The U.S. Navy chief's mess celebrates 120 years of the chief petty officer rank during a ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial on April 1, 2013, in Washington, D.C. (Todd Frantom/U.S. Navy)

The rank of the chief petty officer was created on April 1st, 1893. For 120 years, chiefs have been charged with leading sailors. Chiefs are highly respected by officers and junior sailors for being experts in their field. The phrase “ask the chief” is commonplace in the Navy.

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