15 William Jones is training to become a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer. He wasn’t born when Jim Herdt was selected for Chief. Jim Herdt retired as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy in 2002. He wanted to share his energy with this generation. The 73 year-old former MCPON spent nearly two hours on Tuesday night speaking remotely with the Camp Lemonnier Chief Selects from his Alabama home.
Jones, of Philadelphia, and 11 other First Class Petty Officers now deployed at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, are training to become Chief Petty Officers. They are immersed in leadership lessons, academic and practical, in which they figure out how to work as a team, use their resources and effectively lead Sailors. Jones and his classmates are working towards a pinning ceremony to be held later this month.