20.4 Ceremonies & Events

The Range of Military Ceremonies

"Official military ceremonies include promotions, changes and assumptions of command, activations and in-activations, re-designations, enlistments and reenlistments, awards, decorations, arrivals, departures, reveille, retreat, building dedications, ribbon cuttings, retirements, and funerals." Some are "very formal and elaborate, while others are quite simple and personal."

Planning. "To give guests time to plan, aim at having details planned out at least three weeks in advance, or more," and for large events "planning as early as several months to a year in advance." AFH 1's practical advice: "Rather than starting from scratch, reach out to other organizations or review checklists from previous events."

Full honors — parades, honor cordons, motorcades — "are reserved for statutory appointees and General or Flag Officers, foreign dignitaries, and occasions when ceremonies promote international good will." The installation commander determines which types of honors are rendered.

Award, Decoration, Promotion, and Reenlistment Ceremonies

The last-duty-day-before-the-effective-date rule for promotions is a favorite item, as is the retired-officer uniform exception at reenlistments.

The Oaths

"At the core of the ceremony is the oath. The oath is recited by the officer and repeated by the reenlistee." Two procedural rules: "The reenlistee and the officer administering the oath must be physically collocated during the ceremony," and "if desired, the words 'so help me God' may be omitted."

The Enlisted Oath

I (state your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, so help me God.

The Officer Oath

I (state your name), having been appointed a (rank), in the United States Air Force do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation 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.

The Difference That Gets Tested

The obedience clause is unique to the enlisted oath; the "freely, without any mental reservation" and "discharge the duties of the office" clauses are unique to the officer oath. That contrast is the single most tested point in Section 24D.

The civilian oath closely tracks the officer oath — support and defend, bear true faith and allegiance, take the obligation freely without mental reservation, and well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office — without the appointment-to-rank preamble.

The Air National Guard enlisted oath adds a state dimension: the member swears to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the State, to bear true faith and allegiance to them, and to obey the orders of the President and the Governor and of the officers appointed over them, "according to law and regulations."

Retirement Ceremony

"Commanders are responsible for ensuring members have a retirement ceremony to recognize their contributions," and "must offer the retiring member the courtesy of a formal ceremony in keeping with the customs and traditions of the service unless the member prefers otherwise."

During the ceremony the member receives: a certificate of retirement, a United States flag, the USAF retired lapel button, various certificates, and letters of appreciation, as well as appropriate awards, decorations, and honors. "Spouses also receive special recognition at a member's retirement ceremony." The reference is DAFI 36-3203.

Reveille and Retreat

The twofold purpose of retreat is a near-certain item — it is both an end-of-duty-day signal and a flag ceremony, while reveille is a duty-day signal that may accompany raising the flag.

The Reveille Sequence

1. The unit commander commands "Parade, REST"
2. At the specified time, the commander commands "SOUND REVEILLE." The flag detail assumes attention, moves to the flagstaff, and attaches the flag to the halyards
3. After reveille is played, the commander commands "Squadron, ATTENTION" and "Present, ARMS," then faces the flagstaff and executes present arms. On this signal, the national anthem or To the Colors is sounded
4. On the first note, the flag security detail begins to raise the flag briskly. The senior member holds the flag to keep it from touching the ground
5. The commander holds the salute until the last note, then executes order arms, faces about, and commands "Order, ARMS"

Raising the flag: the detail is one senior member and two junior members, marching in line with the senior member carrying the flag in the center. "The flag is always raised and lowered from the leeward side of the flagstaff."

The Retreat Sequence

1. The commander commands "Parade, REST," faces the flagstaff, and waits
2. At the specified time, the commander commands "SOUND RETREAT"
3. During the playing of retreat, junior members of the flag security detail move to the flagstaff and arrange the halyards, then execute parade rest in unison
4. After retreat has played, the commander commands "Squadron, ATTENTION" then "Present, ARMS"
5. The national anthem is played, or a bugler plays To the Colors, while the junior members lower the flag slowly and with dignity
6. The commander executes order arms when the last note plays and the flag is securely grasped, then commands "Order, ARMS"
7. The detail folds the flag, then marches to three paces from the commander, where the senior member salutes and reports "Sir (Ma'am), the flag is secured"

The rule for members not in a formation is directly applicable to every Airman and heavily tested:

"Uniformed military members not assigned to a formation face the flag (if visible), or the music, and assume the position of parade rest on the first note of retreat. Upon completion of retreat, they should assume the position of attention and salute on the first note of the national anthem or To the Colors."

Parade rest during retreat; attention and salute at the anthem. Two distinct postures in sequence.

Lowering the flag: the detail is one senior member and three junior members for the all-purpose flag, and one senior member and five junior members for the installation flag. If at half-staff, briskly hoist the flag to the staff head while retreat is sounded, then lower on the first note of the national anthem or To the Colors.

Note the detail sizes: two juniors to raise; three or five juniors to lower depending on flag size.

Dining-In and Dining-Out

Both are formal events. "The one significant difference is that nonmilitary spouses, friends, and civilians may attend a dining-out, but the dining-in is a formal dinner for military members only."

History: "The present dining-in format had its beginnings in the Air Corps when General Henry H. 'Hap' Arnold held his famous wingdings." The association with the British and their dining-ins during World War II also encouraged their popularity.

Dress: "Military members who attend these ceremonies must wear the mess dress or the semiformal uniform. Civilians wear the dress specified in the invitations."

Combat dining-in: similar because it maintains the traditional form, but differs primarily in dress and atmosphere — "typically celebrate the evening in some form of utility uniform in a much more relaxed environment deliberately prepared to encourage camaraderie."

The Order of the Sword

"Induction into the order of the sword is an honor reserved for individuals who have provided outstanding leadership and support to enlisted members as a 'Leader among Leaders and an Airman among Airmen.'" It is "the highest honor and tribute an enlisted member can bestow on anyone."

Format: similar to the dining-in — a social period, formal dinner, and induction ceremony — with mess dress, semiformal uniform, or equivalent required.

Two structural facts:

• "The only approved levels for award of the sword are the USAF level and major command level"
• "The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and MAJCOM command chiefs are known as the 'keepers of the sword,'" maintaining the official lists of recipients

History: "The first recorded order of the sword ceremony in the United States was in the 1860s when a General officer was presented a sword by his command." The ceremony was revised, updated, and adopted by the USAF in 1967 to recognize military senior officers, Colonel or above, and civilian equivalents, for conspicuous and significant contributions to the welfare and prestige of the USAF enlisted force.

1860s first ceremony, 1967 USAF adoption, Colonel or above — the three facts most likely to be keyed.