How to do a Commissioning Ceremony?

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I got the call that I was selected and I leave for COT in OCT. I was told to prepare a commissioning ceremony. I know the American flag has to be present and an active or retired officer of the Air Force can commission me. I want to have close friends and family present, but what else? How long should it be? Would music, singing or food be appropriate? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

no turning back :) i swore in last night at the veterans cemetery by my old director of nursing. he is a retired colonel and actually worked out at mt. home. we had friends and family there, simple but very nice. is anyone buying your uniforms before you go to cot? my recruiter said it will be crazy down there so get everything i can before i go.

is it appropriate to give a gift or flowers to your recruiter. would it be compromising?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, PCU, Geriatrics, Family Practi.

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.:loveya:

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.:jester:

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.:redpinkhe:yeah:

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Specializes in Med/Onc, Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU.

Thanks for the advice Ladyviola!!

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

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Compromising: a $5000 prepaid Amex gift card

Non-compromising: a reasonably priced memento or thank you for the occasion.

:0)

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

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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.:loveya:

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.:jester:

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.:redpinkhe:yeah:

thank you but i'm going to leave my wife's sports bras at home :chuckle i don't want to be discharged on my first day of cot. i read in the cot manual that we will be provided government issued laptops, why are you bring your? reading the cot manual reminds me of going back to school for my bsn :eek:

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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.

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

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.

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