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BIG J ENCAMPMENT

2021 Big J’s Virtual CPO Heritage Week

By Gina Danals

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial is pictured moored in Camden,
New Jersey. For more than a decade, Navy chief petty officers and chief selects from around the
globe have traveled to the Battleship New Jersey, to participate in its annual Chief Petty Officer
(CPO) Heritage Academy. This year, due to COVID-19, the program was redesigned to accommodate
a virtual event. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gina Danals.

or more than a decade, Navy Chief Petty Officers and representation of the POW/MIA table, developing phys-
Chief Selects from around the globe have traveled ical fitness videos, and organizing a virtual remembrance
Fto the Battleship New Jersey, affectionately known ceremony honoring the 20-year anniversary of the USS
as “Big J,” to participate in its annual Chief Petty Officer Cole bombing. The final project for the teams was devel-
Heritage Academy. This year, however, brought a unique oping a Big J Navy Pride presentation, highlighting what
challenge – one Navy Chiefs were determined to overcome. the Selects had learned throughout training.

Undertaking the social distancing challenges brought CPOs led training topics daily and included lessons on
about by COVID-19, more than 70 Chief Petty Officers the value of effective communication, Sailor empower-
(CPOs), comprised of active duty, reserve, full-time ser- ment, Casualty Assistance Calls Officer, damage control,
vice, and retirees, throughout the fleet came together to and funeral honors. Each training ended with a ques-
hammer out a plan and ensure the Fiscal Year 2021 Chief tion-and-answer segments for the Selects to extract even
Selects could still participate in one of the most antici- more knowledge from the CPOs.
pated events of CPO Initiation.
Closing out the long day of training was a Virtual Charge
Thus Big J’s Virtual CPO Heritage Week was born – an Book signing. During this time, Selects were given the
online version designed to immerse CPO Selects in the opportunity to break into smaller teams, speak with the
lives of Battleship Sailors, as well as provide leadership CPOs and ask questions or seek advice about what it
development training. means to be a Chief Petty Officer in the United States
Navy. Selects could then download and print charge book
The five-day virtual event placed 34 chief selects, from all entries.
over the country into five “boat teams”. Each training day
began with reciting the Sailor’s Creed, followed by pre- In addition to training and homework, the Chief Selects
sentations on the previous day’s assignments. The various also received mentorship from some of the Navy’s top
assignments were designed to build and enhance leader- leaders, including Chief of Navy Reserve Vice Adm. John
ship abilities and included such tasks as creating a virtual Mustin, Force Master Chief Chris Kotz, Vice Chief of

20 The Mariner • 2020 WINTER Edition • Volume 63 • Issue 3