ABOARD OLD IRONSIDES

Chief Petty Officer (CPO) select Chris Ratcliff, assigned to Naval Hospital Beaufort, handles the line with his fellow CPO selects Oct. 29, during CPO Heritage Week on board the USS Constitution in Boston, Mass. Constitution got underway to culminate the annual “Chief Season” tradition where Chief Selects from around the Fleet live on board and are trained in various maritime evolutions. Constitution, first launched in 1797, is the world’s oldest commissioned ship afloat and is nicknamed “Old Ironsides” from the War of 1812 when British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s hull. Photo by Lt. Seth Koenig, U.S. Navy.