[4] The United States Congress first authorized the Coast Guard to use the promotion to Chief Petty Officer on 18 May 1920.

Although these limits periodically flex based on Fleet manpower requirements, current HYT limits restrict chief petty officers not selected for promotion to senior chief petty officer to 24 years of service, after which they face mandatory retirement.

[7] Navy chief petty officers serve a dual role as both technical experts and as leaders, with an increasing emphasis on leadership as they progress through the CPO paygrades.

[8] Each rating has an official abbreviation, such as QM for quartermaster, BM for boatswain's mate, and FC for fire controlman.

During this time, a newly adopted service uniform for sailors in pay grades E-6 and below, consisting of a khaki shirt and black trousers was implemented.

Uniquely among the U.S. uniformed services, a Coast Guard chief petty officer may also serve as officer-in-charge of a unit.

The Navy and Coast Guard are distinct among the U.S. Armed Forces in that promotion to the paygrade of E-7 traditionally has involved a set of specialized activities known collectively as "Initiation".

The terms "Orientation", "Induction", and "CPO 365 Phase II" have been used in the past with several differences in the evolutions and training involved as part of the season.

"[12]Unlike petty officer first class and lower grades, advancement to chief petty officer not only carries requirements of time in service, superior evaluation scores, and specialty examinations, but also carries an added requirement of peer review.

Personnel in the three chief petty officer rates also have conspicuous privileges such as separate dining and living areas.

A chief petty officer's rate insignia is a perched eagle with spread wings (often affectionately referred to as a "crow") above three chevrons topped by a rocker.

In the Navy enlisted members with at least 12 consecutive years of service in the armed forces wear gold chevrons.

On all other uniforms other than the Type III Navy Working Uniform, the insignia used is worn on the collar and has become universally accepted as the symbol of the chief petty officer, which is a fouled (i.e., entwined in the anchor chain) gold anchor superimposed with the letters "USN" in silver in the Navy, or a silver shield in the Coast Guard.

A U.S. Coast Guard chief petty officer's rate emblem is symbolized by a fouled anchor with a shield superimposed on its shank.