Andrew Acomb

Here a Navy Chief inspects the charge book of a CPO selectee at a weekly training event during the 2006 initiation season.

Charge Book: “During World War II, Commanding Officers were authorized to advance and promote deserving and qualified sailors to the highest enlisted rank of Chief Petty Officer. The determination of ‘deserving and qualified’ could be difficult for the CO. The situation also presented
challenges to the Sailor who aspired to attain a Chief rating. From these dilemmas sprang the original charge books. Chiefs began to direct PO1’s to prepare themselves to assume the additional responsibilities. Ship’s professional libraries were nonexistent or poorly stocked and much had to be learned directly from conversations with the Chiefs themselves and taken down to be studied later. In addition to the technical aspects of the various ratings, CPO’s also talked to the PO1’s about leadership, accountability, supporting the chain of command, and other subject matter often using personal experiences to illustrate how something should (or should not) be done. The collection of notes and study material eventually came to be called a ‘Charge Book’ perhaps because those who kept them were their ‘Charges’(entrusted to their care) for professional development or perhaps because the entries included ‘Charges’ (authoritative instructions or tasking of a directive nature).”

Here’s another post about being a CPO selectee. If you think about it, this will be the last time the CPO selectees will ever have to wear The White Hat.

This experience of becoming a CPO can be a huge part of someone’s Navy career. So many things can be learned and so many memorable experiences can be created. It’s important to remember this time. Make sure someone is there taking pictures! Here are a few more portraits: Long Day, Phone Talker, Portrait From Initiation Part 1, Portrait From Initiation Part 2.