You know what the best part about living in a military town is? Getting to participate and witness awesome things, like this Chief pinning ceremony at St Mary’s Submarine Museum from just a few days ago! Randy (my husband) was in the Air Force, and aside from graduating from ALS to sew on Staff Sergeant, we never got to experience anything quite like this before.

In case you don’t know what a Chief Pinning Ceremony is, let me explain it to you.

According to the Navy Services Family Line, it is:

The Chief Pinning ceremony, steeped in tradition, is a time honored event where the Commanding Officer and Command Master Chief or Chief of the Boat musters the crew so all can witness this transformation to khaki. Each new Chief is recognized and will receive their anchors and cover.

It’s a huge honor, and a big deal. It was amazing to see the St Mary’s Submarine Museum filled with fellow sailors and family members, each there to celebrate the three men who were pinned. This was obviously my first time doing a Chief Pinning ceremony, and hopefully not the last – a big thanks to the three families who invited me to be part of such an important day in their family’s lives!

Ashley Durham is a Camden County Family Photographer, serving the entire southeast Georgia and northeast Florida region.

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