Boot Chief

Twenty-two years ago this month, I was advanced to the rate of chief petty officer in the United States Naval Reserve. It was the proudest day in my 29-year naval career.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 21, 2007) - Chief Yeoman Alex Magee puts the chief petty officer combination cover on Chief Culinary Specialist Rodrigo Sabanga during the pinning ceremony aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63). Stethem is part of the Forward Deployed Naval Force stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.

U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Danny Ewing Jr.