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Senior Chief Gunner's Mate Robert Hyatt recalls Nov. 30, 1988, as
the day he got his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pin. More
than 26 years later, after nomination from last year's chief petty
officer selectees, he realizes how significant that day has turned
out to be.
Last month in Washington, D.C., Hyatt, a sailor
from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, was presented with the "Old
Tar" award by the Surface Navy Association.
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Senior Chief Gunner's Mate (SW/EXW) Robert
Hyatt of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command poses with his "Old Tar"
award given by the Surface Navy Association in a ceremony Jan. 15,
2015 in Washington. The "Old Tar" designation is given to the active
duty Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist with the earliest date of
qualification as received by the SNA before the announced closing
date for nominations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication
Specialist 3rd Class Lauren Booher)
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"I was quite surprised that I was chosen as the next Old
Tar," Hyatt said. "It definitely made me think about my
years of service and all of the things I've accomplished."
The Old Tar term comes from the early days of the Navy
when sailors often boarded enemy ships in battle and engaged
in hand-to-hand combat. Beforehand, they would dip the knot
of their long hair in tar, which would then harden and
protect their necks from blows from behind. Some sailors
soon became known as "tars.” An "Old Tar" was one who was
honored and respected for his knowledge, wisdom and long
experience at sea.
Today, the Old Tar is given to the active-duty
enlisted surface warfare specialist with the earliest date
of qualification, as received by the SNA before the
announced closing date for nominations.
A Veteran
Surface Sailor
Hyatt, a native of Springfield, Ohio,
remembers the day he officially became a surface sailor.
"When I got my ESWS, I was a 2nd class and the program
had only been around for nine years, so not a lot of sailors
had the qualification," Hyatt said. "Out of 175 people on
board USS W.S. Sims, only 16 sailors were ESWS qualified and
that included E-9 and below."
Over the years the ESWS
program has evolved, and Hyatt recalls how very different it
was in 1988.
"Unlike now, where many ships conduct
ESWS training during working hours, all work and studying
had to be completed during a sailor's free time," Hyatt
said. "Sailors had to survive two preliminary boards and a
100-question written test. We then had to pass an oral board
chaired by the executive officer or commanding officer of
the ship."
Hyatt said that it was a challenge to
achieve the milestone due to the requirements placed on the
program.
"It wasn't a requirement -- more like a
specialty," Hyatt said. "The ESWS sailors had their own duty
section. If the ship had to get underway in an emergency,
they would call the ESWS duty section first to get it
underway."
Pride and Tradition
And because it
was such a new program, Hyatt felt it was an honor to be in
such an elite group.
"It's about pride ... it was about
carrying on the tradition," Hyatt said. "It made you the
best of the best on the ship. It was an honor to be a part
of such an important group because ESWS is steeped in Navy
tradition, and with some Navy traditions going away, this is
one that I don't want to see fade."
Hyatt said his
love for Navy traditions actually led to his submission for
the Old Tar.
"About six years ago I was running a
chief's season, and I tasked the selectees with finding out
when each chief got their ESWS, what the Old Tar is and then
give a brief on it," Hyatt said. "I thought it was a great
way for the selectees to get out and meet the Chief's Mess."
Over the years, that tradition has continued, which led
to Hyatt's nomination by the Fiscal Year 2014 Joint
Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Chief Selectees.
When he heard about the nomination, he was humbled that he
met all the criteria.
"I never imagined that a simple
task I've given the selectees over the years would lead to
my nomination for one of the greatest milestones of my
career," Hyatt said.
Hyatt officially received the
title of the Navy's Old Tar from retired Master Chief Fire
Controlman Thomas Ward on February 1, 2015.
By Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs
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