Bethel native earns coveted title of Navy Chief Petty Officer

Navy Chief Culinary Specialist Joseph Magri from Bethel, Connecticut, was recently promoted to chief petty officer, an accomplishment that only one in five eligible sailors achieve each year.
 
Chief Magri, a 2005 Bethel High School graduate, is currently serving with Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic.
 
“Being selected to chief petty officer has been my greatest achievement in my Navy career,” said Magri. “It is a career mark that not many get to reach and I am just lucky enough to be one who has.”
 
Achieving the title of ‘Navy Chief’ is a major honor and milestone.  According to Navy Personnel Command, there are only 8.5 percent of sailors currently serving at the chief petty officer rank.
 
To be selected for this promotion, sailors must be a petty officer 1st class, and successfully navigate through two qualifying factors: a job-based exam and a selection review board. A sailor’s record can only proceed to the review board after they score high enough on the exam. Once the exam is passed, their records are reviewed by a panel of senior navy leaders who meet for six weeks to determine if the individuals meet the standards for selection as a chief petty officer.  A sailor’s performance is evaluated for at least five years, and each sailor attributes different experiences for their selection.
 
“I had a lot of great leaders in my career who always kept me on the right path,” said Magri. “Also I had a lot of great junior sailors who mad my life a lot easier.”
 
During the ceremony, the honored sailors invite friends and family members to pin on the two gold anchors that adorn the newly appointed chiefs’ uniforms, while the sailor’s sponsor places the combination cover on their heads.
 
“I want to thank my family for all of their support throughout my career,” said Magri. “My wife and kids especially always supported me no matter what and no matter how hard it got for them, they were always positive for me.”
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Submitted by Bethel, CT

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