Whittet enlisted in the United States Navy on March 24, 1943, and upon completion of recruit training, was assigned to the Aviation Machinist's Mate School in Great Lakes, Illinois.

While serving as the leading petty officer of a shipboard detachment of F9F Panther aircraft, he was assigned temporary duty in the Western Pacific aboard the carrier USS Bon Homme Richard.

Whittet followed his Korean War duty with assignments to several naval air station and aviation activities as a Jet Power Plant Instructor in the United States.

After his tour as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), Whittet accepted the position with the Human Resources Management Program at Naval Amphibious School, Coronado, California.

After retirement from active duty in 1976, Master Chief Whittet went on to a position as director of morale, welfare, and recreation at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.