Promotion/RE-UP

[Deleted]

So, I was looking at a friend's facebook page, and she was at her husband's re-up ceremony.

I commented that in 18 years of marriage/military life, that I had NEVER been present at any of these. 

He has always been deployed, or on a TDY, when they happened. LOL! So, when he gets pinned for E7 (March, hopefully, his number is almost there) I plan on going. He is excited for me to be there, as well as our daughters (17, and 5)

So, have any of you missed them all? Been there to pin? Please tell me I am not alone. LOL!!

[Deleted]

I don't think I've ever had any friends or loved ones at a promotion ceremony. Except my commissioning. Last time I got promoted I didn't even have a ceremony, I just showed up with my new rank on one day. I would say that at least 50% of the promotions or re-enlistments that I attend don't have the spouse or any family members there.

[amaristella]

Let's see. I was at OCS graduation but that day was more for finishing the program for DH. He changed designators during the course of OCS so he actually did not comission until a few weeks later. I was not there for that.

I think he was out to sea for O-2 and for O-3 since he was just starting shore duty I insisted on being there. I seriously only wanted to watch. The CO asked DH ahead of time if I wanted to pin him and I declined but his CO, despite the fact that the guy really does care, is terrible on these details. He still invited me to do it in front of everyone and I fumbled because I didn't know what to do and felt very embarrassed.

[Deleted]

Feb 12, 2015 19:36:26 GMT -5 amaristella said:

Let's see. I was at OCS graduation but that day was more for finishing the program for DH. He changed designators during the course of OCS so he actually did not comission until a few weeks later. I was not there for that.

I think he was out to sea for O-2 and for O-3 since he was just starting shore duty I insisted on being there. I seriously only wanted to watch. The CO asked DH ahead of time if I wanted to pin him and I declined but his CO, despite the fact that the guy really does care, is terrible on these details. He still invited me to do it in front of everyone and I fumbled because I didn't know what to do and felt very embarrassed.

Awww, I'm sorry you were put on the spot. That is what I am a bit afraid of. I will make him show me before we go. LOL! 

[meltoine]

I pinned H when he was promoted to O-3. I was at UPT graduation. I will likely pin him when he puts on O-4 later this year. Oh and I went to his AFIT graduation and track and drop for UPT.

I don't think there have been any other ceremonies.

[brandienee]

I usually feel pretty non-involved when it comes to H's career. But now that I think about it, I was there for all of the "big" things. USAFA graduation, UPT Graduation and pinned 0-3 on him. Huh.

[maebyfunke]

H's parents pinned on his butter bars, and I pinned on his wings, but he didn't have a ceremony for O-3. But I have been there for all of his graduations and ceremonies thus far.

[killercupcake]

H graduated from boot camp the same day as our wedding (total accident, not planned that way), so I wasn't there.

Was promoted to E2 (lol!) at SOI, was also not there.

Promoted to E3 in Iraq. Missed that one.

Promoted to E4 also in Iraq.

Re-enlisted. In Vegas finishing school. Ceremony was last minute. Missed it.

Promoted to E5 in Jacksonville while at MOS school for his lat move. Still in Vegas finishing my degree. Missed that.

Graduated from flight school in Jacksonville one week early, the day before my college graduation. Also missed that. He missed my graduation as well.

So... lol

H told me he would've let me pin his wings if I had been there. Dammit. He also told me I would've pinned him for E5 had I been there. Definitely for E6 if he stayed in.

[G22]

I pinned on his butter bars at his commissioning ceremony.

I missed his O-2 one due to work, but it was just a few guys in the office during the day.

I pinned on his O-3 last summer too.

So I've been at 2 of 3 so far, by chance since I was free to at the time.

[dcn]

I was at dh's commissioning, and I pinned on his O3 and O4. And messed it up both times haha!

O2 I guess I hadn't moved yet, we were engaged.

[G22]

Feb 13, 2015 0:46:34 GMT -5 dcn said:

I was at dh's commissioning, and I pinned on his O3 and O4. And messed it up both times haha!

O2 I guess I hadn't moved yet, we were engaged.

I messed up H's O-3! I had one pinned on the wrong way and had to fix it. I was so embarrassed. Nothing like all eyes on you and you can't get the back of the pins to cooperate.

[amaristella]

You guys totally just reminded me of DH's dolphins (submarine warfare pin). I forgot all about those. Probably because I wasn't there when he got them because he was out to sea. But that is is definitely the nature of Naval warfare pins. Many of the check outs can only be earned out to sea and they usually don't wait but a day or two to pin.

[killercupcake]

Oh yeah. And H walked through the door one weekend with a Navy Achievement Medal like it was no big thing. We were long distance, but still. lol

I was like "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!" His reply? "I forgot."

Bro. lol

[amaristella]

Feb 13, 2015 2:19:53 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Oh yeah. And H walked through the door one weekend with a Navy Achievement Medal like it was no big thing. We were long distance, but still. lol

I was like "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!" His reply? "I forgot."

Bro. lol

I found out about DH's dolphins from a friend. He was waiting to tell me when he saw me but someone else had written home to their wife about it because they were so excited that five people finished their qualifications on the same watch standing and of course she told me. I asked him in an email about it and he straight up ignored me.

[pennylane]

I got to pin my H at his commissioning (well, I shared duties with MIL because we were engaged at the time and she really wanted to do it) and I also pinned his wings. I haven't done any of the rank changes though.

[nsl]

I was at H's commissioning, but we were still pretty newly dating so I wasn't involved in the ceremony. He was promoted to O-3 in a mass ceremony (med school graduation), so nobody was individually pinned. I did get to help at his O-4 promotion, and thank goodness the guy doing the other side knew what to do because I had never realized until that minute that I didn't know which direction the epaulette was supposed to go.

[kpol]

I was at his commissioning but we were just dating so his parents pinned him. He was deployed for O-2 but I got to do O-3. About 5 other guys were pinning that day but due to the alphabet, M was first. Thank god it was just the Velcro!

[ilovecandy]

I was at his basic graduation. He went in as e3 got e4 in his first iraq deployment. I put on his e5 and his parents came to his e6 and his mom put his e6 on. They were so excited to do that. I was at his re-enlistment ceremony they actually moved it to accolade my work schedule so I could come. Apparently spouses get a certificate of appreciation which h didn't tell me and it was awkward for me.  

[maebyfunke]

Feb 14, 2015 19:19:50 GMT -5 ilovecandy said:

I was at his basic graduation. He went in as e3 got e4 in his first iraq deployment. I put on his e5 and his parents came to his e6 and his mom put his e6 on. They were so excited to do that. I was at his re-enlistment ceremony they actually moved it to accolade my work schedule so I could come. Apparently spouses get a certificate of appreciation which h didn't tell me and it was awkward for me.  

lol this reminds me that while H was in pilot training, I was given some sort of honorary certificate; it must have been something with track select or assignment night - I can't remember. Just think along the lines of "honorary pilot." I involuntarily laughed because it felt so silly and embarrassing, and the instructor who gave it to me looked a little hurt. I felt bad right after because I know that it came from a place of spouse appreciation, but man, over the top.

Funny: I still have the certificate after two PCS's lol. Don't know where it is, but I know I have it.

[killercupcake]

Feb 14, 2015 22:01:55 GMT -5 maebyfunke said:

Feb 14, 2015 19:19:50 GMT -5 ilovecandy said:

I was at his basic graduation. He went in as e3 got e4 in his first iraq deployment. I put on his e5 and his parents came to his e6 and his mom put his e6 on. They were so excited to do that. I was at his re-enlistment ceremony they actually moved it to accolade my work schedule so I could come. Apparently spouses get a certificate of appreciation which h didn't tell me and it was awkward for me.  

lol this reminds me that while H was in pilot training, I was given some sort of honorary certificate; it must have been something with track select or assignment night - I can't remember. Just think along the lines of "honorary pilot." I involuntarily laughed because it felt so silly and embarrassing, and the instructor who gave it to me looked a little hurt. I felt bad right after because I know that it came from a place of spouse appreciation, but man, over the top.

Funny: I still have the certificate after two PCS's lol. Don't know where it is, but I know I have it.

I've still got my "re-enlistment" certificate upstairs. It's in an official Marine Corps folder and everything. lol

[amaristella]

Speaking of promotions I think you guys will appreciate this story that I heard today. DH was having lunch with his favorite co-workers and they were sharing with us (spouses) how the one guy had just made O-3 and when the CO turned the floor over to him, he recited the Band of Brothers speech from Shakespeare's Henry V and then proceeded to relate it to the US Navy and a few people were totally inspired to find some swords to wave around. The guy's family is in another state right now so I guess he has a lot of time on his hands.

(This is Kenneth Branagh's version)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRj01LShXN8

[brandienee]

Feb 15, 2015 2:56:20 GMT -5 amaristella said:

Speaking of promotions I think you guys will appreciate this story that I heard today. DH was having lunch with his favorite co-workers and they were sharing with us (spouses) how the one guy had just made O-3 and when the CO turned the floor over to him, he recited the Band of Brothers speech from Shakespeare's Henry V and then proceeded to relate it to the US Navy and a few people were totally inspired to find some swords to wave around. The guy's family is in another state right now so I guess he has a lot of time on his hands.

(This is Kenneth Branagh's version)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRj01LShXN8

This is kind of amazing! But I appreciate anyone who can relate Shakespeare to real life and make it inspiring. 

[Deleted]

Well, I love all these stories. I don't feel so bad, now. LOL!!

[Dory1988]

Everything up to E-5 I was across the country for. I went to his E-6 but couldn't pin him since I'm only an E-4. I went to his second re-enlistment but they did his first one last minute and I couldn't make it. He's been at everything for me...Basic Grad, A-school Grad, and my promotion to E-4.

[ilovecandy]

Feb 15, 2015 0:49:42 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Feb 14, 2015 22:01:55 GMT -5 maebyfunke said:

lol this reminds me that while H was in pilot training, I was given some sort of honorary certificate; it must have been something with track select or assignment night - I can't remember. Just think along the lines of "honorary pilot." I involuntarily laughed because it felt so silly and embarrassing, and the instructor who gave it to me looked a little hurt. I felt bad right after because I know that it came from a place of spouse appreciation, but man, over the top.

Funny: I still have the certificate after two PCS's lol. Don't know where it is, but I know I have it.

I've still got my "re-enlistment" certificate upstairs. It's in an official Marine Corps folder and everything. lol

Seriously there I am for the ceremony and all of sudden one of his majors was all come up here we have something for you. And I was whaaat? Dude h you could have given me some notice on this so I wasn't completely blindsided and standing there wondering what the fuck was going on.  And then awkwardly all u mmmm thanks? H was really amused and laughed at me.later about it.  

[ohyouknow]

My husband commissioned me, we were in our apartment alone when he did it. He got his parents and my parents on speakerphone for the oath.
I pinned his rank on for all his promotions, they've all been very low-key (think hanging around a campfire with his coworkers drinking beer).
He missed my first promotion since I was TDY, but he officiated at my last one. My parents and kids pinned me on. It was in our backyard with some neighbors and coworkers. It was my last ceremony, I have concluded even a backyard ceremony is too formal and anxiety-inducing for me. Next time I'm just showing up on Monday morning with my new rank.

[Ashsmash]

I was there when H pinned on his new rank last year. Funny story actually. He asked me to hold his phone for him so I put it in my purse. Well, apparently he had an alert set on his phone for some reason. Sounded kind of like when a smoke alarm needs new batteries, just beeping a little faster. Well, I had no idea that it was his phone so it just goes on and on. People are leaving the room to check their phones and walking around looking at the smoke alarms trying to figure out if it's them. I finally figured it out and turned it off. I was so embarrassed, I'm sure my face was bright red lol

[bina]

I must be in the minority. I've been there for all of them, granted he hasn't had that many yet. So far he's had his commissioning, to 02 and pinning on his wings.

[Deleted]

LOL!! That is okay. So, I ended up going last Monday. He did get me to put on his new rank, and my teenager put on his cover. The little one just stood there.

It wasn't bad, I dressed up a bit, as did the teenager. It was painless. YAY!

[calmcosmo]

I was there in I-day at USNA and then 4 years later at graduation/commissioning. I pinned O-3 and O-4, but rather non ceremoniously. O-3 was a random afternoon in the ready room and O-4 was at an awards quarters as we were about to PCS.

I try to be there but have never jumped trough hoops to do it.