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What are your thoughts on having a Military Retirement Ceremony?
What are your thoughts on having a Military Retirement Ceremony?
I am in the middle of planning for my Retirement Ceremony after 32 years of service (See below):
First, I would like to start off by saying that I have never been a Ceremony kind of NCO. I do believe in military traditions and think they are important but never given much thought about my own military retirement ceremony, until now. With that said, I was hoping to slide on into retirement quietly and forgo the formalities of a Military Retirement Ceremony.
However, the option of a Sergeant Major at a 4-star command with 32 years of service to just go out quietly was not realistic. To be honest, I have mentioned the idea some senior leaders whom I respect and there advice was not to pass on a ceremony. This made me realize that the ceremony is not for service member as it is for the family and teammates to have an opportunity to celebrate one’s career and sacrifice.
Today, I am grateful, to have taken the advice and although I am still not a fan of ceremonies. I feel very blessed to able share this moment with family, teammates and colleges.
What are your thoughts on Military retirement Ceremonies?
I am still looking for ideas on Retirement Ceremony venues, shadow boxes, receptions, ect. If anyone has any interesting stories they would like to post, please feel free!
Additionally, if you happen to be in the Tampa area around the 5th of October below is the link:
Teammates, Friends and Colleges,
You are invited to celebrate the retirement ceremony of SGM Gregory Tarancon IV and Family.
Please follow the link below to view your invitation and reply:
https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=410858&k=066042017E5F
It would be an honor to have you join us on this day! De Oppresso Liber!
What are your thoughts on having a Military Retirement Ceremony?
I am in the middle of planning for my Retirement Ceremony after 32 years of service (See below):
First, I would like to start off by saying that I have never been a Ceremony kind of NCO. I do believe in military traditions and think they are important but never given much thought about my own military retirement ceremony, until now. With that said, I was hoping to slide on into retirement quietly and forgo the formalities of a Military Retirement Ceremony.
However, the option of a Sergeant Major at a 4-star command with 32 years of service to just go out quietly was not realistic. To be honest, I have mentioned the idea some senior leaders whom I respect and there advice was not to pass on a ceremony. This made me realize that the ceremony is not for service member as it is for the family and teammates to have an opportunity to celebrate one’s career and sacrifice.
Today, I am grateful, to have taken the advice and although I am still not a fan of ceremonies. I feel very blessed to able share this moment with family, teammates and colleges.
What are your thoughts on Military retirement Ceremonies?
I am still looking for ideas on Retirement Ceremony venues, shadow boxes, receptions, ect. If anyone has any interesting stories they would like to post, please feel free!
Additionally, if you happen to be in the Tampa area around the 5th of October below is the link:
Teammates, Friends and Colleges,
You are invited to celebrate the retirement ceremony of SGM Gregory Tarancon IV and Family.
Please follow the link below to view your invitation and reply:
https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=410858&k=066042017E5F
It would be an honor to have you join us on this day! De Oppresso Liber!
Retirement
Ceremony
Special Forces
Special Operations
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 63
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Congratulations, SGM Gregory Tarancon IV! I think retirement ceremonies are good for all concerned. The retiree gets to bring closure to what was hopefully a long and fruitful career. Others then have a goal to which they may aspire.
When I retired, the opposite occurred. I shook hands with a few guys in Arlington, VA, got on a plane, and came home. Almost a year later, I received the Defense MSM in the mail with a sticky note, saying “sorry it took so long” to get the medal to me. Frankly, after 28 years of service, it stung just a little. I got over it though.
Be glad you’re being recognized. To me, your career is worthy of recognition.
LTC Stephen F. COL Mikel J. Burroughs
When I retired, the opposite occurred. I shook hands with a few guys in Arlington, VA, got on a plane, and came home. Almost a year later, I received the Defense MSM in the mail with a sticky note, saying “sorry it took so long” to get the medal to me. Frankly, after 28 years of service, it stung just a little. I got over it though.
Be glad you’re being recognized. To me, your career is worthy of recognition.
LTC Stephen F. COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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PO1 Dennis Herdina
The ceremony for my retirement honestly was a blur just another damn thing to go thru. It did not really dawn on me what I was doing until I crossed the quarterdeck while being piped over the side. I stood there at first wondering what the hell do I do now? Then it dawned on me what had happened. The ceremony itself meant more to my mother and youngest sister. (My father was dead). It felt strange to me..I was starting a new life. 2 weeks later I got 2 videos in the mail of my retirement ceremony that another corpsman shot for me..I still watch them once a year on anniversary of my retirement. My mother and sister realized this was a special day for me and that for my mom it was something important..I was the oldest and first child to leave home..mom saw me off on the bus to boot camp and saw my retirement 26 years later to her it was extremely important. Have your retirement ceremony I advise you...when it happens it will seem too quick to have happened and it will be a blur but later it will become a special memory and will be part of your shadow box.
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COL Jon Lopey
LTC Stephens. Great points. I had an informal retirement when I left the reserves and it was a great ceremony and the officers and NCOs gave me a sword. To this day I cherish that memory. I too received a retirement award 2-years after I left the service but at least I got it and I had to send it back twice because they made so many mistakes on my certificate. I think you gave a great response and I agree, you have one shot at it and you might as well go out with a bang and, at the same time, thank all whose contributions, from family to mentors, made you a success. Thank you... Jon (COL L)
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Don't do it because it's a military tradition. Do it for yourself and those close to you. I didn't want a ceremony. Thought I would successfully slip away, but the CG made me bring my family to the flagpole outside HQ one morning. It was a small ceremony with colleagues -- outdoors, no chairs. No invitations or cakes. Nice framed guidon, with handwritten notes from everyone on the back. Several weeks later, I received two CDs with lots of great pictures. They mean more to me each year. Try to enjoy it. It will be bittersweet -- the best cocktail of emotion. Congratulations!
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I think it is important for all of our retired warriors and it should be a Command Responsibility to make sure it happens. That is just my personal opinion. Thanks for the post and your thoughts SGM Gregory Tarancon IV
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SFC Jim Ruether
I agree Colonel Burroughs that this should be done by the individuals staff or command staff in this case with 30 + years of service this is remarkable SGM Terancon should be recognized formally and of course informally for his achievements.
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COL Jon Lopey
Mikel: Great points as usual...! In my old unit we used to hold gatherings at a local pub and made presentations to the retiree or departing Soldier if he or she was not inclined to have a formal ceremony. I had and probably the most treasuring possession I have is the Civil War Era sword the Soldiers gave me because they knew I was a history buff. Thanks for the great response! Jon
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LCDR (Join to see)
My first real experience with that point was when the chief's mess dropped the ball on ensuring an ATC (and one of the best maintenance controllers we had) got a proper send-off. They accepted it when he said he was good without a ceremony.
When the MMCO (LCDR and a prior Senior Chief) found out, he lost his mind. He made sure it happened. As a fairly new officer, it taught me two things:
1. The chief's mess didn't have it together like I always thought they did when I was enlisted.
2. This is how an officer makes sure his Sailors are taken care of.
Both have stuck with me.
When the MMCO (LCDR and a prior Senior Chief) found out, he lost his mind. He made sure it happened. As a fairly new officer, it taught me two things:
1. The chief's mess didn't have it together like I always thought they did when I was enlisted.
2. This is how an officer makes sure his Sailors are taken care of.
Both have stuck with me.
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