People always amaze me! This morning while I was standing in the line for an omelet at the Chow Hall, (in Afghanistan) I found myself standing next to a Navy Chief Petty Officer. A “Chief” is an E-7, which is the 7th step up the ladder as an enlisted Sailor. Advancement into the Chief Petty Officer grades is the most significant promotion within the enlisted naval ranks.
As I struck up a conversation with him, I immediately noticed a badge on his uniform that I hadn’t seen before. There was one aspect of it though that was very familiar to me! In the center of the badge was the “Eagle Globe & Anchor” – The Marine Corps Emblem- … Says I to the sailor “hey Chief, what’s that on yer chest mate?”
He explained that the The Fleet Marine Force (FMF) insignia can be awarded to Navy personnel assigned to Fleet Marine Force command, a combined command of US Navy and Marine Corps. He had spent 12 years as a Navy Corpsman assigned to the Marines. Semper Fi! I had been a Marine and some of my best friends had been Navy Corpsmen. We chewed the fat about Jarheads and Squids of now and yesteryear and then my omelet was ready.
A few minutes later as I was eating with a couple of my fellow contractors I saw the Chief walking by. I assumed he was leaving the chow hall and I nodded an “adios” at him only to then realize he was walking strait to our table. He reached out, shook my hand, and placed in it the very badge he had been wearing. He had attached the badge to a piece of paper on which he had written the following:
“Thank you for your service
Always taking care of Marines
HMC (FMF) Robert Sanders
Thanks for Asking the Chief”
Thank you Robert Sanders for your service and for making my day! God Bless you!
As I struck up a conversation with him, I immediately noticed a badge on his uniform that I hadn’t seen before. There was one aspect of it though that was very familiar to me! In the center of the badge was the “Eagle Globe & Anchor” – The Marine Corps Emblem- … Says I to the sailor “hey Chief, what’s that on yer chest mate?”
He explained that the The Fleet Marine Force (FMF) insignia can be awarded to Navy personnel assigned to Fleet Marine Force command, a combined command of US Navy and Marine Corps. He had spent 12 years as a Navy Corpsman assigned to the Marines. Semper Fi! I had been a Marine and some of my best friends had been Navy Corpsmen. We chewed the fat about Jarheads and Squids of now and yesteryear and then my omelet was ready.
A few minutes later as I was eating with a couple of my fellow contractors I saw the Chief walking by. I assumed he was leaving the chow hall and I nodded an “adios” at him only to then realize he was walking strait to our table. He reached out, shook my hand, and placed in it the very badge he had been wearing. He had attached the badge to a piece of paper on which he had written the following:
“Thank you for your service
Always taking care of Marines
HMC (FMF) Robert Sanders
Thanks for Asking the Chief”
Thank you Robert Sanders for your service and for making my day! God Bless you!
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