Air Force Protocol
from 'Til Wheels are Up'

ACTIVATION/INACTIVATION CEREMONY

The Ceremony

These types of ceremonies are conducted in very much the same manner and build off of the basic ceremony sequence for a change of command. You will need to include all the elements of change of command planning: invitations, seating, parking, transportation, DV escort, etc. The official party will be comprised of the reviewing officer and the incumbent commanding officer for transition ceremonies; the reviewing officer and the in-coming commander for activation ceremonies; and the reviewing officer and the out-going commander for inactivation ceremonies. For an activation ceremony the reviewing officer is also the host until the activation has occurred, at which time the incoming commander becomes the host. For inactivation ceremonies, the out-going commander is the host until the inactivation occurs. Then the reviewing official becomes the host, with the out-going commander the honored guest.

Sequence of Events.

Here is a sequence of events we use at our Headquarters for these types of ceremonies:

• Formation of troops.
• Arrival of DVs, families and participants (official party)
• Presentation of troops and honors to the presiding officer as appropriate.
• Presentation of colors and National Anthem.
• Presentation of unit decorations/awards (if appropriate).
• Narrator comments addressing transition, activation, or inactivation as appropriate.
• Reading of transition, activation, or inactivation order as appropriate.
• Narrator comments on ceremony as appropriate (casing/uncasing/furling/unfurling guidons, etc.)
• Narrator introduces presiding officer.
• Presiding officer makes comments.
• Narrator introduces the Air Force Song (optional), concludes formal ceremony, and invites guests to any post-ceremony reception.

Click on the sample document you'd like to view:

• Sample Event Brief
• Sample Sequence
• Sample Script