U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Legacy Academy and Battleship Missouri Memorial Celebrate 10 years of Leadership Training

U.S. NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER LEGACY ACADEMY AND BATTLESHIP MISSOURI MEMORIAL CELEBRATE 10YEARS OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING ABOARD THE MIGHTY MO

Pearl Harbor, HI – (September 1, 2017) The Battleship Missouri Memorial’s fantail was a vision of crisp white uniforms as 31 up-and-coming Chief selectees graduated from the U.S. Navy’s renowned Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Legacy Academy today.

CPO Legacy Academy, hosted by the Battleship Missouri Memorial, is a highly selective leadership-training experience for emerging senior non-commissioned officers in the Navy. The team of chief selectees spent six days and five nights eating, sleeping and living in close quarters aboard the ship--just as their Navy predecessors once did during the Mighty Mo’s active days in commission.

“I can think of no better place to hold this ceremony than on the decks of one of the most formidable warships in the world—the USS Missouri,” said Command Master Chief David Carter of Navy Region Hawaii, Keynote speaker and Legacy Academy Sponsor. “Even after her removal from official roles, she continues to serve our country as a vibrant and living part of our nation’s history and Navy heritage.”

During the immersive training, the chief selectees visited historical memorials, interacted personally with veterans and learned about the rich naval significance of both the USS Missouri and Pearl Harbor. As part of their course, the Chief selectees also contributed hours to restoring portions of the ship, helping to ensure the Mighty Mo’s continued legacy as a beacon of peace for future generations.

“The Battleship Missouri Memorial is honored to be the CPO Legacy Academy’s host site for this training program that will help these participants fulfill their leadership duties at sea. We consider this program to be an important component of our mission to serve those who are committed to serving our nation,” said Michael Carr, President and CEO of the USS Missouri Memorial Association. “We’re proud to mark the tenth anniversary of this partnership with the Navy, especially knowing how many program graduates are using the skills they learned aboard the Mighty Mo on ships around the world.”

Two CPO Legacy Academy classes are held annually aboard the Mighty Mo. Graduates complete the program with the intent of carrying their experience through to future leadership roles in their units. In the last 10 years, more than 650 CPO selectees have completed the program.

All graduates were presented with a Missouri legacy coin and a teakwood plaque reclaimed from the deck of the Battleship Missouri Memorial at the ceremony. Chief selectees will also be pinned with their official golden anchors, in honor of their official promotions, in a forthcoming ceremony.

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than seven million visitors from around the world with a fascinating tour experience showcasing the USS Missouri’s unique place in history. Located a mere ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial, the Mighty Mo completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the “day of infamy” and sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and ends with Japan’s formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

The USS Missouri had an astounding career over five decades and three wars – World War II, the Korean War, and Desert Storm – after which it was decommissioned and donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Association operates the Battleship Missouri Memorial as a historic attraction and oversees her care and preservation with the support of visitors, memberships, grants, and donations.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission, which includes choice of an optional tour, is $27 per adult and $13 per child (4-12). Military, kama‘aina (local resident) and school group pricing is available. For information or reservations, call (toll-free) 1-877-644-4896 or visit USSMissouri.org

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Please credit images to Petty Officer 2nd Class Somers Steelman

Link to image: https://imgur.com/a/Z0pHv
Caption: USS Missouri CPO Legacy Academy Class 016 lead coordinator Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Dan Hallman salutes the flag during the national anthem played at the Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Legacy Academy's graduation aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial on Ford Island, Hawaii.

Link to image: https://imgur.com/qAuWS23

Caption: Members of USS Missouri Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Legacy Academy Class 016 march in formation to the Battleship Missouri Memorial on Ford Island at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Link to image: https://imgur.com/JGOHcRz

Caption: USS Missouri Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Legacy Academy Class 016 member Chief (Select) Boatswain Mate Jason Runner observes historical pictures of World War II at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Boathouse.

Link to image: https://imgur.com/7J6vYef

Caption: Members of USS Missouri Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Legacy Academy Class 016 check in at the Battleship Missouri Memorial on Ford Island at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

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