Page 20 - Mariner Winter 2023 Volume 65 Issue 3 Jan

BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY

“Big J” Annual Chief Petty Officer (CPO)

Heritage Academy

By Gina Danals; Photos courtesy of Gina Danals, Photo Editor, Stand Together, [email protected]

For 13th years, Navy chief petty officers and chief selects “Sitting in a duty van, unsure of where to go, a spitfire
from around the world have traveled to the Battleship New female Chief gave me the ‘roll the window down’ gesture.”
Jersey, affectionately known as “Big J”, to participate in its
annual Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Heritage Academy. This So it begins, thought Klingenberg, unsure how to respond.
year was no different, and as the sun rose over the turrets of “I rolled down the window and was blown away.” Chief
Battleship, more than 60 Chief Selects and 200 Chiefs pre- Culinary Specialist Lacey Hocutt from Navy Reserve
pared to embark for the four-day, three-night encampment. Center, Fort Dix, NJ asked if we needed any help, did I
need directions, and asked if I needed any water.
As Selects stood nervously on the pier, orbiting their com-
fort zones of Genuine Chiefs from their respective messes, Klingenberg, who was parked in an air-conditioned van,
no one knew quite what to expect. However, almost was amazed that Hocutt would be so concerned with
instantly, the learning and training began. his well-being when she, herself, was standing outside in
90-degree heat.
“The very first interaction I had with a Chief outside
of my mess set the stage for the rest of the week,” said “After that, I made it a point to shake the hand of every
Chief Select Electromagnetic Compatibility Technician Genuine I met, I got a taste of what it felt like to be part
Jonathan M. Klingenberg from Navy Reserve Center, NY. of the Mess, and I liked it,” he said.

20 The Mariner • 2022 WINTER Edition • Volume 65 • Issue 3