To those of you who didn’t find your name on this year’s Chief’s selection list, I know yesterday may have been disappointing. I understand those feelings because I once stood exactly where you are.
I advanced to First Class Petty Officer in just six years, and then my career seemed to hit a plateau.
For the next seven years, each selection season brought another disappointment. Over time, I began to accept the possibility that I might retire as a First Class Petty Officer. If that turned out to be the case, I decided I would simply strive to be the very best First Class Petty Officer I could be.
What I couldn’t understand was why I wasn’t being selected. I was giving the Navy everything I had. But I also knew one thing with certainty: if I stopped trying, I would remove any chance of ever becoming a Chief. So, even when it was difficult, I kept moving forward.
After being eligible for the board seven times and serving more than 15 years, I finally saw my name on the Chief’s selection list.
If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this: seek out a respected Chief, Senior Chief, or Master Chief Petty Officer and ask them to conduct a candid review of your record. Ask them to identify both your strengths and the areas where you can improve. Make sure your record accurately reflects your accomplishments and that nothing important is missing. Then, ask another experienced khaki to review it as well. Different perspectives can be incredibly valuable.
Take notes, develop a realistic plan for improvement, and commit to following it. At the same time, remain flexible enough to adjust your course as opportunities and challenges arise. Just as a large ship doesn’t change course instantly, meaningful career growth takes time. Be patient with the process, stay focused on becoming a better Sailor and leader, and continue investing in yourself every day.
Most importantly, don’t lose heart, and don’t give up.
One final thought. I eventually retired as a CWO3. Had I allowed those years of disappointment to define me, I would never have had the opportunity to continue serving in that role. Looking back, I realize my career didn’t follow the path I had envisioned, but it still led me to opportunities I never expected.
Sometimes success takes longer than we hope, and sometimes it arrives in a different form than we imagined. Keep working, keep learning, and keep believing in yourself. Your journey is still being written.
Sincerely,
Mario Vulcano
Station HYPO 
6 August 2026 at 11:51
Mario,
I know those feelings as well. As a 6 year CTR1 and spending another 6 years in grade before selection meant a lot of disappointing years. It did, however, make me a better CPO and then I strived to develop Sailors as best as I could.
We’ve both been there – and I’m willing to bet that we are not alone in this group.
I think that it can make you a better Chief in the long run.
As always, my warmest regards,
Brian Ashpole
Bri
I
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6 August 2026 at 22:11
I also wondered what I was lacking, that the board was wanted. When I checked into NTTC Det Goodellow, the CMC was CTICM Dick Armijo. I met with him and he asked why I was still a first class. I replied that I also wondered that. He suggested that since the local copy of my service record looked so good that there might be something wrong with the copy at BUPERS. We ordered a microfiche copy. Many of my awards, LOCs, etc. were missing AND there were records of NJPs FOR TWO OTHER SAILORS! He helped me straighten it out. Made Chief the first increment next time up.
LESSON: Take care of your people! I always, even after becoming a CWO, ensured my PO1s records were accurate and reflected the talents and contributions made by them!
Bill Carter, CWO3(Ret)
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6 August 2026 at 22:19
Well said.
Aloha, Art Kluvo
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10 August 2026 at 09:11
When I joined the Navy my father (a CTOCS/LDO LCDR) to me: never borrow money, never loan money, never gable for money, don’t take a “dead horse” and don’t volunteer for anything. I did the first four and volunteered for lots of stuff. I made E4/5/6 the first time up in 6 years total. When I got to Edzell for my 2ndtour I met with the CMC (CTTCM Paul Sullivan). I asked him what I needed to do to get selected for Chief my first time up in 8 years. After calling me a “little rate grabber”, he said he would look at my record and get back to me. A few weeks later o saw him again and he gave me a list of things the board would be looking for that were not just CTO related. He said it was especially important to get a microfiche copy of my record from BUPERS as they were notorious for screwing up people’s records. I sent for a copy and sure enough one of me evals has missing pages. I got that corrected and did the other stuff Paul recommended and I was selected for CPO my first time before the board. He said the board members would think that if you can’t take care of your own record how can they trust you to take care of the sailors under your charge. When I was a CPO, I was talking to a CTM1 that worked in the comm maintenance shack and he was wondering why he had not been selected after two times before the board. I asked if he has checked his BUPERS record, and he said no. I told him about my experience, and he found his record had drug busts for other sailors in his record. He got that cleaned up and make Chief the next year.
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10 August 2026 at 09:13
Forgot to add my name:
When I joined the Navy my father (a CTOCS/LDO LCDR) to me: never borrow money, never loan money, never gable for money, don’t take a “dead horse” and don’t volunteer for anything. I did the first four and volunteered for lots of stuff. I made E4/5/6 the first time up in 6 years total. When I got to Edzell for my 2ndtour I met with the CMC (CTTCM Paul Sullivan). I asked him what I needed to do to get selected for Chief my first time up in 8 years. After calling me a “little rate grabber”, he said he would look at my record and get back to me. A few weeks later o saw him again and he gave me a list of things the board would be looking for that were not just CTO related. He said it was especially important to get a microfiche copy of my record from BUPERS as they were notorious for screwing up people’s records. I sent for a copy and sure enough one of me evals has missing pages. I got that corrected and did the other stuff Paul recommended and I was selected for CPO my first time before the board. He said the board members would think that if you can’t take care of your own record how can they trust you to take care of the sailors under your charge. When I was a CPO, I was talking to a CTM1 that worked in the comm maintenance shack and he was wondering why he had not been selected after two times before the board. I asked if he has checked his BUPERS record, and he said no. I told him about my experience, and he found his record had drug busts for other sailors in his record. He got that cleaned up and make Chief the next year.
CTOC/CWO4 Clyde E. Wilson, III
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10 August 2026 at 09:16
I forgot to add my name on my 10 August 2026 0911 post.
Clyde E. Wilson III
CTOC/CWO4
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10 August 2026 at 09:14
Forgot to add my name to my 10 August 2-26 0911 post.
Clyde E. Wilson, III
CTOC/CWO4
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10 August 2026 at 09:15
I forgot to add my name to my 10 August 2026 0911 post:
Clyde E. Wilson, III
CTOC/CWO4
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10 August 2026 at 09:17
10 August 2026 @ 0911 post: Clyde E. Wilson, III (CTOC/CWO4)
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10 August 2026 at 18:05
you signed it Clyde
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