Thanks! I'm pretty happy about the academy's support as well.
As for the rank part, I guess it would depend on when we decide to do the oath. If we knock it out the morning of graduation, technically, he could be “pinned” since it will be on his date of appointment as an officer, but I’m pretty sure it would be frowned upon for him to show up to the ceremony out of uniform with his classmates, so we’ll avoid that. But realistically, I’ll be leaving the pinning up to whomever he decides for all the pomp and circumstance and such that day. If I understood it correctly, the rank will be pinned during the large ceremony, so pinning afterwards in private with a private oath of office is all just celebratory family matters and for parents to snap pictures.
However, to clarify, the only real requirements are that the oath be administered and sworn to before entering upon the duties of his/her office and that an active or retired commissioned officer (warrant in specific cases) administers the oath and signs the oath of appointment, dated IAW the date specified by the secretary of the service. He needn’t ever be officially pinned nor even wear a uniform for the oath of office (although we will both be in uniform to reflect the appropriate attitude towards this appointment and oath). It all just adds to the tradition and even reverence of the ceremony but not required.
My intent on accepting this request from him was to take the opportunity to ensure he gets a good talking to about the oath and the depth of responsibility in swearing his life to defending our constitution and freedoms, and I am appreciative that the personnel office was willing to be accommodating. They chose to make a decision to support a midshipman’s commissioning request opposed to doing what would be easy.