A Good Day To Make Chiefs
Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Challenge tests Chief selectees in Hawaii.
15 September 2015
"Teamwork makes a dream work," said Chief Hospital Corpsman Jonathan Scott, assigned to the 3rd Marine Regiment at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), during the 15th Annual Island Wide Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Challenge Aug. 27 on MCBH.
"They are doing an outstanding job. They are working together and they don't let each other quit. They support one another and that is a great example of how you get a job done."
What is the FMF Challenge? The FMF Challenge is an event designed to test chief petty officer (CPO) selects both physically and mentally before they put on their chief anchors. The event consisted of chief petty officers and chief petty officer selects running a 5K, battle an obstacle course, flip tires, carry simulated personnel on stretchers and compete in a tug-of-war challenge.
The hundreds of CPO selects were divided in teams and all the evolutions were timed. The team with the fastest time would be crowned the winner. Actually, this event is about everything but winning. Yes, winning brings more motivation to the challenge, but the true purpose of the challenge is teamwork, trust and hard work.
"During this challenge, I have learned that everybody has a strength and we can use those strengths to our advantage," said Chief Aircrewmen Mechanical (Sel.) Frank Wilson, assigned to the Patrol Squadron Four (VP4) at MCBH. "You can't do everything by yourself, and the biggest lesson for the future is to use our strengths and the strengths of our Sailors to help us all grow and succeed."
Wilson said he had chiefs who helped mentor him and point him in a right direction. Wilson wasn't thinking of becoming a chief when he first enlisted. He said he was lucky to have chiefs who believed in him and supported him.
"It is all about team," said Wilson. "When you become a chief, it is not just about you anymore."
Wilson wants to become the kind of chief he used to look up to. He said he is trying to learn as much as possible from chiefs he respects and admires.
Meanwhile, Senior Chief Aircrewmen Mechanical Dustin Kuers, assigned to the Patrol Squadron Four (VP4) at MCBH, writes down in "charge books" words of wisdom. A charge book is a book filled with advice from different chiefs on how to be a great chief, a leader and knowledge on how a chief should conduct oneself. The charge books are kept in vessels, wooden boxes every CPO select builds for themselves.
"Charge books are our naval tradition. Thanks to them, selectees have to go out and meet different chiefs and network," said Kuers.
"There are some great chiefs out there and they have a lot of knowledge and a lot of experience," said Kuers. "We are one team and we are here to support each other and to help those new chiefs become great leaders."
Kuers said the FMF challenge was designed to be difficult and intimidating. Sailors have to depend on each other and work together to make it through the day, he said.
As the event was coming to an end, U.S. Pacific Fleet Force Master Chief Suz Whitman shared her thoughts with the CPO selects.
"Remember your great sailors are great and sometimes your not-so-great sailors are great, too. Don't discount them just because they are not up to your standards," said Whitman. "They are part of the team and you have responsibility to take care of them."
Afterwards, Whitman gave away her private phone number to everybody.
"If you need me, call me," she said. "I have time."
"How sad would it be if by the end of the day I wouldn't have time to train my relief?" she asked. "It would be sad if you would not have time to train your relief, too."
Whitman closed with: "Congratulations and have fun because it is all about the journey."