by Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MILLINGTON, Tenn.) – Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician Jason D. Winters from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was recently promoted to chief petty officer, an accomplishment that only one in five eligible sailors achieve each year.
Chief Winters, a 1999 Cumberland Valley High School graduate, is currently serving at Cryptologic Warfare Group Six.
“For me personally, this promotion and ceremony signifies the following: the honor to be entrusted with leading and teaching our Navy’s most valuable assets, our Sailors,” said Winters. “The courage to face challenges without hesitation and to always be loyal to the truth. The commitment to our mission, the people I love, the country I love, and everything it means to be a chief petty officer in the greatest Navy the world has ever known.”
Achieving the title of ‘Navy Chief’ is a major honor and milestone. According to Navy Personnel Command, there are only 8.5 percent of sailors currently serving at the chief petty officer rank.
To be selected for this promotion, sailors must be a petty officer 1st class, and successfully navigate through two qualifying factors: a job-based exam and a selection review board. A sailor’s record can only proceed to the review board after they score high enough on the exam. Once the exam is passed, their records are reviewed by a panel of senior navy leaders who meet for six weeks to determine if the individuals meet the standards for selection as a chief petty officer. A sailor’s performance is evaluated for at least five years, and each sailor attributes different experiences for their selection.
During the ceremony, the honored sailors invite friends and family members to pin on the two gold anchors that adorn the newly appointed chiefs’ uniforms, while the sailor’s sponsor places the combination cover on their heads.
“I would not be the man I am without the guidance and support of my family over the years,” said Winters. “My parents, Hal and Ellen Winters as well as my sister, Laura Borawski, and brother, Kevin Winters, have always been there for me.”