← Military & Defence

Military Promotion Ceremonies

Images capturing emotional moments from military promotions and retirements, highlighting family involvement and the significance of service.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Kaleb Hersey, left, and Fireman Thomas Borden, Station Cleveland Harbor, hug the man they rescued more than one year ago, during a ceremony in the boathouse at Station Cleveland Harbor, Ohio Aug. 29. Hersey and Borden were awarded the Coast Guard Medal for saving the man from a burning car more than one year ago.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Kaleb Hersey, left, and Fireman Thomas Borden, Station Cleveland Harbor, hug the man they rescued more than one year ago, during a ceremony in the boathouse at Station Cleveland Harbor, Ohio Aug. 29. Hersey and Borden were awarded the Coast Guard Medal for saving the man from a burning car more than one year ago.
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The Boise State University Spring 2022 Semester has come to an end for the Bronco Battalion. Several cadets received their commission on Friday, May 6, 2022 with family, friends and fellow cadets celebrating their achievement. In the closing moments of the academic year, plans were placed in motion for the semester to come. While some members of the Bronco Battalion will move on, others will step up to fill their vacant seats at the planning meetings every Friday morning following physical training. The lineage of the Bronco Battalion will continue.
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061103-N-8102J-026. Base: Mayport State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: NAS JACKSONVILLE
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Brig. Gen. Tomika Seaberry poses with friends who traveled to witness her promotion.
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WORCESTER, Mass. - Sgt. Scott Morin, a water treatment specialist of the 125th Quartermaster Company, Massachusetts National Guard, and a Worcester Police Officer, poses with wife Gezell, after receiving the Medal of Honor during the 39th Annual Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery Ceremony at Mechanics Hall, Nov. 1, 2022. The awards were presented by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Security Secretary Terrence Reidy, and family members of Trooper Hanna. (Massachusetts National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Laura Berry)
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Lt. Col. Michael Wetlesen, 4th Security Forces Squadron commander, left, hands off Military Working Dog Mikos leash to Nick Armstrong, Mikos former handler, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, Sept. 26, 2022. Armstrong was previously stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB prior to separating from the military.
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Lt. Cdr. Christopher Bourque relives Lt. Cdr. Jeffrey Shepard as commanding officer of Navy Reserve Center Cheyenne during the change of command ceremony at Wyoming National Guard Joint Forces Readiness Center, Wyoming.
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U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Andrew M. Niebel, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations East (MCIEAST) - Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, awards Mr. Sanders Hall, the outgoing information technology specialist with Communication Strategy and Operations, MCIEAST-MCB Camp Lejeune, the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award on MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 16, 2022. For nearly 16 years, Mr. Hall managed MCIEAST-MCB Camp Lejeune's public web pages and social media pages, while also providing similar support and expertise to tenant commands and military installations across the MCIEAST area of responsibility. Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Hall was specifically credited with managing round-the-clock communications on social media with the base population during severe weather events and leading the effort to provide virtual live-feed productions of public events during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when large gatherings were discouraged. He now manages the Ma
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Maj. Thomas Herron of the 35th Infantry Division, was promoted to his current rank during a ceremony at the Division Headquarters in Leavenworth, Kansas, January 6, 2024. Maj. Herron was promoted by his two children, alongside his wife and parents, including his father, who served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam.
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Spc. Matthew Sellers, Horizontal Engineer for the 207th Engineer Battalion based in Hazard, Ky., shakes hands with Kenna Spears, District Leader for Advance Auto Parts in Salyersville Mar. 3. Kentucky National Guardsmen from Hazard assisted local residents by directing traffic, aiding in search and rescue missions, and handing out supplies. (National Guard
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U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Gallagher, 23rd Mission Support Group commander, poses for a photo with friends and family after a change of command ceremony at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, June 17, 2022. Friends and family attended the change of command to bid farewell to the previous commander and welcome Gallagher.
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On 13 May 2022 at the Fort Dix School House Auditorium the HHC USASA Fort Dix had a Change of Command. The outgoing CDR MAJ William Jolly relinquished Command to MAJ Justin Warrick. Family and Soldiers were present during the ceremony held in the Fort Dix Schoolhouse Auditorium. Comments were made by Base Commander COL John Brierton and MAJ Foster as the narrator of the ceremony. MAJ Jolly has been the HHC Commander for the base shortly after his completion of the General Staff Course at Fort Belvoir. We welcome MAJ Warrick to his new position as the incoming CDR here at the USASA Fort Dix Base. Prior to his arrival at Fort Dix MAJ Warrick had Commanded the 80th Engineer Company, held a position as a Cybersecurity Course Manager, and instructed for the Army National Guard at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. (Photos taken by the Fort Dix TSC Training Support Center)
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U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Nick W. Biggs, outgoing commander, 191st Air Refueling Squadron, shares a moment with his wife at a change of command ceremony June 12, 2022 at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah. Change of commands are rooted in rich military history which allows subordinates to witness the formality of command change from one officer to another.
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President's Call to Service Award ceremony and reception for volunteers at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining the National Park Service's Chief Historian for the Memorial, Daniel Martinez, among the dignitaries on hand
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Official imagery from the memorial services for Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel Woodrow Woody Williams, Medal of Honor recipient, held in Norfolk, Virginia, Friday, July 15, 2022. Born in Quiet Dell, West Virginia in 1923, Williams, 98, was awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while he served as a demolition sergeant serving with the 21st Marines, third Marine Division while fighting Japanese forces on Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945. At the time of his death on June 29, 2022, he was the last living World War II Medal of Honor recipient.
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011116-M-8408L-002. Base: Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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U.S. Army CW5 Timothy Shrewsbury gets promoted from chief warrant officer 4 to chief warrant officer 5 on Fort Drum, NY Jun 24, 2022. The U.S. Army rank of chief warrant officer 5 is called a "unicorn" rank because it is rarely seen in the Army.
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221021-N-ON904-1154 YOKOSUKA, Japan - (Oct. 21, 2022) Families and sponsors pin newly selected chief petty officers during the FY23 Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony for Commander, Submarine Group 7, Defense Service Office (DSO) Pacific, and Commander, Naval Forces Japan held at the CNFJ Auditorium, Oct. 21. Seven Chief Petty Officer Selects were promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer during the ceremony. Each Sailor had their anchors pinned and donned their CPO covers for the first time in front of their fellow CPOs, command leadership, family and friends.
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Col. Eric Stringer, 152nd Medical Group commander, is all smiles as his sons pin on his new rank during his promotion ceremony Aug. 14, 2022 at the Nevada Air National Guard base in Reno.
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U.S. Army CW5 Timothy Shrewsbury gets promoted from chief warrant officer 4 to chief warrant officer 5 on Fort Drum, NY Jun 24, 2022. The U.S. Army rank of chief warrant officer 5 is called a "unicorn" rank because it is rarely seen in the Army.
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VICENZA, Italy - Debora, spouse of Claudio Valentini (right), pins her husband during the Firefighters Badge Ceremony while U.S. Army Garrison Italy Fire Chief Kenneth Helgerson, left, and Directorate of Emergency Services Director Lt. Col. Heath Jenni, center, look on.At the event, held at the Fire Station on Caserma Del Din Jan. 12, 2023, three Italian firefighters who work for the USAG Italy Fire Department were presented their badges after completing their courses in Vicenza. They travelled to Ansbach, Germany for the final testing and evaluations, all in English.
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051117-A-9419D-048. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Lansing State: Michigan (MI) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Participants of the 49th annual Norwegian Exchange, from the Norwegian Heimevernet, or Home Guard, and the Minnesota National Guard, community leaders, buddy weekend host families and distinguished guests joined together for a farewell banquet, April 3, 2022 at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls, Minnesota. During the meal, Norwegian Soldiers modeled the traditional bunard and artist Charles Kapsner presented a gift. (Minnesota National Guard photo by Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh)
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U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets with members of the VFW and VFW Auxiliary Kansas Delegation, in Orlando, Florida on July 22, 2019.
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Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., to view Marine Corps Evening Parade, deliver remarks, and attend reception at the site, a National Historic Landmark
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WASHINGTON, DC (July 14, 2022) - Capt. Mark Burns (right), Naval Support Activity Washington commanding officer, presents Vanessa Aucella (left) with an award in honor of Aucella's selection as Senior Civilian of the Quarter.
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Senior Airman Brad Caruso, 108th Wing, gives a holiday card to a resident as Airmen from 108th Wing and the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, were joined by 47 fourth-graders from the Seaview School in Linwood, N.J., for the 14th Annual Holiday "Songfest" at the Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland, N.J., Dec. 9, 2014. Upon arrival, the 32 Airmen and fourth-graders were issued holiday greeting cards and candy canes, assigned to groups and sent out to spread cheer among the residents.
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020625-A-5399B-141. Base: Fort Hood State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: FORSCOM
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502nd Air Base Wing held an honorary commanders hail and farewell ceremony, March 31, 2023, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. This program promotes mission partner relationships between Joint Base San Antonio and the 502nd Air Base Wing and community leaders throughout the city of San Antonio and surrounding areas.
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President's Call to Service Award ceremony and reception for volunteers at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining the National Park Service's Chief Historian for the Memorial, Daniel Martinez, among the dignitaries on hand
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The 2nd Cavalry Regiment Commander U.S. Army Col. Robert McChrystal and wife stand for a photo at the 2CR War Memorial at Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany, Nov. 23, 2022. The memorial was built in honor of the Dragoons who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
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020211-F-4816B-006. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC
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Kathleen Cortopassi pinned Ronald B. Cortopassi, 30th Space Wing executive director, his retirement pin at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., July 20, 2022.
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Sasan Dunathan, left, a consular chief with the U.S. Consulate General Naha, presents a Certificate of Naturalization to Marine Corps Cpl. Billy Matute, an automotive maintenance technician with 3rd Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, during a naturalization ceremony hosted at the Camp Foster Community Center on Okinawa, Japan, April 25, 2022. A total of 24 U.S. service members from 14 countries swore the Oath of Allegiance and received their Certificates of Naturalization, becoming U.S. citizens. Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen after he or she fulfills the requirements to become a citizen established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
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Col. Jennifer Colvin, NETCOM Chief of Staff and Sgt. 1st Class Lynnise Moore, USA Retired, pose for a photograph during the City of Sierra Vista's 27th Annual Veterans Day Parade. Not only is Lynnise Moore a 22-year veteran she is also a former member of the U.S. Army's Women's Army Corps and one of the first Department of the Army female drill sergeants, who were selected in 1986.
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Col. Cory Damon surprises WWII veteran Katie Conkling with her birthday cake at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Jan. 18, 2024. Sworn in just nine months following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Katie found herself stationed at Hickam Field in Hawaii. She vividly recalls tending to wounded soldiers during her military service. After her time in the military, Katie married a B-26 pilot and became a mother of two. Later in life, she pursued a career as a pilot, engaged in braille transcription, and even took up beekeeping. Katie attributes her strong foundation to her military experience and believes that everyone should have the opportunity to undergo such an experience. As Katie celebrates her 103rd birthday today, we extend our heartfelt wishes and express sincere gratitude for her dedicated service.
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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. greets Janine Sijan before a ceremony for the 2019 to 2022 Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Awards at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., April 3, 2023. The award is named for Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Lance Sijan, who died while being held as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.
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Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, Mississippi, for touring, participation in events highlighting the restoration project--funded jointly by the National Park Service and the Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign, as part of the National Park Centennial Initiative--aimed at replacing interpretive battlefield markers and conserving the array of bronze statuary and stone monuments at the Civil War site. Joining Secretary Kempthorne for the events, including the unveiling of the first group of 22 metal markers identifying the specific locations of various Union and Confederate artillery batteries during the siege and defense of Vicksburg, were National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Chairman John Nau III, and country music star Trace Adkins, among other dignitaries.
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New Jersey State Senator Gordon M. Johnson, left, and U.S. Air Force Col. Yvonne L. Mays, Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey, right, present a letter and coin from Maj. Gen. Lisa J. Hou, D.O., The Adjutant General of New Jersey, to Alger Stone, one of the 10 residents at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus, New Jersey, who recently marked their 100th, and in one case, 105th birthday, Feb. 29, 2024. Stone served as a staff sergeant with Company I, 379th Infantry Regiment, 95th Division, in the European Theater of Operations. He served in operations at Liege, Auchen, Cologne, Dortmund, Hamm, Beckum, and the Battle of the Bulge. By wars end, Stone had risen to the rank of second lieutenant. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge; Sharpshooter Badge; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars; Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. In addition, Stone received letters of commendation from G
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A new helicopter training landing pad at Muir Army Airfield is dedicated to Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Ruffner and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jarett Yoder during a ceremony in the Aviation Maintenance Instruction Building here.The two pilots were killed April 9, 2013 when the AH-64 Apache helicopter they were flying crashed during a flight mission in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. They were serving on a combat deployment with Bravo Company, 1-104th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade during Operation Enduring Freedom.
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030118-F-9032T-022. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: CENTCOM
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U.S. Marine Corps Col. Mark Bortnem, commanding officer, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort awards Gary Sinise, actor and musician, the Gary Sinise Foundation, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal after performing a free concert with the Lt. Dan Band at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, Feb. 23, 2024. The Lt. Dan Band, part of the Gary Sinise Foundation, honors active duty military and veterans through outreach programs and concerts. Marine Corps
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MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn.- Elliott Crabtree, age 7, was chosen to be "Pilot for a Day" here. Crabtree got to tour different facilities around the base and meet Airmen from the 134th ARW. (Air National Guard photo by: Staff Sgt. Melissa Dearstone)
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The U.S. Air Forces in Europe Ambassadors Rock Band performs at the Municipal Center of Culture and Art in Oleśnica, Poland, Oct. 13, 2022. Through music, the USAFE Band serves as a bridge to increase our cultural ties and enrich the partnerships between the U.S. and Poland.
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The U.S. Air Forces in Europe Ambassadors Rock Band performs at Bielskie Centrum Kultury in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, Oct. 17, 2022. The USAFE Band partnered with the U.S. Consulate-Krakow to travel across southern Poland from Oct 11-20, 2022, conducting performances that celebrated the shared spirit of freedom and enduring friendship between the U.S. and Poland. By transcending language and cultural barriers through the universal power of music, military bands promote peace, build relationships, and strengthen unity among people.
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220520-N-RU672-0049 PORT HUENEME, Calif. (May 20, 2022) Master-at-Arms 1st Class Stephanie Durazo, assigned to Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) force protection, presents her son with a gift during her retirement ceremony at the Seabee Chapel. NBVC is a strategically located Naval installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2C Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 80 tenants.
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Mr. Mervyn Kersh, a British World War II veteran who served with the 17th Vehicle Company, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, talks to U.S. Army Spc. Kristen Murray, a Soldier assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), during a meet and greet with World War II veterans and Soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Veghel, Netherlands, Sept. 15, 2022. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) honors World War II veterans who demonstrated selfless service and sacrifice that characterizes the Greatest Generation in defense of global peace and security.
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Tripler Commanding Officer, Col. Bill Soliz
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A service member listens to a hiring manager describe job openings during a Hiring Our Heroes event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Sept 15.