Deck-plate is a distinctive type of metal plate which is used to cover the decks of Navy ships (among other things). Deck-plate is humble, utilitarian... and nearly invisible to anyone who has worked on a ship. Deck-plate is also necessary to the ship, its sailors, and their mission.

The sailors on the deck-plate are the ones who do the dirty work and provide the front line leadership. Deck-plate leadership is in-your-face and by-your-side leadership that develops seamen into petty officers, and raw recruits into everyday heroes.

Deck-plate is also a concept on which Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Joe R. Campa Jr. has focused -- to reinforce within the Chief Petty Officers throughout the entire Navy that they must lead from the deck-plate level. Chiefs are visible leaders who set the tone, and are responsible for knowing the mission, knowing their sailors, and developing their sailors beyond expectation as a team and as individuals.

Submarine Group 7, headquartered in Yokosuka, Japan, is responsible for coordinating and controlling submarine activities in the 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility. This gives them charge of all the submarines and tenders between the International Date Line and the Suez Canal. Within this large backyard, the Chiefs of COMSUBGRU 7 are tasked with coordinating between the Captains and Petty Officers, and the submariners and surface personnel. These Chiefs have worn through a few pairs of boots on all those deck plates, and felt that deck plates were a better representation of their mission than polished brass. Consequently, when the chiefs from the US Navy Submarine Group 7 wanted a coin for the chief's mess, Yeoman Senior Chief Ivan Rivera called Northwest Territorial Mint and started talking about deck-plate.

Since being founded in 1984, Northwest Territorial Mint has earned a reputation for creating outstanding personalized designs for custom challenge coins and commanders' coins for all branches of America's military. When the Submarine Group 7 Chiefs saw the examples of Northwest Territorial Mint's work in their own uniform shop, they were impressed with the quality of the coins and the statement that the coins could make.

The coin design that the Chiefs submitted is a visual representation of their mission and their state of mind. The front of the coin shows a shortened quote by Hannibal Barca, the Carthaginian General of the second Punic War, perhaps best known for transporting elephants across the Alps. The quote illustrates that failure is never an option for a Chief Petty Officer. That quote, teamed with the core values of Respect, Character and Loyalty, sums up the mission statement of the Group. The submarine depicted is a Virginia-class sub, firing an MK-48 torpedo. The submarine warfare and surface warfare devices represent the two major communities that support both the weapon and the Virginia-class delivery system.

On the obverse side of the coin, the deck-plate serves as the background for the chiefs' anchors and a Japanese character, haku, which represents authority. The encircling phrase, "Deck-plate Leadership" sums it all up. "Deck-plate leaders is how the chiefs view themselves, and that's why the coin looks like a real deck-plate." explains YNCS(SS) Rivera, "They are the chiefs on the scene, leading those who are doing what needs to be done."

When this coin is presented at a Chief's Mess, the recipient will be honored by association. When it shows up half a world away during a "coin check" or a trade, any Navy Sailor or maritime enthusiast will instantly understand the message that the coin conveys: Deck-plate Leadership gets the job done every time.