CHIEF'S CALL TO INITIATION
   by
    BMCM Steve Cantrell

I’m hopeful that this essay will spark some serious dialogue.  I have seen several posts on this web site regarding the initiation and the different opinions that everyone has.  In no way, do I wish to tear down anyone’s personal beliefs about the CCTI and whether a new E-7 desires to participate or not is certainly their own right.  The fact of the matter is that the CCTI is a traditional rites of passage process that is sanctioned by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard and the Commandant, and in most arenas it is an encouraged event.  

There are those that believe that the CCTI process is an outdated and unnecessary part of becoming a Chief Petty Officer.  Only those individuals can answer why they feel that way, but I’m always curious as to what event led these folks to their disapproval of the process.  Were they exposed to something that soured them on it and can the Mess learn something from these folks that could lead to an improved initiation process?   Most First Class Petty Officers that I have ever worked with talked about the CCTI as something they really looked forward to when they finally make CHIEF and something they viewed as their professional development and acceptance into the CPO Mess.  To them, there seemed to be a certain mystique about the process and the fact that it was a tradition handed down from the last generation of CPOs make it that much more exciting to them.  Isn’t this what we, as Chiefs, want for the future of our Mess?  

My father was a Chief Corpsman in the Navy and with the Coast Guard.  I think he was the most proud of me when I made Chief.  Although he made Chief in the 1970s when the initiation was a totally different process altogether, he explained how important it was to my career and to my development as a CPO to participate fully in the initiation process.  It wasn’t until after my initiation that he shared with me the huge differences in the process since he had gone through it.  He was amazed and impressed with how far the Chiefs had come since his day in regards to the initiation.  He showed me his old green log book and compared it to my decorated Charge Book.  Times do certainly change, but I was impressed that we both seemed to gain the same appreciation of the Chief’s Mess and what it meant to be a Chief from two very different initiations in two very different generations.  Having spoken with several Chiefs over the years that had gone through the older initiations, they wouldn’t trade their experience for anything, just as I wouldn’t trade mine.

I accept that we will probably always have individuals that choose not to participate in the initiation for whatever personal reasons they have.  I further realize that there will also be those Chiefs that have gone through the process that feel those not initiated are not really CHIEFS.   While I would hope all new E-7s would want to participate (and the majority do), it would show very poor leadership for me or any initiated Chief to “black ball” those that choose to forego the initiation.  My time may be better spent trying to find out why they feel that way and hopefully change their mind and ask the question…How do you know how to be a Chief…Have you been one before?

I look forward to some healthy discussion on the subject and who knows, maybe someone’s mind might change about the Goat Locker!