Promotion ceremonies: A tradition worth celebrating

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Andrew Gale
  • 42nd Communications Squadron commander
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNEWS) --  Promotion -- what a momentous occasion for any individual.

As the promotion order states, it shows the Air Force believes in your abilities to perform at the next higher grade. It is a reward for hard work, dedication, discipline and sacrifice.

It is exactly the type of event that should be celebrated, yet many people opt to forego a promotion ceremony. They don't want to inconvenience others or to have a big deal made about them. While these feelings are understandable, these individuals have missed the point -- this ceremony isn't just about them.

Although the promotee is certainly the focus of the ceremony, I contend the event itself is as much about tradition and the attendees as the honoree.

It is military tradition to celebrate achievements, whether they are part of a team or an individual event. These celebrations take many forms and are intended to motivate others to excel and to perpetuate our values of service before self and excellence in all we do. The promotion ceremony is no different. At this event, we will heap praise and recognition upon the promotee, hopefully in such a manner as to inspire the audience to strive for their own goals.

Through our recognition of the promotee's hard work and sacrifice, we not only remind junior members of the price to be paid, but reinforce the idea that these efforts are not in vain. And we hope to encourage the promotee to continue to excel and strive for the next grade.

Commonly overlooked is the fact that these ceremonies are as much about the attendees as the promotee. Let's face it, rarely, if ever, are great accomplishments attained single-handedly. In attendance at the ceremony will be co-workers who helped the promotee with that big project, picked them up when they were down, or helped explain the finer points of some technical issue. There will be supervisors who mentored, trained, educated and motivated the promotee, often pushing him to accomplish that which the promotee believed impossible.

Most importantly, there will be family, who sacrificed with the promotee to help him reach his goals. Attendees have a stake in the promotee's accomplishments -- they take just as much, if not more, pride in the promotion for it validates their confidence and investment in that person.

Skipping the ceremony deprives these deserving individuals of an opportunity to share in the celebration of a great achievement in which they have played a major part.

The next time you or your co-worker finally gets that promotion, ensure a ceremony happens. Not only is it an important tradition that enables us to reinforce our core values, but also it is an opportunity to celebrate with and thank those who helped make the event possible. None of these things are an inconvenience.

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