Air Force Protocol
from 'Til Wheels are Up'

The Ceremony.

Promotion ceremonies can be as simple as reading the order and pinning of the insignia and as complicated as having multiple activities occurring (presentation of certificate of promotion; presentation of a General Officer's flag; presentation of General Officer uniform items to include belt, weapon, etc.) The more activity occurring, the more coordination required! How they are done is largely a product of the host's desires and the local "standard" ceremony policy. Frocking ceremonies should have very little variance from a promotion ceremony except for the content of the order. For all promotions, ensure that you have rank insignia and the promotion certificate on hand prior to the ceremony. Establish your sequence of events and brief all participants. Explain to family members, if present, what is about to happen.

Multiple promotion ceremonies should be sequenced in descending rank order. These type ceremonies may require tactful guidance for any families that may be involved.

Officers traditionally reaffirm their oath upon promotion.

Officer Oaths and Orders.

Promotion Order: Here is an appropriate form of officer promotion order to be read by the narrator at the ceremony:

ATTENTION TO ORDERS.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ACTING UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE, HAS PLACED SPECIAL TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE PATRIOTISM, INTEGRITY, AND ABILITIES OF (PREVIOUS GRADE AND NAME). IN VIEW OF THESE SPECIAL QUALITIES AND (HIS/HER) DEMONSTRATED POTENTIAL TO SERVE IN THE HIGHER GRADE, (PREVIOUS GRADE AND NAME) IS PROMOTED TO THE PERMANENT GRADE OF (NEW GRADE), UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, EFFECTIVE (DATE). BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE.

Followed by the pinning on and the commissioning oath.

Officer Oath

Enlisted Promotion Order.

ATTENTION TO ORDERS.

(NAME) IS PROMOTED TO THE PERMANENT GRADE OF (RANK) EFFECTIVE (DATE) WITH A DATE OF RANK OF (DATE). FOR THE COMMANDER

SIGNED (NAME)

It has become customary for many enlisted members to re-affirm their oath of enlistment at a promotion ceremony.

Enlisted Oath

Civilian Oath.

Civilian Oath

Sample Sequence of Events.

Sequence of Events

Sample Promotion Invitation.

Military Invitation

SES Invitation

Sample Ceremony Stage Diagram.

NOTE: At HQ AFMC we have the commander and the promotee walk into the auditorium in reverse rank order with the promotee one step behind and to the right. Once the party reaches the stage, they perform an about face and are now in the proper positional order. We breach protocol order of precedence here to prevent any embarrassing crossover movements by the commander and promotee that could result in something looking less than professional.

Promotion Ceremony Stage Diagram

Sample Ceremony Scripts.

Promotion Ceremony Script {Promote to Major General}

Promotion Ceremony Script {Promote to SES}

Promotion Ceremony Script {Frocking to Colonel}

Promotion Ceremony Script {Promote to First Lieutenant}

Promotion Ceremony Script {Promote to First Lieutenant - Dual Ceremony/Two Promotees}