Posted on Mar 3, 2015
If you got the chance to recommend what the Battalion Commander said at his Change of Command speech...what would it be?
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It has been 2 amazing years as the Commander of 1-14 Cavalry. The Troopers here are representatives of the best that the United States has offered on the plate of sacrifice to the ideals that make this nation great. Now I have to sum all this up in a change of command speech and it sickens me every time some douche-waffle gets up there and recites his last 2 OER's so everyone knows how great he is. You're in formation...what do you want to hear that would actually make standing at parade rest for 30 minutes worth a damn?
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Change of Command
Ceremony
Public Speaking
Freedom of Speech
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 38
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Some thoughts/recommendations on BN change of command outgoing speech.
- Clear, concise, and accurate. Don't use five words when one word will suffice.
- It is about the formation, not about you. Therefore talk about the formation.
- Talk big picture unit accomplishments then provide little picture examples. Use Soldier names and anecdotes where possible. This draws in both the Soldiers and their families. For example the outstanding 1SG and how he/she contributed, the Soldier who was awarded the Soldier's Medal and why, the LT who you want your parents to meet, etc.
- Be humble personally but talk like a proud parent when it comes to the formation.
- If you talk for more than 10 minutes then you have not been concise enough. Brevity has a quality all its own.
- Clear, concise, and accurate. Don't use five words when one word will suffice.
- It is about the formation, not about you. Therefore talk about the formation.
- Talk big picture unit accomplishments then provide little picture examples. Use Soldier names and anecdotes where possible. This draws in both the Soldiers and their families. For example the outstanding 1SG and how he/she contributed, the Soldier who was awarded the Soldier's Medal and why, the LT who you want your parents to meet, etc.
- Be humble personally but talk like a proud parent when it comes to the formation.
- If you talk for more than 10 minutes then you have not been concise enough. Brevity has a quality all its own.
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Sir, you said: "You're in formation...what do you want to hear that would actually make standing at parade rest for 30 minutes worth a damn?"
My first thought:
"Beer is on me"
My first thought:
"Beer is on me"
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Capt (Join to see)
Exactly! All he needs to say is "Thanks for the work and the memories! There beer's over there."
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LCDR (Join to see)
I had a change-of-command like that once, and it was awesome. 15 minutes of the outgoing CO talking about his family and his successor, 15 minutes of the incoming CO talking about his friend who was onward to do bigger things and what he saw for the unit going forward. It was all followed by free sandwiches, cake, and beer. (Sodas for the non-inclined.) It was pretty nice, and remains the only change-of-command that didn't make me want to pry my eyes out with a fork.
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