Newly frocked Chief Petty Officer Alan Grow of Bogalusa, La., assigned to the 30th Naval Construction Regiment, prepares to be welcomed into the "Chief's Mess" by his fellow Chiefs. Grow, who has served in the Navy for nine years, is one of only 40 religious program specialists in the United States Navy. The ceremony, a Navy tradition which dates back over 160 years to April 1, 1893, is performed each Sept. 16 to welcome newly promoted Chiefs. 30NCR, homeported in Port Hueneme, Calif., is deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Keywords: 30, air, america, archive, armed, army, ceremony, chief, defence, force, forces, military, navy, ncr, pinning, reportage, service, serviceman, servicemen, soldier, states, united, usa