COMMISSIONING CEREMONY

 

IN HONOR OF

 

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER

 

XXXX X. XXXXXX III

 

TUESDAY

 

JULY 1, 2003

 

1400

 

STARR PARK

 

NSGA FORT MEADE

 

 

 

 

1345     PARTICIPANTS IN PLACE

 

1350     GUESTS ARRIVE

 

1400     MASTER OF CEREMONIES APPROACHES THE PODIUM

 

        MOC:        GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. 

THE COMMANDING OFFICER, NAVAL SECURITY GROUP ACTIVITY FT. MEADE AND CHIEF XXXXXX ARE PLEASED TO HAVE YOU HERE FOR TODAY’S COMMISSIONING CEREMONY.” 

 

MOC:        “WILL THE GUESTS PLEASE RISE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE SINGING OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM.”

 

CTRCM TTTTTT:  COMMAND, ATTENTION

 

        CHIEF XXXXXX ARRIVES

 

        CAPT RRRRRR ARRIVES

 

MOC:        COLOR GUARD, PARADE THE COLORS

 

MOC:        SENIOR CHIEF HHHHHHH WILL NOW GIVE THE INVOCATION.”

 

                                                (NCCS GIVES INVOCATION)

MOC:                            “THANK YOU SENIOR CHIEF HHHHHH."

 

MOC:              “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN PLEASE BE SEATED.”

       

CTRCM TTTTTT:  COMMAND, PARADE REST

 

MOC:        “FAMILY, FRIENDS, SHIPMATES – GOOD AFTERNOON.  WELCOME ONCE AGAIN TO THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICER XXXXXX XXXXXX.  A SPECIAL WELCOME TO CHIEF XXXXXX'S WIFE XXXXXX, DAUGHTER XXXXXXXX AND MOTHER XXXXXXX."

 

MOC:    "THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY YOU WITNESS

TODAY IS A REFLECTION OF THE RICH HERITAGE OF OUR NAVAL TRADITION.  CUSTOM HAS ESTABLISHED THAT THIS CEREMONY BE IMPRESSIVE – DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THAT RESPECT FOR DEDICATED SERVICE WHICH IS VITAL TO ANY MILITARY ORGANIZATION.

 

MOC:      TODAY’S CEREMONY WILL COMMISSION CHIEF PETTY OFFICER XXXXXX TO CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER.  CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER’S HAVE A RICH HISTORY WITH OUR NAVY.  THERE WERE WARRANT OFFICERS ON THE SHIPS OF THE CONTINENTAL NAVY DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.  WHEN CONGRESS CREATED OUR NAVY IN 1775 IT LISTED THE WARRANT OFFICERS AS THE SAILING MASTERS, PURSER, BOATSWAIN, GUNNER, CARPENTER, SAILMAKER AND MIDSHIPMAN.  OVER THE YEARS, WARRANT OFFICERS HAVE EVOLVED INTO THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS WITHIN THEIR GIVEN FIELD.  THE WARRANT OFFICER PROVIDES OUR NAVY WITH A VITAL AND INVALUABLE FORM OF LEADERSHIP - AN OFFICER WHO HAS EXPERTISE AND AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THE MOST DIFFICULT AND EXACTING TECHNICAL OPERATIONS IN A GIVEN OCCUPATIONAL AREA.

 

MOC:        “AT THIS TIME, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE COMMANDING OFFICER, NAVAL SECURITY GROUP ACTIVITY, FORT MEADE, CAPTAIN RRRRRRRR”

 

                      (CO’S REMARKS)

        

MOC:     “THANK YOU CAPTAIN”

 

MOC:        “CAPTAIN RRRRRR WILL RECOGNIZE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER XXXXXX FOR HIS TOUR OF DUTY AT NAVAL SECURITY GROUP ACTIVITY, FORT MEADE” 

 

        MOC:     “WILL THE GUESTS PLEASE RISE”

 

        CTRCM TTTTTT:  COMMAND, ATTENTION

 

MOC:        THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS AWARDED THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL TO CHIEF CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ADMINISTRATIVE XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX III

UNITED STATES NAVY FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION LEADING CHIEF PETTY OFFICER AT NAVAL SECURITY GROUP ACTIVITY, FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MARYLAND, FROM NOVEMBER 2001 TO JULY 2003.  CHIEF XXXXXX’S INITIATIVE LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT THAT GREATLY ENHANCED CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR 1500 PERSONNEL.  HIS SUPERB LEADERSHIP DURING THE 2002 INSPECTOR GENERAL’S INSPECTION DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO ZERO DISCREPANCIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.  ADDITIONALLY, HE INDEPENDENTLY MENTORED EIGHT SAILORS RESULTING IN A 50 PERCENT ADVANCEMENT RATE.  CHIEF XXXXXX’S SUPERIOR PROFESSIONALISM AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.  SIGNED:  R. R. RRRRRR, CAPT, COMMANDING OFFICER.

 

        MOC:     “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE

 SEATED”

 

MOC:        “CAPTAIN RRRRRR WILL NOW DISCHARGE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER XXXXXX FROM THE ENLISTED RANKS.”

 

                (READ DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE)

 

“HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT CHIEF PETTY OFFICER XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX III WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE UNITED STATES NAVY ON THE 30TH DAY OF JUNE 2003.  THIS CERTIFICATE IS AWARDED AS A TESTIMONIAL OF HONEST AND FAITHFUL SERVICE.

 

            SIGNED R. R. RRRRRR, CAPT, USN”

 

(CAPT RRRRRR PRESENTS HONORABLE DISCHARGE)

 

MOC:     "CHIEF PETTY OFFICER XXXXXX'S FAMILY

 WILL NOW REMOVE HIS CHIEFS' ANCHORS

 AND COVER."

 

            (FAMILY REMOVES DEVICES AND TAKES

SEATS)

 

MOC:     “CAPTAIN RRRRRR WILL ISSUE THE OFFICER’S OATH TO CHIEF PETTY OFFICER XXXXXX.”

 

 

 

 

MOC:        "CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER XXXXXX'S FAMILY WILL NOW PIN THE CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER BAR, THE CRYPTOLOGIC DEVICE AND PLACE THE OFFICER’S COVER ON CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER XXXXXX”

 

MOC:        “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT CHIEF

 WARRANT OFFICER XXXXXX X. XXXXXX

 III, UNITED STATES NAVY.”

 

CTRCM TTTTTT:    COMMAND, PARADE REST

 

MOC:        CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER XXXXXX WILL NOW RETURN HIS FIRST SALUTE AS PART OF THE SILVER DOLLAR SALUTE TRADITION”

 

MOC:    “PETTY OFFICER HHHHHHHH, FRONT AND CENTER”

 

MOC:        “IT’S AN HONORED TRADITION… A BRAND NEW SILVER DOLLAR TO THE FIRST ENLISTED SAILOR WHO SALUTES HIM OR HER.  THE EXACT ORIGIN OF THE CUSTOM IS ARGUABLE BUT IT PROBABLY BEGAN BEFORE THE U.S. ARMED FORCES WERE ORGANIZED.  BRITISH REGIMENTS STATIONED IN COLONIAL AMERICA BROUGHT WITH THEM A NUMBER OF CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS THAT WERE RETAINED BY THE NEWLY FORMED AMERICAN ARMED FORCES.  ONE STATUS SYMBOL HIGHLY SOUGHT BY NEWLY COMMISSIONED BRITISH OFFICERS WAS TO HAVE A SERVANT ASSIGNED TO THEM.  THE SERVANT WAS NORMALLY AN ENLISTED SAILOR WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE OFFICER’S KIT, DRESS AND FIELD UNIFORMS, AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT WERE SERVICEABLE AT ALL TIMES.  THE ENLISTED SAILOR WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING THE OFFICER THE SHIP’S HISTORY, TRADITION AND CUSTOMS.  THIS CUSTOM CONTINUED TO GROW WITHIN THE BRITISH MILITARY AND NEWLY FORMED AMERICAN UNITS.  AMERICAN SECOND LIEUTENANTS IN 1816, RECEIVED A MONTHLY BASE PAY OF $25, A $3 RATION ALLOWANCE, AND $1 FOR AN ENLISTED ADVISOR.  THIS ADVISOR’S PAY WAS LATER DISCONTINUED, BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TEACHING THE NEWLY COMMISSIONED OFFICER CONTINUED.  THE PRESENT DAY TRADITION OF GIVING A SILVER DOLLAR FOR THE FIRST SALUTE IS THOUGHT TO HAVE ITS ROOTS IN THIS RELATIONSHIP.

 

        (CTA2 HHHHHHHH RENDERS FIRST SALUTE)

 

        (CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER XXXXXX RETURNS SALUTE)

 

         (CTA2 HHHHHHHH SALUTES AGAIN AND REQUESTS PERMISSION TO CARRY ON. 

 

(CTA2 HHHHHHHH RETURNS TO SEAT)

 

MOC:        "CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER XXXXXX, THE FLOOR IS YOURS"

 

MOC:        “THANK YOU CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER

 XXXXXX.

 

SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER LLLLLLL

WILL DELIVER THE BENEDICTION.”

MOC:        “NEWLY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS HAVE

TRADITIONALLY HELD WETTING DOWN

PARTIES.  THE WETTING DOWN PARTY WAS

ONCE QUITE A ROUGH AND TUMBLE AFFAIR.

IT WAS THE CUSTOM FOR THE OFFICER TO

WEAR HIS NEW UNIFORM OF STRIPES FOR

THE FIRST TIME AT THE WETTING DOWN. 

THE GUESTS WOULD THEN PROCEED TO

CHRISTEN THE UNIFORM, THE OCCUPANT AND

THE COMMISSION WITH WHATEVER LIQUID

REFRESHMENT (PAID FOR BY THE VICTIM)

WAS AVAILABLE.  OVER THE YEARS

HOWEVER, NAVY LIFE HAS BECOME MORE

CALM, THE PRICE OF GOLD BRAID HAS

SKYROCKETED AND A LITERAL CHRISTENING

IS NO LONGER CONDONED.  GUESTS ARE

INVITED TO JOIN CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER

XXXXXX AND HIS FAMILY FOR HIS WETTING

DOWN CEREMONY AT THE RAMS HEAD TAVERN

IN SAVAGE MILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING.

DIRECTIONS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE

PROGRAMS. 

 

MOC:     “THIS CONCLUDES THE CEREMONY.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND CONGRATULATE CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER XXXXXX.”

 

MOC:     COMMAND, DISMISSED