Thanks to all of you!!!

B

BigBillNY

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2014
Messages
91
Hi All,
I want to thank those that have posted over the years. When my DS first got interested in pursing AROTC, I was fortunate enough to find this website. Posters have provided invaluable advice over the years. I think I learned more by reading other people's questions than some of my own. I tried to post responses to certain categories of questions when I could.

Well, my son's journey in ROTC ends on Saturday when he commissions. He will be going Active Duty in the Armor Branch.

Thanks again to all who have helped us, and countless others, by providing sound advice.
-Bill
 
Congrats to you and your son.
 
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Congratulations to both your sons. Enjoy the graduation/commissioning.
 
BigBillNY said:
Hi All,
I want to thank those that have posted over the years. When my DS first got interested in pursing AROTC, I was fortunate enough to find this website. Posters have provided invaluable advice over the years. I think I learned more by reading other people's questions than some of my own. I tried to post responses to certain categories of questions when I could.

Well, my son's journey in ROTC ends on Saturday when he commissions. He will be going Active Duty in the Armor Branch.

Thanks again to all who have helped us, and countless others, by providing sound advice.
-Bill
Click to expand...

I agree, this forum is invaluable.

Best of luck to your son Bill.
 
@BigBillNY and @AROTC-dad ,

I don't know the venue, lighting etc. for the commissioning ceremony, but I suggest practicing pinning on the butter bars several times before the big event. You'd hate to be up there with DS's first salute rolling his/her eyes waiting for you to get the job done.

Congratulations to both.
 
cb7893 said:
@BigBillNY and @AROTC-dad ,

I don't know the venue, lighting etc. for the commissioning ceremony, but I suggest practicing pinning on the butter bars several times before the big event. You'd hate to be up there with DS's first salute rolling his/her eyes waiting for you to get the job done.

Congratulations to both.
Click to expand...
This is a concern of mine; however, he is having his older and younger brothers do the honor. I have heard that some units place tape over the bars, and then simply peel off the tape. Not sure what they are going to do.
 
I believe that I am going to defer to his GF to do one shoulder and his mother to do the other while I take photos.

I just have to be able to see through the view finder with tears in my eyes.
 
@AROTC-dad We were fortunate enough to have my wife's cousin (who had two sons-in-law commission from the same college) take the pics. Came out great as she already knew the ropes and got pictures of the entire commissioning ceremony, start to finish. I deferred to the GF and Mom as well on the butter bars. Mom couldn't get her's on and gave up, so it wasn't pinned in the back. I got to help with his gloves and cover. I don't know how Army handles the cover, or if it's just a thing at his college, but no one wears their cover until immediately after they commission and the butter bars go on. You might have a chance there.

It's a hell of a day. Don't pop the buttons on your shirt!
 
Oh yes, what fun pinning those bars on.

We couldn't practice because they gave their bars to the MstSgt to give out when it was their turn. My wife was able to get hers on but I was having a heck of a time getting mine to stay, tried several times and I could see the MstSgt starting to smile. Finally he came over and offered to help, I felt redeemed when he had the same difficulty I had, by this time everyone was finding it quite humorous. The Commandant of the Marine Corps was on campus to be the keynote speaker at graduation and made it a point to attend all the commissioning ceremonies. he was standing at the Mic introducing each new 2LT. After a few minutes of the MstSgt trying he told the audience that "This is why the Marines don't have shoulder boards" then he walked over and handed the MstSgt a stapler, that really brought the house down. Someone was thinking and found some tape, looped it and we just sort of stuck it on for the the remainder of the ceremony. He was able to get it repaired so it was ready for graduation the next day.

Needless to say he'll never forget that ceremony. The video still cracks us up.
 
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