Commissioning 2015

DS commissioned in Summerall Chapel, a Citadel tradition. Nice but the pits as far as allowed attendees and pics. No way to get good pics and were limited to 5 tickets. He had two members of his guard unit present who wanted to be there or participate so this limited the family tickets immensely. The touch on the State Capitol steps rocks... but we all know the real USC is in the UPSTATE :)

Kinnem Congrats to you, family and DS!!! And also Congrats to all who had someone commission or soon too commission!
 
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Thanks for sharing all the commissioning stories. I look forward to hearing all about their adventures as they start their officer lives too. Congratulations to all the grads and to their families. So happy for you all!
 
Congratulations and welcome back Kinnem! Sounds like a great trip, and you avoided the storms. Marines do clean up nicely considering all the mud and dirt usually crawling, eating and sleeping in (at least clothes wise, had to re-learn language skills in mixed company once out.) Nicely done, and to everyone else.
 
Kinnem,

Congratulations, sounds like it was a great weekend, something you'll always remember.
 
Kinnem Congrats,
Best Wishes to you and your family and to the new adventures for your son.

May I add, time to update your signature here.
From Proud Dad of NROTC MO sideload scholarship awardee
to

Proud Dad of Marine 2LT
 
Commissioning day was just beautiful with a nice stiff breeze to make those flags snap! Lots of precision and pageantry. DS was so damned handsome in that beautiful uniform. The CO's speech was short and sweet addressing their past accomplishments, and future responsibilities, through the lens of: Honor. Courage. Commitment. It was good because even he said its the same speech he always gives... the midshipmen even made up an NROTC card with his favorite phrases on it... analogous to a Bingo card. As the Skipper said, 50 started and only 15 finished. It's a long hard road.

Mom and girlfriend pinned on his bars and Dad handled the cover and gloves all while standing on the steps of the South Carolina State Capitol. Grandma, aunts, and uncles from his mother's side all made since they were fairly local. We took about a dozen family and friends to a very nice luncheon afterwards. The unit had a party at 9 PM that night which we missed as we were still boating from our sunset cruise.

Surprisingly, the only time I got teary eyed was when the CO was speaking and when I reviewed the photos later which my wife's cousin took. We didn't have to worry about catching a single photo. I highly recommend that approach. Her son-in-law commissioned from the same unit 5 years ago and is currently cruising somewhere below the surface of the Pacific. The flowers for the Mom's and girlfriends was also unexpected by me and a nice touch.

Graduation the next day was a bit of an anti-climax. Nevertheless, I was impressed that they listed all the new officers from the various ROTC programs in the bulletin and even had them stand during the ceremonies.

A great a memorable occasion. A good time was had by all. Oh, did I say DS was so damned handsome in that beautiful uniform. :)

Congrats to all the new officers out there!!!
We were very fortunate that a poster here was also attending the USNA graduation, he attended our DSs too. The pics he took were amazing. DSs commissioning was at the AF Memorial overlooking the Pentagon and without him I would not have the amazing picture of him walking up.
~ Class of 16 take notes, have someone in charge of pics.

I also laugh kinnem because our DS kept saying I dont want to walk. I just want to do the commissioning. His college you walk 1st, commission later. We told him that he had to walk for 135,000 reasons (cost of college was 135K, scholarship or not).

I feel the same as kinnem, it was anti climatic. Don't get me wrong it was emotional. Our baby graduated college, but it wasn't the same as our baby is an officer in the military.
~ No offense, but college is one thing. Hearing:
"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the _____ (Military Branch) of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance tot he same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God."

That to me was the tear jerker moment. This is coming from a wife that pinned her husbands butter bars as his GF on 25 years earlier to the day.
 
Congratulations !!! My son is May 15th I just hope I hold it together his dad passed his junior year of high school . My dad is pinning him with me.
 
Nnmfam so sorry for your family's loss but Congratulatons to you and your son! Good for him, and enjoy the 15th!

(on your saber question maybe ask one of the cadre? Sure it has come up before.)
 
Browsing pictures of the Norwich AROTC commissioning ceremony, I see that there are different colors of bands on the covers (hats). What do the different colors mean?
 
Congratulations to all of the newly Commissioned Officers of which DS is one!
The color of the bands represent their branch. Norwich graduation was Saturday and Commissioning was on Sunday. Graduation (SMC) was exciting and impressive. The bonding, brotherhood and camaraderie of the Cadets was so palpable. The Cadets wear their Cadet dress uniform with white pants and navy buttoned top with tail for graduation. The Army Commissioning was also impressive and spectacular. Pinning the shoulder bars was a snap without any practice at all. Family and friends were able to come up freely and take pictures during the pinning, oath and first salute. The whole weekend on the hill was amazing and bittersweet. I am so extremely proud of all these young men and women who are fit, able and ready to serve our Country.
 
Browsing pictures of the Norwich AROTC commissioning ceremony, I see that there are different colors of bands on the covers (hats). What do the different colors mean?

Those are the different branch colors. The bars on the shoulders as well as the braids around the wrist area have the branch colors too. The Engineer branch is also special enough that they wear different buttons on their jackets.
 
Congratulations to all of the 2015 Graduates! It was 1 year ago that my wife and I were pinning on my son's bars. Things can come at you quickly in the Army! Today my DS is deployed in Afghanistan. What a difference a year makes.
 
Congratulations to all of the 2015 Graduates! It was 1 year ago that my wife and I were pinning on my son's bars. Things can come at you quickly in the Army! Today my DS is deployed in Afghanistan. What a difference a year makes.

My DD - not yet commissioned at this time last year - is also in Afghanistan. She has covered a lot of ground in the last year!
 
Congratulations to all of the newly Commissioned Officers of which DS is one!
The color of the bands represent their branch. Norwich graduation was Saturday and Commissioning was on Sunday. Graduation (SMC) was exciting and impressive. The bonding, brotherhood and camaraderie of the Cadets was so palpable. The Cadets wear their Cadet dress uniform with white pants and navy buttoned top with tail for graduation. The Army Commissioning was also impressive and spectacular. Pinning the shoulder bars was a snap without any practice at all. Family and friends were able to come up freely and take pictures during the pinning, oath and first salute. The whole weekend on the hill was amazing and bittersweet. I am so extremely proud of all these young men and women who are fit, able and ready to serve our Country.

Congrats Philmont, I know you had a Happy Mother's Day. Best Wishes to your son!
 
Congrats to Kinnem and Philmont and of course your new officers!!

Pima, thanks for the great suggestions for keeping in touch while they're away. I'll probably be shipping some Skyline Chili to Ft. Benning some how....;) Its a Cincinnati thing.
 
I know Chili in Cincy is sooooo different than anywhere else. The 1st time my sister introduced it to me, I was shocked....Chili and rice, chili on a potato, but chili with spaghetti?:eek:

You would be amazed if you search the internet I bet there is somewhere in Cincy that does ship the Cincy type of Chili.

It is funny how every area has unique products. IE only in Cincy can you still find Tab soda. In Philly/NJ is where you find every Tastykakes, Wise potato chips and Drakes product. When Bullet was in the AF, my Mom would come with a suitcase filled of Funny Bones/Devil Dogs (Drakes), Salt & Vinegar Chips (Wise) and Butterscotch krimpets (Tastykakes).
~ She would also stop at the local Bagel shop on her way to the airport and bring on in her carry on a dozen NY style bagels. --- Can't see TSA allowing that nowadays.

For years when we went to visit my sister in Cincy we would go across the line to KY and get Bulleit Bourbon. After all it is his liquor of choice, and close enough to the spelling of his AF callsign!
 
I know Chili in Cincy is sooooo different than anywhere else. The 1st time my sister introduced it to me, I was shocked....Chili and rice, chili on a potato, but chili with spaghetti?:eek:

With you on that one Pima. I worked for a company here in the South that was based in Cincy. All I hear about was the chili, the chili, the chili. I finally had to make a company trip so the highlight was to take me out for some chili. They brought it to the table and I thought, this ain't no dang chili... this is spaghetti! Heck.... two way, 3 way, 4 way... heck down here we just throw it all in the pot :)

On a side note I like the Omaha Steak idea.. but heck he will be able to afford it more than us :)
 
Actually, Omaha does a lot of specials, especially around holidays. Usually I can get something for @50-55 bucks, free shipping. I just looked at this months Family Value Pack it was 54.99
Family Value Pack 48328BKB
  • 4 (4 oz.) Top Sirloins
  • 4 (3 oz.) Oven-Roasted Chicken Breasts
  • 4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers
  • 4 (3 oz.) Gourmet Jumbo Franks
  • 4 Stuffed Baked Potatoes
The Happy Family Combo 47425RTX
  • 4 (5 oz.) Top Sirloins
  • 4 (4 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops
  • 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts (1 lb. pkg.)
  • 4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers
  • 8 (3 oz.) Gourmet Jumbo Franks
  • 10 Potatoes au Gratin
  • 4 (4 oz.) Caramel Apple Tartlets
Is 69 bucks, plus, 6 more burgers and a 6 piece steak knife set. I think is what we sent him as a birthday gift.

You have to do a little research. look on their value assortment and also google their coupon code. Than you can find the better deals.
 
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