Virtual Commissioning

Dckc88

Dckc88

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2015
Messages
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Good afternoon everyone, I have been absent from the board for awhile, but did a quick check before starting the post, hopefully I am not being redundant.

Commissioning is coming up for the class of 2020, which has gone by so fast, well at least for me as a parent! My daughter and her Dad and I are totally over the feeling bad over the loss of an in person commissioning, just looking forward to celebrating her accomplishment however we can and excited to watch her follow her dream as an Army officer!

I am just curious how other units are handling commissioning for cadets this year? Her Army ROTC Battalion is having a virtual commissioning via Zoom (May 1st). They were all given the option to do the virtual commissioning ceremony, or if they know an officer locally (has to be on done on May 1, so no travel to get someone here due to travel ban), like a parent or family member, you can choose to do it in person. The third option since she is local to the college is she could go to campus and have her PMS commission her in person. She has not decided, I am sure she will soon. Just curious what everyone else is doing to celebrate, and also to say congrats to all the other 2020 grads this year, so fun to celebrate everyone!
 
Dckc88 said:
Good afternoon everyone, I have been absent from the board for awhile, but did a quick check before starting the post, hopefully I am not being redundant.

Commissioning is coming up for the class of 2020, which has gone by so fast, well at least for me as a parent! My daughter and her Dad and I are totally over the feeling bad over the loss of an in person commissioning, just looking forward to celebrating her accomplishment however we can and excited to watch her follow her dream as an Army officer!

I am just curious how other units are handling commissioning for cadets this year? Her Army ROTC Battalion is having a virtual commissioning via Zoom (May 1st). They were all given the option to do the virtual commissioning ceremony, or if they know an officer locally (has to be on done on May 1, so no travel to get someone here due to travel ban), like a parent or family member, you can choose to do it in person. The third option since she is local to the college is she could go to campus and have her PMS commission her in person. She has not decided, I am sure she will soon. Just curious what everyone else is doing to celebrate, and also to say congrats to all the other 2020 grads this year, so fun to celebrate everyone!
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Duke/NCCU ROTC is doing virtual commissioning.

As a HS senior, I feel sorry for your family not being able to experience graduation & commissioning as it usually goes. The moment you all waited for just got wiped away in a matter of weeks.

Take care!
 
BossIsland0 said:
Duke/NCCU ROTC is doing virtual commissioning.

As a HS senior, I feel sorry for your family not being able to experience graduation & commissioning as it usually goes. The moment you all waited for just got wiped away in a matter of weeks.

Take care!
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Well it will lack some pomp and circumstance, but presumably the cadet or midshipman will be at home in the presence of their parents who can pin their bars on. Still meaningful;, just different. And then they can celebrate in their own way.
 
Norwich AROTC is sending out commissioning "packets".
It is up to each individual Cadet to find someone to swear them in.
They have from May 3rd (the original ceremony date) until May 30th.
 
Won’t be hard to find someone.
For Army:


The oath is recorded on DA 71.
It can be administered by almost any official including the local clerk of court and even a notary in some locations.

The oath of office may be taken before any commissioned officer of any component of any Armed Force, whether or not on active duty (10 USC 1031), or before any commissioned warrant officer when acting as an adjutant, assistant adjutant, acting adjutant, or personnel adjutant in any of the Armed Forces (See UCM, Article 136; 10 USC 936). A commissioned warrant officer administering the oath of office will show his/her title in the block to the left of his/her signature. 4. Oath of office may also be taken before any civil officer who is authorized by the laws of the United States or by the local municipal law to administer oaths, and if so administered by a civil official, the oath must bear the official seal of the person administering the oath, or if a seal is not used by the official, the official's capacity to administer oaths must be certified to under seal by a clerk or court or other proper local official.
 
I find it interesting it is different for each battalion, my DD was told she has until her graduation day (May 3rd) to be sworn in and sign her paperwork. Original commissioning was on May 1st and dining out, which is cancelled obviously. I just got more details and her decision. They are doing an online group commissioning on May 1st for ceremonial reasons. The PMS will be doing private zoom swear ins, or in person for those that are local on April 30, May 1 or May 2. Or an Officer of the cadets choice can do it but has to be done by May 3rd. My DD has decided to drive the hour to campus and do it in person. Then she will also be a part of the group virtual commissioning as well.

My heart goes out to all the high school seniors out there who are not having a graduation - that is just a bummer!
 
Dckc88 said:
I find it interesting it is different for each battalion, my DD was told she has until her graduation day (May 3rd) to be sworn in and sign her paperwork. Original commissioning was on May 1st and dining out, which is cancelled obviously. I just got more details and her decision. They are doing an online group commissioning on May 1st for ceremonial reasons. The PMS will be doing private zoom swear ins, or in person for those that are local on April 30, May 1 or May 2. Or an Officer of the cadets choice can do it but has to be done by May 3rd. My DD has decided to drive the hour to campus and do it in person. Then she will also be a part of the group virtual commissioning as well.

My heart goes out to all the high school seniors out there who are not having a graduation - that is just a bummer!
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Fantastic. LOVE this!! Congrats to your family, especially your daughter.
 
Adm. Sands put out a video last week that all NROTC commissionings will be done virtually, but he is leaving it up to each unit on how to carry them out.
 
Dckc88 said:
I find it interesting it is different for each battalion, my DD was told she has until her graduation day (May 3rd) to be sworn in and sign her paperwork. Original commissioning was on May 1st and dining out, which is cancelled obviously. I just got more details and her decision. They are doing an online group commissioning on May 1st for ceremonial reasons. The PMS will be doing private zoom swear ins, or in person for those that are local on April 30, May 1 or May 2. Or an Officer of the cadets choice can do it but has to be done by May 3rd. My DD has decided to drive the hour to campus and do it in person. Then she will also be a part of the group virtual commissioning as well.

My heart goes out to all the high school seniors out there who are not having a graduation - that is just a bummer!
Click to expand...

Don’t feel too bad for HS seniors. In many states, they’ve already finalized our grades. A lot of my classmates are either playing video games at home or working out. I’m still doing a few of my classes, but the pressure to perform well is completely off.

Sure, we don’t get prom or graduation, but I rather have 40+ days of sleeping-in over a graduation ceremony consisting of a bunch of jealous parents and teenagers...at least, that’s what makes me sleep better at night...

The real suckers are HS juniors. This was supposed to be the semester to start hustling: tons of AP classes, SAT/ACT, summer internships, etc. Now, they have to make do with what they’ve got. I’d say that even college juniors are also facing a similar dilemma: little preparation for Advanced Camp, no fun with Airborne / Air Assault School, no research/internships, and no strong academic platform for classes next year.

Gen Z just turned into Gen Zoom
 
Haven't received the final details from my daughter's battalion as far as graduation, but it is likely to be virtual. We had plans to fly her grandmother out to the Bay Area for graduation and commissioning; now we'll just fly her here to our city in Southern California and watch it all on-line.

Semi-related; it appears there is a national trouser shortage for those needing the Army Dress Uniform. My daughter hasn't been able to find any so will go with the skirt (I realize that isn't an option for all :) ). Her battalion seniors are going to vote on what they will wear (ACUs or ?).
 
miz131 said:
Haven't received the final details from my daughter's battalion as far as graduation, but it is likely to be virtual. We had plans to fly her grandmother out to the Bay Area for graduation and commissioning; now we'll just fly her here to our city in Southern California and watch it all on-line.

Semi-related; it appears there is a national trouser shortage for those needing the Army Dress Uniform. My daughter hasn't been able to find any so will go with the skirt (I realize that isn't an option for all :) ). Her battalion seniors are going to vote on what they will wear (ACUs or ?).
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Yes, not one of the 22 graduates at my DD's school were able to order pants, although my DD does have her skirt. They were told they will all wear ACU's for the group commissioning, I am hoping she is able to wear the ASU's for the private one, but not my call, she will figure all that out. I will probably know the answer if she asks me to hem her skirt the night before!
 
My son ordered his commissioning uniform from Marlow White. They went to Norwich to do measurements.
Arrived when promised, looks great including the pants.
His uncle, a retired Army Colonel , gave him the black name tag he wore for 27 years.
 
Can you share your experience with virtual commissioning?
Understand each schools might be different.
 
Robo said:
Can you share your experience with virtual commissioning?
Understand each schools might be different.
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My son commissioned virtually via Go to Meeting as an Army Officer from Norwich on Sunday.
The Cadets had to issue a COM Order that provided the cadre with specific details.
There was a script that was followed.
First the National Anthem, a video featuring senior leaders, SEC Army , Chief of Staff, CG of TRADOC, and CG Cadet Command.
Followed by the commission oath, shoulder board pinning and first salute. I gave it as I was a PO3 40 years ago.
The ceremony wrapped up with the playing of the Army song. Which by the way good use an update. Sounds very 1940's.
His older brother is a film maker so he "produced" the event. You can see in the photo he played everything back on a second laptop through the Bluetooth speaker. Also note the "spike mark" in tape on the floor. He had his camera set up and recorded it.
Hats off to the Norwich AROTC Cadre, they commissioned 105, one at a time, on Sunday.
The whole process started on time took about 25 min.
A few family and classmates also watched via the web.

Next stop FA BOLC (no date yet) and then 2BCT, 1st AD at Fort Bliss.
He had wanted to;
  • Attend an SMC
  • Commission active duty
  • Branch FA
  • Be assigned to a Paladin unit
Mission Accomplished
Oh, and his mother and I bought a log cabin on a trout stream with the money we did not spend on his college.
anthem.jpg
 
Each cadet got to choose if they wanted to do virtually or in person (if they lived near by), it was literally 3 minutes long, but well worth the hour drive! Only immediate household family allowed, and a gomeeting was created whether it was virtual or in person, family and friends could log in and watch it. Then there was a group commissioning, which was the usual ceremony (I think I have never been to one), including a guest speaker, a retired AF Colonel. The entire group was then sworn in together for the ceremony sake. At the end the National Guard officers from her battalion were then sworn in. We sat on the couch and watched online (turned the volume off and just listened to it from her computer since she was unmuted at times). It was good! We are not a military family so nothing to compare to, but the end result of her being commissioned happened, which makes this Mama happy for her!
 
AJC said:
My son commissioned virtually via Go to Meeting as an Army Officer from Norwich on Sunday.
The Cadets had to issue a COM Order that provided the cadre with specific details.
There was a script that was followed.
First the National Anthem, a video featuring senior leaders, SEC Army , Chief of Staff, CG of TRADOC, and CG Cadet Command.
Followed by the commission oath, shoulder board pinning and first salute. I gave it as I was a PO3 40 years ago.
The ceremony wrapped up with the playing of the Army song. Which by the way good use an update. Sounds very 1940's.
His older brother is a film maker so he "produced" the event. You can see in the photo he played everything back on a second laptop through the Bluetooth speaker. Also note the "spike mark" in tape on the floor. He had his camera set up and recorded it.
Hats off to the Norwich AROTC Cadre, they commissioned 105, one at a time, on Sunday.
The whole process started on time took about 25 min.
A few family and classmates also watched via the web.

Next stop FA BOLC (no date yet) and then 2BCT, 1st AD at Fort Bliss.
He had wanted to;
  • Attend an SMC
  • Commission active duty
  • Branch FA
  • Be assigned to a Paladin unit
Mission Accomplished
Oh, and his mother and I bought a log cabin on a trout stream with the money we did not spend on his college.
View attachment 5655
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This is great. Thank you very much and Congratulation!!
 
Dckc88 said:
Each cadet got to choose if they wanted to do virtually or in person (if they lived near by), it was literally 3 minutes long, but well worth the hour drive! Only immediate household family allowed, and a gomeeting was created whether it was virtual or in person, family and friends could log in and watch it. Then there was a group commissioning, which was the usual ceremony (I think I have never been to one), including a guest speaker, a retired AF Colonel. The entire group was then sworn in together for the ceremony sake. At the end the National Guard officers from her battalion were then sworn in. We sat on the couch and watched online (turned the volume off and just listened to it from her computer since she was unmuted at times). It was good! We are not a military family so nothing to compare to, but the end result of her being commissioned happened, which makes this Mama happy for her!
Click to expand...
Thank you very much! Congratulation!!
 
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