COT Graduation

I traveled to Montgomery, AL to attend Josh's COT graduation proceedings.  On Thursday (4/3) I attended the family meeting.  This was a good overview about what to expect from military life.  They had a presenter from the Airman and Family Readiness Center (a one stop shopping for all things related to the family), Tri-Care (the Health Care provider), and the Legal Assistance Program.  Then they had a spouse panel.  It was good to ask some questions about schools, base life, ways to get involved with other spouses, and family vacations.   The meeting concluded and we were excused to the retreat ceremony.  This was the first time I saw Josh.  He was wearing his blues and looked so great!  The officers stood at attention as we sang the national anthem and the Air Force song.  Then the flag was lowered.  

He looks so good!  About third row in the middle

In the evening I attended the Dining In with Josh.  He wore his formal mess dress.  The dining was a formal affair with rules of conduct and respect given to the visiting General.  We toasted to the US Flag, the Commander-in-Chief, to the Air Force staff, and to the comrades killed or missing in action. The dinner was also light-hearted and silly.  The officers performed skits about their time in training, so a lot of inside jokes.  We were not able to clap but had to tap our spoons on the table.  Then they opened the Grog.  The President of the dinner called for officers to relay infractions that needed to be addressed.  The Officer would stand and in rhyme, relay an infraction.  Then the offender would need to respond in rhyme his/her rebuttal and the President would decide if one or both would go to the grog.  One bowl was set up with alcoholic beverage and one with non-alcoholic.  The offenders salute the president, about face and fill a glass, about face and shout, “to the mess.”  The audience would respond, “What a mess.”  Then the offenders would drink the glass in one swig, tip the glass over their head to show that it was empty, about face and put the cup down, about face and salute the president again.  If any of these steps were done incorrectly, the offenders would need to repeat.  It was a very humorous even that is steeped in military tradition.  We were addressed by General Timothy Zadalis and his speech filled me with a sense of nationalism and pride.  In closing we toasted him and sang the Air Force song.  

Formal Mess Dress

The Grog!  Josh is third one from the Left in the back 

Friday was the awards presentation ceremonies.  This was the graduation day for Josh.  We first met in his flight room so this was an intimate presentation with the group that Josh has spent so much time with.  He received his graduation certificate from his flight leader, Captain Wilinski.  Then we all convened to the auditorium for the awards presentation.  Josh’s squadron, Falcon, received the award of Honor Squadron for having the best over-all scores during the training period.  Next we went to the field of the military parade.  This was stunning to me.  I was filled with a sense of pride and nationalism as I watched the formations, the order, and the respect paid of the flag and fellow service men.  The graduates repeated the oath of office and then threw their covers (hats) in the air as they were done!  Josh said goodbye to everyone and gathered his things so that we could fly home.

Josh with Captain Wilinski receiving his graduation certificate

During my time at graduation, I felt a great sense of community among the Officers.  I liked talking to them, hearing where they were going, what had brought them into the military, and their plans for their first duty station. I am sure this sense of community came because we all had a common goal.  This weekend has made me excited to see how my life is going to be for the next four years.