From left to right, ENC (select) Pedro Marin, OSC (select) Jason Rebholz, FTC (select) Christopher Walker, MMC (select) Robert Inigo, ITC (select) Troy Dahlin, and QMC (select) Aldo D’Ottavio. The CPO selectees have just begun their six-week induction, which includes activities such as leadership training, community volunteering, and physical training. U.S. Navy photo by MCC (SW/SCW) Dennis Herring.

‘‘It feels great,” said Chief Fire Control Technician (Select) Christopher Walker, a CPO selectee. ‘‘The responsibility that comes with the advancement is amazing.”

Led by current members of the Chief’s Mess, the indoctrination activities try to instill in the selectees the qualities required of a CPO. They will undergo rigorous physical training, volunteer work in the community, team building exercises and other training sessions, many of which are closely guarded secrets.

The first event, held on Aug. 9, was a meet and greet between the selectees and the Mess. It gave them their first opportunity to see what the next six weeks will be like.

‘‘I am nervous at times, asking myself ‘why me,’” said Chief Engineman (Select) Pedro Marin. ‘‘I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted from my shoulders and at the same time I am nervous about feeling that I might disappoint. Now after conversing with my fellow selectees, I am more at ease knowing that I am not alone.”

Marin looks foward to their future pinning ceremony, and he said that he is ready for anything during the induction period.

‘‘I look forward to the humbling experience of training,” said Chief Operations Specialist (Select) Jason Rebholz. ‘‘The Chief Petty Officer rank is bigger than all of us and I am ready to make that journey up to Sept. 16th.”