501st CSW Airmen become first in UK to complete Navy Chief induction

RAF MOLESWORTH, England — Four 501st Combat Support Wing Pathfinders completed a six-week U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer induction process, culminating in a pinning ceremony at RAF Molesworth, Sept. 16, 2026.

The four Airmen became the first in the United Kingdom to participate in the process, gaining firsthand experience with Navy senior enlisted development while strengthening relationships across the joint force. Throughout the six weeks, participants balanced their normal duties with daily physical training, professional development and team-based tasks. Training primarily took place at RAF Molesworth, with additional events bringing them together with Navy selects at locations across the United Kingdom.

The experience also gave the Airmen an opportunity to see how another service develops its senior enlisted leaders and bring those lessons back to their own units.

Chief Master Sgt. Brent Kimbell, 423rd Security Forces Squadron senior enlisted leader, completed the Navy Chief induction process earlier in his career while stationed at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. His own experience with the process helped him recognize what Airmen could gain from participating sailors.

“We’re not perfect, and we can learn stuff from our sister services that might improve our force,” Kimbell said. “As long as we always have an open mind and are willing to learn, we can bring good ideas and better practices back to our senior enlisted corps.”

Those relationships are particularly relevant to the 501st CSW, whose geographically separated units regularly support and work alongside joint and allied partners throughout the United Kingdom.

“The more we work in the military, the more we realize how much of a joint force it is,” Kimbell said. “What we’re doing today strengthens those relationships and helps us execute better tomorrow.”

While this was the first time Airmen in the U.K. took part in the Navy Chief induction process, their participation established a foundation for future Airmen to step outside their own service and learn alongside their Navy counterparts.

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