CNO Caudle’s ‘Backbone of the Fleet: Chief Petty Officers’ C-Note to Sailors

The following is the March 13, 2026, CNO Note – or “C-Note” – to the fleet from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle. The “Backbone of the Fleet: Chief Petty Officers” C-Note is the fifth in a series of messages from Caudle to provide guidance and direction to the Navy. From the Report CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC SUBJ/C-NOte #5: The Backbone of the Fleet: Chief Petty Officers// RMKS/1. On April 1, we celebrate the 133rd birthday of the United States Navy Chief Petty Officer, honoring a legacy of deck plate leadership