Promotion Day
Posted by Erik Rupard on August 5th, 2008
On Saturday, right after clinic, we had some business to attend to: one of our soldiers was re-enlisting (SGT Ernest Hert) and two were being promoted from Specialist (SPC) to Sergeant (SGT). The promotion to SGT is a very important event in a soldier’s career, as this moves the service member into the ranks of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO).
The re-enlistment ceremony was first, and I was honored to have been asked by SGT Hert to administer the re-enlistment oath to him. I took a few moments to memorize the oath, so that we would both being doing it without papers or prompting.
THE OATH: “I do solemnly swear that I [name here] will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
Next, SPC (p) Castulo Vera and SPC (p) Andres Villareal each were promoted to SGT. I was asked by SPC Villareal to “pin” him—meaning that I would remove his old rank from his uniform and place the new rank on. Of course, the term “pin” is outdated, as the new Army Combat Uniform has rank attached by Velcro. (That crunchy “rrrip!” sound takes a bit away from the ceremony, I must say.) Nonetheless, I was honored to “pin” some brand spanking new sergeant stripes onto Villa’s uniform.
The woman standing behind us in the picture is CPT Melissa Thomas, our company commander, who traveled from another military base to be present for this ceremony.
Another part of the ceremony involves removing the old cap with and replacing it with a new one with the promoted rank sewn on.
In all seriousness, both SGTs Vera and Villareal are squared-away, first-rate soldiers, and will make outstanding Non-Commissioned Officers. SGT Villa has been one of the four gentlemen who have consistently worked out with and inspired me during my stay with the 581st TMC, and I am grateful to him for letting me be a part of this special occasion.
After the ceremony, the two fresh SGTs had to undergo a traditional test of thier toughness, as they were brought out into the sandy terrain next to the clinic, and underwent a series of exercises in the 110-degree heat. First were the pushups:
The tradition is to calculate the number of months that it took for each soldier to make it to SGT and make them do that many push-ups. However, since Vera and Villa both made SGT pretty quickly (3 and 2 years, respectively), the soldier standing to the right, SSG Cano-Perez (known as “C-P”) sort of intentionally lost count a few times, pushing each well over 100.
Next came a low-crawl, which requires that the soldier’s ear touch the ground at all times. This is usually done in a swampy or muddy terrain. Since we don’t naturally have anything even slightly damp in this particular desert, SGT Hert had to create some mud.
After the low-crawl, and with fairly muddy uniforms, Villa and Vera did some jumping jacks (or as we hooah Army types call it, the “side straddle hop”). Note that their feet are not touching the ground in this shot:
And a close-up of SGT Villareal, who looked like he might be getting tired of this game.
And finally, cool-down and clean-up were both accomplished in one fell swoop, with the other soldiers helping out.
Fun times were had by all. At the end of the day, we had one soldier signed up for another four years, and two other fine soldiers promoted to the rank of Non-Commissioned Officer.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
How cool Erik! Also very cool that you were able to administer those oaths-you look proficient, like you do it every day. It reminds me of being in Toole (little podunk town in the middle of nowhere, Utah) with you and Maddy in June 1993 as you were getting sworn into office that first time right before you went off to Officer training/boot camp.
It also brought me back to the day not so long ago that you and Brandon Weiss were promoted to Major at WRAMC…I guess it was a few years back. It seems like yesterday.
Thanks for sharing the great pics.
18 days!
August 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Erik,
Please wish your newly ranked buddies all the best, and tell them how grateful we are that they are serving for us, and obviously doing a fine job. I feel proud of them. I also feel proud of you and all you have done these past 6 months. You have accomplished much, and I am so proud of you, and so happy that you have been safe and will return home to us. I love you. You have always been the nicest kid, and even when I was your typical older sibling,(this means picking on you) I have always been proud of your accomplishments. I know you are a credit to mom and dad, too. You are well loved, young man.
Keep in touch until you leave, and let me know when those packages come, so I can print off your gushy letter, to thrill the girls at YW. It will probably be read from the pulpit, knowing our Bishop and his lack of fodder for announcements.
Love you baby brother
Mit
August 6th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Hi, Erik,
This is an outstanding blog. I, too, am in awe of those special young men who were promoted and who re-enlisted. The sevice performed for this country by such an them is without measure. Please thank them for Dad and me. I am collecting one more box from the RS sisters. I will mail it next week. It is for the clinic personnel and patients. See you soon. Love, Mom
August 6th, 2008 at 8:58 am
E-I cannot email you for some crazy reason. The computer is notifying me that it cannot open Microsoft word files–this is after our AM phone call. Can you call me again?
Love you.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I’m sending this SOS a second time since I got on your email account and saw that my prev. comment didn’t register.
Please call me asap…our ‘puter is psycho!
Still love you!
August 6th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Great blog today bro. I had forgotten to check in over the weekend and see in the little corner you have 17 days left. Nice!! Things are good here in Mass, played 18 with Wralph on Sunday and kicked his butt. I actually play pretty well when I don’t try to hit the ball into the next galaxy.
Sox have looked better since sending Manny packing. I’m sure you know about the deal by now, but they had to move him - it was getting too crazy. I still don’t feel great about their chances this year - too many holes and the pitching is not as good as it needs to be. Tough year to not be a division winner. At least two good teams (NYY, Twinks, Sox, Rays) are gonna take the collar come playoff time. Doesn’t feel like the Sox year but maybe they’ll get on a tear here soon.
Will write again soon. In the mean time, stay out of trouble.
-X
August 9th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Cool oath. What if one of the enemies of the constitution just so happens to be the president of the United States? What then? Huh? Just askin’.
August 10th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
To SGT Andres Villareal and SGT Castulo Vera, my most heartfelt congratulations on your recent promotions to NCO’s in the United States Army! This is a singular achievement of which you can be justly proud. One does not reach this level without sacrifice, study, courage, application, determination and a burning desire to succeed. Best wishes for your continuing outstanding service to your country and for your future success.
Sincerely, B. N. Rupard