Promotion
"Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." ~Earl Nightingale
In a few hours from now, in a room I will never see except in pictures, my husband will be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He is away in support of the war and this temporary duty just happens to coincide with a monumental event. It is the first of all of his promotions where I am not physically present.
Promotions are important ceremonies. They mark a milestone in the life of a Soldier. A promotion is the reward for a job well done and they come by merit and by time for both enlisted Soldiers and officers. Ceremonies are carried out in various ways, although most of the tradition is similar. The Soldier and the unit are brought to attention as the Commanding Officer stands ready to promote them. Someone in the unit reads the citation and after this is done, the Commander changes the rank on the Soldiers uniform. If the rank is sewn on, it has been loosened so it is easily ripped off and replaced by metal rank. If the rank is metal it is taken off and replaced. The Commander changes the rank over the Soldier's right side while the family changes the rank over the Soldier's left side. Depending on the uniform, there may only be one rank to change. For Vic's 2nd command, every rank he tore off and replaced he kept. They came back from Iraq in a cigar box, a ceremonious pile of the accomplishments of his Soldiers. I put them in neat rows in his Army scrapbook alongside pictures of these ceremonies. Those are the days he remembers the most when he speaks about the first deployment.
When Vic promoted to 2LT at West Point, his parents and his Team Handball coach pinned his rank. When Vic promoted to 1LT we were at Ft Eustis for a temporary school. For Captain it was Fort Bragg with a three month old son in front of the Airborne museum. When Vic promoted to Major it was at Fort Lee, Virginia with three kids and only three months before the fateful day of September 11th. The new Beret was the headgear and Mitch our oldest was given the opportunity to change the rank on the beret. When he finished and gave the beret to Vic, Vic gave him the old Captain rank from his uniform. Mitch promptly threw it into the crowd. Captain was a long rank, as long as Mitch was old and it sure deserved the fanfare it was given that day.
Officer rank comes in two metals, silver and gold. The theory behind this is that gold is the more malleable medal, the one where you can be molded and shaped and silver is the hardened metal, the one that has stability and strength. Both are precious, but have their own particular qualities. Because of this, 2LT is gold - mold able, while 1LT is silver - hardened. Captain is what they call railroad tracks and those are silver - stable. Major is gold - mold able and LTC is silver the same insignia as Major only the more hardened metal. From here on out, the rank is silver - strong. As I see it, all of the molding has been done, all of Vic's Major years, under the gold leaf, have been in a time of war.
When Vic and I first met and talked of our long range dreams, this day was what he looked to on the horizon. He would consider himself a success if he made it to the rank that he will pin on shortly. This day, looking back, seemed like it would be forever away. Forever came fast. It has been an amazing journey. I loved being a cadets girlfriend, a LT's wife, the CPT's woman and the MAJ's better half. The time has passed and what a journey it has been.
When I wake tomorrow, I'll be the very proud waiting wife of the LTC.
In a few hours from now, in a room I will never see except in pictures, my husband will be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He is away in support of the war and this temporary duty just happens to coincide with a monumental event. It is the first of all of his promotions where I am not physically present.
Promotions are important ceremonies. They mark a milestone in the life of a Soldier. A promotion is the reward for a job well done and they come by merit and by time for both enlisted Soldiers and officers. Ceremonies are carried out in various ways, although most of the tradition is similar. The Soldier and the unit are brought to attention as the Commanding Officer stands ready to promote them. Someone in the unit reads the citation and after this is done, the Commander changes the rank on the Soldiers uniform. If the rank is sewn on, it has been loosened so it is easily ripped off and replaced by metal rank. If the rank is metal it is taken off and replaced. The Commander changes the rank over the Soldier's right side while the family changes the rank over the Soldier's left side. Depending on the uniform, there may only be one rank to change. For Vic's 2nd command, every rank he tore off and replaced he kept. They came back from Iraq in a cigar box, a ceremonious pile of the accomplishments of his Soldiers. I put them in neat rows in his Army scrapbook alongside pictures of these ceremonies. Those are the days he remembers the most when he speaks about the first deployment.
When Vic promoted to 2LT at West Point, his parents and his Team Handball coach pinned his rank. When Vic promoted to 1LT we were at Ft Eustis for a temporary school. For Captain it was Fort Bragg with a three month old son in front of the Airborne museum. When Vic promoted to Major it was at Fort Lee, Virginia with three kids and only three months before the fateful day of September 11th. The new Beret was the headgear and Mitch our oldest was given the opportunity to change the rank on the beret. When he finished and gave the beret to Vic, Vic gave him the old Captain rank from his uniform. Mitch promptly threw it into the crowd. Captain was a long rank, as long as Mitch was old and it sure deserved the fanfare it was given that day.
Officer rank comes in two metals, silver and gold. The theory behind this is that gold is the more malleable medal, the one where you can be molded and shaped and silver is the hardened metal, the one that has stability and strength. Both are precious, but have their own particular qualities. Because of this, 2LT is gold - mold able, while 1LT is silver - hardened. Captain is what they call railroad tracks and those are silver - stable. Major is gold - mold able and LTC is silver the same insignia as Major only the more hardened metal. From here on out, the rank is silver - strong. As I see it, all of the molding has been done, all of Vic's Major years, under the gold leaf, have been in a time of war.
When Vic and I first met and talked of our long range dreams, this day was what he looked to on the horizon. He would consider himself a success if he made it to the rank that he will pin on shortly. This day, looking back, seemed like it would be forever away. Forever came fast. It has been an amazing journey. I loved being a cadets girlfriend, a LT's wife, the CPT's woman and the MAJ's better half. The time has passed and what a journey it has been.
When I wake tomorrow, I'll be the very proud waiting wife of the LTC.
Pam, what a great beautiful way of sharing your thoughts, and your journey together. I never knew all that about the gold and silver. It does make me stop and think about all the traditions and what they stand for. I absolutely love the way you ended your vignette, with your growth in your roles with VIC. YOu are certainly a remarkable woman and your angel wings you wear are made of the most precious "materials" known to man,... GOD's Spirit!
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Thank You Deanna! Your kind words really touched me. It is funny when you realize that the time you thought would pass so slowly has already passed in the blink of an eye. It reminds me that we have to make every moment count because we have only one today! I hope your today is a great one! ~ Pam
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What a wonderful post! Congratulations to you BOTH on a job well done. I too was interested to hear about the silver vs. gold - my son was recently promoted to 1st LT - he is definitely hardened vs his time as 2nd LT. Just love the Army traditions. Thanks again.
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Thank You Marianne! I love the Army traditions too, they add depth to the things we do. Congrats as well to your son on his promotion. Thank you for supporting your son as he serves our country! All the best ~ Pam
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Pam I have been involved with the Military for 38 years and never realized the importance of the silver and gold, I will never forget this and see so much relevance here. Just when you think the Military doesn't have a clue you find out something like this which renews your hope in their intelligence. Thanks for sharing, Lucretia
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Lucretia, the day we stop learning is the day we should throw in the towel huh? =) You too, my friend, have a lot to teach us all. Thanks for reading! Hope your day is full of everything great! Pam
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