PA1 Kyle Niemi, writing in Military.com reports on an interesting promotion ceremony in Marine Officer Promoted Aboard Coast Guard Ship:
"If you've never seen a military advancement or promotion ceremony, here's the usual protocol: the member being awarded the next higher rank is brought before their assembled crew. With the senior officer presiding over the ceremony, a citation is read and the individual's new collar devices are attached by the supervisors, peers or family members of his/her choosing. That, with some variation, is the normal routine. So, why would a senior officer in the Marine Corps, a service known for its long history and storied traditions, request to conduct her promotion ceremony aboard a Coast Guard cutter at a Coast Guard base 500 miles from her duty station?"
As the article goes on to point out, Colonel Tate, a Marine (like me) chose to be promoted aboard a cutter because it was named for her grandfather:
"Kate Tate was authorized to be promoted to colonel in September. She decided not to conduct her promotion ceremony at her unit, the 2nd Marine Air Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., where she serves as assistant chief of staff for intelligence. Instead, she would travel to Philadelphia on Sept. 5 and be promoted aboard the Coast Guard Cutter William Tate, a ship named for her great-grandfather."
Congratulations Colonel Tate and Semper Fi.
Link to story: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,115026,00.html