JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two Navy sailors were selected for a rare promotion to be senior chief petty officers Thursday at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
What made the promotion even more rare was that those two people were husband and wife, Keith and Keona Johnson.
Only 2 percent of Navy sailors ever make it senior chief petty officer rank, and now it's something the Johnsons can both share.
The Johnsons said the promotion was a testament to their faith and hard work with the Navy over the years.
PHOTOS: Husband, wife both promoted to senior chief petty officers
At the ceremony, the couple received special pins with their family from South Florida there to support them as they take the next big step in their Navy careers together.
"I've been doing this for a while, and this is the first time I've ever had a chance to do a promotion for both a husband and wife together, for such a significant rank," Captain Wilbert Bynum said.
The achievement is one Keith and Keona hope will serve as motivation to the sailors they work with every day.
"You can do it," Keith Johnson said. "Senior chief in 13 years -- and that's unheard of. The average is 18 years. Use it as motivation. You can do it."