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NAVY NEWS, BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY

Big “J” CPO Heritage Academy:

Preserving History

HMC(Sel) Angie Avery; LSC(Sel) Claiborne Ste en

Battleship New Jersey, the most decorated battleship

n August 21, Chief Petty O cer Selectee Class One of the goals of this encampment was to develop new
126 began to arrive to the brow of the USS NEW senior enlisted leaders that will maintain the Navy’s vast
OJERSEY (BB-62) to attend the 10th Annual Big history, heritage, and traditions forward to the next gen-
“J” CPO Heritage Academy. Wondering what the next eration of sailors. e schedule of events over the four-
four days would hold, Selectees and Chiefs alike, were full day encampment was re ective of this. e academy
of enthusiasm! On the pier to greet us were a few dozen included a POW/MIA ceremony, a memorial for Senior
Chiefs—all wearing big smiles and decked out in CPO Chief Shannon Kent, various community relation events
pride apparel. Covers dressed in shiny anchors, CPO onboard the USS NEW JERSEY, USS OLYMPIA, and
t-shirts with creative logos and phrases such as “Season the USS BECUN—just to name a few.
is coming, forging chiefs since 1893” and others alike. As
selectees arrived, we all seemed to pause to get a good look As we rst arrived on the ship, we were organized into
at the majestic Black Dragon, a term coined for the ship boat teams; for the purposes of accountability and to
during her service in World War II. We had all been pre- test our abilities to work together. e boat teams were
viously briefed of her rich history, her involvement in sig- blended, leaving very few members originating from the
ni cant battles, her triumphs, and her tragedies. However, same geographic background. We instantly set into the
we were not prepared for how stunning she truly is. Even schedule of events beginning with a tour of the ship.
to those who have served aboard a ship—this ship is like is was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the
no other. Battleship’s support of American war ghting as well as
a look into the lives of the sailors who had come before
During the weekend, 69 CPO Selects and over 100 Chiefs us. We toured the mighty battleship, inspected her mas-
lled the ship, bringing to life this great Battleship which sive analog computer space, fascinated by her seemingly
earned 19 battle stars and is moored in her namesake of simple yet powerful weaponry, walked through berth-
Camden, New Jersey. e diversity was incredible selectees ing, engine rooms, through narrow hatches and steep
from various Navy communites, including Information ladder wells. is history was on display in the CPO
Warfare, Aviation, Expeditionary Warfare, and Naval Exhibit, which included items that had been donated or
Recruiting Districts were represented which encompassed loaned to the exhibit ranging from Master Chief Petty
CPO Selects and Chiefs from Active, Full Time Support, O cer of the Navy Joe Campa’s khaki uniform to orig-
and Reserve as well as retired Chiefs. inal anchors from the late 19th century and the rst

14 The Mariner • 2019 FALL Edition • Volume 62 • Issue 3