MCAS Cherry Point  –   The Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point community celebrated a milestone in the careers of five sailors during a ceremony Friday, October 21.

Five sailors serving aboard the base advanced to the rank of Chief Petty Officer during the ceremony, the culmination of weeks of training and preparation since announcement of their selection.  Promoted were Chief Petty Officers Maggie Adams, Mike Arebalo, Peter Austin, Shaun Gafford and Artan Maloku.

“Don’t curse a hard day,” said Retired Machinist Mate Chief David Gibson, the ceremony’s distinguished speaker.  “Because without the hard days, you wouldn’t know what a good day was.”

The newly promoted sailors spent the past weeks under the mentorship and tutelage of more senior Chief Petty Officers serving aboard MCAS Cherry Point.  Instruction centered around the role “Chief” has in a Navy organization and their responsibility to mentor and develop junior sailors.

“Last thing I want you to do is grow a sense of humor.  Nothing will get you through a hard day, or life for that matter, like the ability to laugh at a situation and even yourself,” said Gibson.  “Trust me, the father you go in life, the less importance you put on small discouragements.”