How to do a Commissioning Ceremony?

Working with my recruiter: I am being accepting my Commission at the Air Force Memorial in Washington DC. My Husband is a retired Marine Officer and he is administering the Oath of Office. My Father, who is a retired Air Force Master Sgt, is helping "Pin On" my butter bars. I have my Silver Dollar, a 2009 new silver dollar, for the first salute I accept and return. I am wearing my Dress Blues and I am stoked to the max. My recruiter’s wife is taking the pictures.

I believe that your own personal memories are born of cherished history and traditions. Our Air Force and our US Military customs and courtesies are time honored, forming the foundation, in part, for the way we will act as Officers in the United States Armed Forces. Any version, from a single officer reading the oath to an elaborate parade and music is fine as long as you respect that oath upon which you place your hand and heart and swear your allegiance. What a cool adventure we are all embarking upon.

I've noticed alot of you are prior military. Can non-priors commission in uniform? Or do you have to wear civilian clothes? I know we'll learn about all the rules at COT, but I figured between my recruiter and the military clothing store, maybe I can get one of the uniforms right! Sorry for the ignorance...

I have already bought all my uniforms and associated gear, equipment, etc. I had to go to both Dover and Andrews AFB's to do so, but it's all done. I had the dress uniforms tailored and prepared. I had the luxury to make sure everything fits and is in good order. My sweet husband got me all new Air Force ABU luggage and I have a lap top and small printer. I'm driving down and plan to store my extra stuff in the car so if/when I need it, bingo! Don't forget ribbons, watch, clock, small radio, Ink and paper for the printer, badges, name tags, rank insignia, sport bras, toiletries, writing paper, stamps, pens, paper, folders etc.

Regarding being commissioned in your uniform. YES!!!!! That is what it's all about. You can't put that new set of butter bars on a T-Shirt. Put them on a new set of Blues.

As far as the flowers for the recruiter, get em. There is nothing against saying thank you after the fact. Those folks work really hard for the Air Force and on our behalf as new Lt's.

Thanks for the advice Ladyviola!!

And Congrats Spencer!! That sounds like a great ceremony!!

Compromising: a $5000 prepaid Amex gift card
Non-compromising: a reasonably priced memento or thank you for the occasion.

:0)

Honestly: In ten years, the ceremony won't matter. The time spent in service and the people you meet is what you'll remember.

Because government laptops are notoriously unreliable. You also can't access personal email and about eighty percent of the internet with them. I'll be taking mine as well.

Honestly: whether the ceremony matters or not is in the eye of the participant. Mine was a big deal to me, was made very special for me by a fantastic group of my very best friends, and will be something I guarantee you I'll remember.

On June 14, 1996 I swore into the Air Force as an enlisted member at the 320th Training Squadron in blazing heat in San Antonio and I still remember how my feet shook in my shoes as, even at the ripe old age of 23 (I was flight grandma!), the gravity of what i was doing sunk in. My parents were there and I remember thinking how I was joining the ranks of some very distinguished folks, to me, anyway - my two brothers and father, all who retired from the military - and how I had some massive shoes to fill.

Then I did the stupid (??) thing and got out four years later.

And finally on July 24, 2009 I again swore into the active duty Air Force - this time as a commissioned officer. And when my mother and husband stepped up to slide my rank onto my blues - and my mother said "This should have been your Daddy and not me" - I cried. My father died in 2005 and believe me, he would have given anything to be there at that moment to put the rank on the first officer in the family.

And then I walked into our conference room on the 9th floor (I did my ceremony at the hospital) and my friends had decorated the thing from top to bottom in red, white, and blue and got me a cake with the US flag painted on it in icing and it said, "Give 'em hell!" across the bottom.

And I cried - AGAIN.

What a way to kick off my Air Force career.

Oh yeah, in ten years, I'll remember that moment.