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Military Graduation Ceremonies

Photographs from various military graduation events, capturing award presentations and celebrations of service members' achievements and retirements.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Bellon, Commander, Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces South, and Col. Garret Miller, former Assistant Chief of Staff of Facilities, MARFORRES, pose for a photo with Millers Certificate of Retirement at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 5, 2024. Miller retired after 28 years of honorable service. Bellon is a native of Saint Louis, Missouri, and a graduate of Chaminade College Preparatory School. Miller is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and a graduate of Charlotte Christian High School.
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Bellon, Commander, Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces South, and Col. Garret Miller, former Assistant Chief of Staff of Facilities, MARFORRES, pose for a photo with Millers Certificate of Retirement at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 5, 2024. Miller retired after 28 years of honorable service. Bellon is a native of Saint Louis, Missouri, and a graduate of Chaminade College Preparatory School. Miller is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and a graduate of Charlotte Christian High School.
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Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent Neiman, an aviation survival technician, is presented an Air Medal by Rear Adm. Richard V. Timme, commander, Coast Guard District Eight, during an award ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Texas, Aug. 19, 2022. Neiman was presented the medal for his role in rescuing nine trapped crew members from the Pride Wisconsin, a decommissioned mobile offshore drilling unit that caught fire in Sabine Pass, Texas, on Feb. 24, 2022.
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United States Army Garrison Yongsan-Casey Command Sgt. Maj. Wayne Butterbrodt, 1-17th Infantry Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua Weiss, 31 soldiers and KATUSAs participate in the Noncommissioned Officers Corps Induction Ceremony held at the Camp Casey Theatre, March 30, 2023. The inductees were soldiers and KATUSAs from USAG Caseys Headquarters and Headquarters Company, the Charlie Detachment of the 176th Financial Management Support Unit, and the 2nd Battalion2nd Aviation Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. The NCO Induction Ceremony celebrates newly promoted soldiers joining the noncommissioned officer corps.
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020823-A-7315T-001. Base: Fort Polk State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: FORSCOM
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LGEN Ernest D. Peixotto, comptroller of the Army, presents the Legion of Merit to LCOL Thomas S. Raley, program manager for Economics, Efficiencies, and Management Improvements, at the Pentagon. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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220420-A-BS696-2786CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.Col. Rick Allbritton, commander, Letterkenny Army Depot, and Todd Black, deputy to the commander, present Christopher Groft, equipment specialist, with the Department of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal in recognition of being named LEADs General Schedule Employee of the Quarter for the first quarter during a virtual awards ceremony at the depot April 20.
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CRYSTAL CITY, VA. (Mar. 31, 2022) - Mr. Robert Fookes, the F-35 Joint Program Office Director of Engineering and a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) poses for a picture with Republic of Koreas (ROK) Brigadier General Kim, Jong-Tae, Director General, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, during an office call in Crystal City, Virginia, March 31, 2022. Brig. Gen. Kim expressed his appreciation and gratitude for JPOs unwavering support in delivering all 40 of their F35As. In addition, Brig. Gen. Kim also shared Koreas priorities for their F-35 Program to include the path forward for AW-17, Block 4 Upgrade, the potential F-35 follow-on buy, and continued JPO support. The ELT assured Korea that the F-35 JPO would provide its full support and efforts to those priorities. The F-35 Joint Program Office is the Department of Defense's focal point for the 5th generation strike aircraft for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and our allies. The F-35 is the premier multi-mission, 5th g
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Chief Master Sgt. Touhid Akash (center), 75th Communications and Information Directorate, poses with Col. Peter Feng (left), 75th Air Base Wing vice commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Raymond Riley, 75th ABW command chief, during the Chief Induction Ceremony May 14, 2022, in Layton, Utah. Only 1% of the entire enlisted force will earn the rank of chief.
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Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho and commander of the Idaho National Guard, and Idaho Governor Brad Little present Michelle Hartley with the Idaho Distinguished Service Medal and a commendation from Little at the Idaho State Capitol Building, June 27, 2022, Boise, Idaho. Hartley retired after 38 years of distinguished service to the State of Idaho.
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U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Sean Kaspar, career recruiter for Eastern Recruiting Region, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, wins the Sentinel Award, Beaufort, South Carolina, Oct. 13, 2022. The Civitas Awards, hosted by the Beauforts Regional Chamber of Commerce, selected Kaspar as the winner of the Sentinel Award, for outstanding military citizenship.
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University of Oklahomas ROTC cadets presented Brig. Gen. Andrew Preston, commandant, Field Artillery School, with a football after he gave the keynote address during their commissioning ceremony May 13 2022.
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WASHINGTON (March 1, 2016) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus, second from left, presents the Medal of Honor citation to Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Edward C. Byers Jr. during a Hall of Heroes induction ceremony Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at the Pentagon Auditorium. Also present are, from left, Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work, Byers' wife, Madison Byers, and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson. Byers was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama for his actions during a hostage rescue operation in Afghanistan in December 2012.
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Ho-Chunk Nation President Marlon WhiteEagle and Fort McCoy Garrison Commander Col. Michael Poss have their photo taken May 10, 2022, with a signed memorandum of understanding between the Ho-Chunk Nation and Fort McCoy during a special signing ceremony for the memorandum/agreement in Black River Falls, Wis. This memorandum of understanding between the Ho-Chunk Nation and Fort McCoy represents Fort McCoys assumption of the U.S. Armys legal responsibility under multiple federal laws and presidential executive orders to protect natural, historic, and sacred places with traditional religious and cultural importance to all Native American peoples, but especially those of the Ho Chunk Nation, on whos aboriginal territory the Fort McCoy military installation is now located.
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LGEN Thomas A. Schwartz, Commanding General, III Corps Command Fort Hood, and MGEN Amos Malka, Commanding General Israeli Ground Corps, exchange gifts of appreciation upon the conclusion of Future Battlefield Conference '97. Subject Operation/Series: FUTURE BATTLEFIELD CONFERENCE '97. Base: Fort Hood State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., right, poses with Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force Gen. Park Inho after a meeting at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., April 6, 2022. Brown and Park discussed regional security and partnership between their services.
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CRYSTAL CITY, VA. (Sep. 12, 2022) - Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, F-35 Joint Program Executive Officer, meets with Mr. Mervyn Tan, Singapore Defence Science and Technology Agency (DTSA) Chief Executive during an office call in Crystal City, VA., Sep. 12, 2022. The F-35 Joint Program Office is the Department of Defense's focal point for the 5th generation strike aircraft for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and our allies. The F-35 is the premier multi-mission, 5th generation weapon system. Its ability to collect, analyze and share data is a force multiplier that enhances all assets in the battle-space: with stealth technology, advanced sensors, weapons capacity, and range. The F-35, which has been operational since July of 2015, is the most lethal, survivable, and interoperable fighter aircraft ever built. (Photo by America Henry-Wingo/Released)
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U.S. Army Col. Andrew OConnor, Deputy Chief of Staff of Personnel for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, is promoted from Lieutenant Colonel during a ceremony in his honor at the Fort Indiantown Gap Community Club, Feb. 3, 2023.
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930201-D-9880W-003. Base: Pentagon State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Veterans' Employment and Training Service - Assistant Secretary Veterans Employment Meet and Greet
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Francisco Roman Jr., a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and now a police officer with the San Diego Police Department, poses for a photo after his Purple Heart medal award ceremony held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 23, 2024. This ceremony honored Roman Jr.s sacrifice during his deployment to Ramadi, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. Roman Jr. was recruited out of New Jersey.
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U.S. Army Paratrooper Sgt. Joskanny J. Lua, assigned to 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173RD Airborne Brigade walks through the NCO archway during the NCO Induction ceremony at Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy, Nov. 30, 2022. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.
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Medium shot, front view, a bronze and granite marker dedicating the new CHIEF MASTER Sergeant Louis Williams Leadership School, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina is unveiled by CMSGT (Retired) Louis Williams (center), assisted by Colonel (Brigadier General Select) Richard J. Casey, USAF, Commander, 43rd Airlift Wing (left), and MASTER Sergeant Dave Zentmeyer, USAF, AIRMAN Leadership School Flight CHIEF (right), 21 January 2000. CMSGT Williams was the first commandant of the Non Commissioned Officers Preparatory School established in a Pope AFB, WWII barracks in 1962. Base: Pope Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Melissa Sims, 97th Air Mobility Wing historian, poses for a photo at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Sept. 12, 2022. Sims was awarded the Air Education and Training Command Air Force Heritage Award for outstanding performance throughout the wing.
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PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 6, 2022) - Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday meets with Indias Chief of the Naval Staff Adm. R. Hari Kumar aboard the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183) at sea, Nov. 6. This engagement was one of many held during the International Fleet Review and Western Pacific Naval Symposium.
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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. poses with Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hiyasat, commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force, after a meeting at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., June 30, 2022. Brown and Hiyasat discussed partnership between their services.