port. "Much more will be expected of these Sailors as they step into a role of greater responsibility." The board convened June 20 to review the records of 19,588 selection board-eligible candidates. The board was charged with reviewing pertinent sections from candidates' official military personnel file, including performance evaluations, awards and any correspondence the candidate submits to the board. A precept instructs selection-board members to seek the best and fully qualified candidates, and instructs the board on which factors they may consider and which factors they may not consider when evaluating candidates. "The most important selection criteria item is sustained superior performance in difficult and challenging leadership positions throughout their career but especially over the last five years," said Port citing the precept. "That is the biggest item which determines selection." Other factors the board considered include: • Educational, personal and professional development • Competency and skill information • Anti-terrorism and force protection • Language, regional and cultural experience • Naval Special Warfare and Navy Expeditionary Force experience • Special duty assignments: • Collateral duties • Overseas and arduous duty Additionally, the board was directed to give consideration to candidates who have displayed superior performance while serving in individual augmentee, Global War on Terrorism support assignments or overseas contingency operations assignments. After the selection board reviews the records of all eligible candidates and selects the best and fully qualified Sailors based on the precept, their results are forwarded to the chief of naval personnel for final approval. "Selection to chief petty officer is a significant milestone that begins early in a Sailor's career," said Port. "Junior Sailors on the deckplates can look at the factors for selection as a guide; study, achieve excellence personally and professionally, diversify your assignments and seek additional duties that will broaden your experiences and contribution to the Navy and your shipmates." The precept is a written order signed by the chief of naval personnel, providing general and specific guidance to the selection board. It may be reviewed in its entirety in the enlisted selection board section at www.npc.navy.mil. The active duty chief petty officer board is the largest selection board conducted in the Navy and typically lasts four weeks. For more news from Navy Personnel Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/npc/.