Hanging up the uniform

Knoxville, Tenn. – After 26 years in the Navy, it is perhaps fitting that when it came time for Senior Chief Petty Officer Jerry Crisp to retire, he had to hurry up and wait.

Crisp, a member of the Navy Reserve – and in his civilian life, sheriff of Graham County – was feted with a retirement ceremony steeped in Navy tradition at the Knoxville Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center on Sunday.

His actual retirement date was on his 60th birthday on Sept. 19, 2021, but the ceremony was postponed several times because of COVID-19.

Fond memories

Retired Navy Reserve Sr. Chief Petty Officer Paul Mees spoke during the ceremony of his time serving with SCPO Crisp – dating back to 2010, when they were initiated into the ranks of chief petty officer, regarded as the backbone of the Navy.

During their initial chief training, Mees, Crisp and about 13 other chiefs select found themselves doing very little right — Mees referred to their performance as Keystone Cops-like. When as a group they finally got something right (five to six weeks into training), a trainer, a chief petty officer, still gave them a hard time.

Mees said by that time they had all had enough, but Crisp took it to the next level.

He said Crisp stepped out of ranks, went nose-to-nose with the chief and the two screamed at each other. Their faces “beet red,” the “chief select to the chief said, ‘get out.’”

The chiefs select looked up to Crisp as their leader from that point on, Mees said.

“Fourteen people changed that day because Jerry Crisp had had enough,” Mees said.

Before he retired, Mees worked for Crisp, who he said had a reputation for being a disciplinarian and “a little intense.”

“There was nobody with a bigger heart for his sailors, the Navy and the nation,” Mees said.

“Fair winds and following seas, my friend,” Mees said, reciting the traditional Navy sendoff.

“Say something”

In his parting comments, Crisp had words of advice for junior sailors, chiefs and officers in the Naval Service, saying their career is what they make of it, for chiefs to never forget where they came from, and for officers to “always lean on chiefs for their wisdom and guidance.”

“Never ask a sailor to do something you wouldn’t do your self,” he said. “If you see something going wrong, have the backbone to say something about it.”

Crisp spent two years on active duty – including one year deployed in Iraq and Kuwait during the Iraq War – and the remaining 24 years as a member of the Navy Reserve based in Knoxville.

That’s a four-hour round trip including the Tail of the Dragon there and back, at least one weekend month, times 12, times 24.

Crisp’s rating (what the Navy calls a specialty) is master at arms – the law enforcement branch of the Navy. He spent the first six years of his Navy career with Navy construction battalions, better known as Seabees.

As senior enlisted adviser for his unit at Knoxville, Crisp had 140 sailors under his charge, including 10 who themselves made chief petty officer during his tenure. His leadership contributed to 19 awards bestowed upon unit members. He also helped develop procedures for the unit to deal with COVID-19.

Attending the ceremony were members of Crisp’s unit; friends; colleagues; his wife of 15 years, Noelle Crisp; their son, Wilhem Crisp; and his daughter, Chantai Moody.

With 37 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, Crisp has worked under various sheriffs and police chiefs in his civilian life.

In 2020, Crisp, then a sheriff’s captain, was appointed sheriff of Graham County following the resignation his predecessor, Joseph Jones.

Crisp’s uniform

Crisp wears the rating of a senior chief petty officer (pay grade E-8), with six service stripes, each representing four years of service. His rank and service stripes are gold indicating he had 12 years or more of trouble-free service (sailors who have received nonjudicial punishment or court-martials within the past 12 years wear red stripes in what is often called the “misconduct” uniform).

Crisp’s decorations include:

• Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three times, including one he received on Sunday)

• Meritorious Unit Commendation

• Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Award (the “good conduct” ribbon for reservists)

• National Defense Service Medal (four times)

• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

• Armed Forces Reserve Medal

• Rifle Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

• Pistol Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.