Okinawa chiefs don covers, receive anchors
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan – Okinawa welcomed its newest members to the rank of chief petty officer at Keystone Theater on Kadena Air Base on Sept. 16, 2026. Nineteen Sailors were pinned to chief petty officer alongside five U.S. Marines and one U.S. Air Force Airman as honorary chief petty officers.
The chief pinning ceremony represents the culminations of six weeks of physical, mental and emotional training. Families and mentors were welcomed on stage to pin the fouled anchor onto the new chiefs and don them with the chief petty officer cover. For the first time in their career, they bear the uniform of a chief petty officer.
“Six weeks did not magically turn you into a chief. A chief is built, with time, with mistakes, long nights, hard lessons, difficult conversations, and repeated reminders that the job is bigger than your ego,” said Command Master Chief Frank Queenlacombe, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 senior enlisted leader, during his remarks. “Today is not the finish line. It is your second beginning, your second birthday.”
Two of the 19 Sailors selected for promotion to chief petty officer on Okinawa belong to Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa’s security department.
“I am incredibly grateful to reach this milestone at CFAO, surrounded by fellow chiefs and officers who have made a lasting impact on my career and the Sailor I have become,” said Chief Master-at-Arms Brandon Hodges. “I wouldn’t be here without the people who have believed in me, pushed me to grow and supported me throughout this journey. Their guidance and support have meant more to me than I can put into words.”
In total the chief pinning ceremony brought together six naval commands across the island of Okinawa, along with the five Marine commands and one Air Force command. Together, they forged their leadership, their ideals, communicated with their mentorship and laid the groundwork for a new chapter in their lives.
“You don’t change who you are because you become a chief, it only enhances you,” said newly pinned Chief Sonar Technician (Submarines) Tony Holman, assigned to Navy Data Center Detachment Okinawa. “You go from being a leader by yourself, to understanding that you can’t do it alone. That you’re not a chief to just your Sailors but to everybody.”
The Navy rank of chief petty officer holds special regard amongst the U.S Armed Forces, a tradition going back 133 years, with those selected moving into roles of great responsibility and leadership. With the striking of two bells and the whistle of the boatswain’s pipe, the chiefs carry the weight of the anchor as they salute the side boys for the first time.
“The chief petty officer pinning is a public display of an outward, visible dedication—an acceptance of the responsibility to provide servant leadership to the sons and daughters whom we are entrusted to lead into harm’s way every day,’ said Command Master Chief Aaron Belcher, Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa senior enlisted leader, after the pinning ceremony. “We achieved this through the support of everyone along our journey and the relentless hard work of our Sailors.”
He concluded, “Ultimately, the pinning ceremony provides total transparency into the expectations of a chief, serving as a public dedication to being present, meaningful leaders on the deck plates."
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