Command Master Chief James Honea, from Naval Support Activity South Potomac, leads a formation of chief petty officers during a celebration of the 121st birthday of the chief petty officer rank on April 1, 2014, at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens was joined by five former MCPONs and Ima Black, the widow of the Navy's first MCPON, Delbert Black, for the celebration. (Sean Hurt/U.S. Navy)

Naples area chief petty officers create an anchor with ''USN'' across it while in formation for morning colors at U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, to celebrate the 121st birthday of the Navy chief petty officer April 1, 2014. (Matthew Murch/U.S. Navy)

Retired Chief Petty Officer James Drown, left, assists USS Constitution Command Senior Chief Nancy Estrada and Chief Navy Counselor Louie Beasley with hoisting the American flag during morning colors aboard Old Ironsides in Charlestown, Mass. Drown, a 90-year-old World War II veteran, was the USS Constitution's guest of honor for the command's celebration of the 121st birthday of the Navy chief petty officer rank. (Matthew R. Fairchild/U.S. Navy)

Chief petty officers perform morning colors at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, on April 1, 2014. Chiefs from different Yokouska commands participated to commemorate the 121st birthday of the U.S. Navy chief petty officer. (Liam N. Kennedy/U.S. Navy)

Chief petty officers assigned to Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, conduct an early-morning pride run in honor of the 121st birthday of the chief petty officer rank on April 1, 2014. (Daniel Sanford/U.S. Navy)

Hundreds of service members, civilian employees and family members joined the chief' petty officers from around Naval Support Activity Bahrain in a 3K run April 1, 2014, in celebration of the 121st birthday of the Navy chief petty officer rank. (Steve Smith/U.S. Navy)

Naval Air Facility Atsugi Command Master Chief Michael Wilkins, center, cuts a cake with Command Master Chief Jason Eckard, of Carrier Air Wing 5, left, and Chief Petty Officer Julius Olguin, of Naval Security Force Atsugi, Japan. They represent the oldest and youngest members of the Chief Petty Officers' Mess present, during a chief petty officers' birthday celebration at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, on April 1, 2014. (Ryan G. Greene/U.S. Navy)