XXX SQUADRON
CHANGE OF COMMAND
DD MMM YY
AS OF: DD MMM YY
LOCATION: XXXX, Charleston AFB
DATE AND TIME: DD MMM YY/TTTT
PARTICIPANTS: Officiator’s Rank/Name, Title
Outgoing Commander’s Rank/Name
Incoming Commander’s Rank/Name
XXXX, chaplain
XXXX, narrator
XXXX, award bearer / stage assistant
XXXX, guidon bearer
XXXX, singer
XXXX, escort/usher
XXXX, escort/usher
XXXX, escort/usher
XXXX, escort/usher
Honor Guard
PROJECT OFFICER: Rank/Name, Title, Phone Number
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
Opening Remarks
Arrival of Official Party
Posting of Colors
National Anthem
Invocation
Remarks
Award presentation
Remarks
Change of Command
Remarks
Benediction (**Optional**)
Air Force Song
Departure of Official Party
Closing Remarks
Reception
PRE-CEREMONY
1330 Official party (names of official party) briefed by XXXX in (meeting/waiting room)
1335 Honor Guard and flight are in position, at ease.
1345 Narrator proceeds to the podium.
1350 Flight and Honor Guard come to parade rest.
1355 Immediate family of incoming and outgoing commanders escorted to ballroom.
1400 Protocol cues narrator to begin ceremony.
OPENING REMARKS/ARRIVAL FANFARE
Narrator GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WELCOME TO THIS VERY SPECIAL OCCASION AS WE RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP FOR THE 437th XXXX Squadron FROM OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME TO INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME. THE OFFICIATOR FOR TODAY’S CEREMONY IS TITLE OF OFFICIATOR, OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME. I AM NARRATOR’S RANK/NAME AND WILL BE THE NARRATOR FOR TODAY. AS A REMINDER, PLEASE TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES AND PAGERS AT THIS TIME. TO HELP RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS CEREMONY, WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY A NUMBER OF SPECIAL AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. PLEASE HOLD ALL APPLAUSE UNTIL INTRODUCTIONS ARE COMPLETED:
SPECIAL GUESTS FOR OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME ARE...
(PAUSE)
List family members first followed by friends.
______
SPECIAL GUESTS FOR INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME ARE … (PAUSE)
List family members first followed by friends
______
OTHER DISTINGUISHED GUESTS INCLUDE
List all DV’s who have R.s.v.p-ed in order of the Introductions & Seating located under the Rosters/Key Information heading on the website.
FINALLY, WE WELCOME COMMANDERS, CHIEFS, 1ST SERGEANTS, MEMBERS OF THE 437TH XXXXXXXX GROUP and members of team charleston WHO HAVE TAKEN TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY DAY TO SHARE IN THIS SPECIAL OCCASION. (PAUSE FOR APPLAUSE)
FROM ANCIENT TIMES, ARMIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HAVE CONDUCTED CEREMONIES TO COMMEMORATE VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY, TO HONOR COMRADES IN ARMS, AND TO CELEBRATE SPECIAL OCCASIONS SUCH AS THE CHANGE OF COMMAND.
HISTORY REVEALS THAT IN THE MIDDLE AGES IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE SOLDIERS IN THE FIELD TO BE UNAWARE OF WHOM THEIR COMMANDERS WERE OR WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE. THE FORMAL CHANGE OF COMMAND AFFORDED THESE SOLDIERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS THE PROCEEDINGS AND ACTUALLY SEE THEIR COMMANDERS.
THE CONTINENTAL ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES CONDUCTED THE FIRST OFFICIAL CEREMONIES IN AMERICA. THIS WAS THE BASIS FROM WHICH THE PRESENT CEREMONY IS DERIVED.
TODAY, THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE CHANGE OF COMMAND IS TO ALLOW SUBORDINATES TO WITNESS THE FORMAL TRANSFER OF TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY, AUTHORITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ONE OFFICER TO ANOTHER. THESE
CEREMONIES HAVE ADDED COLOR AND PAGEANTRY TO MILITARY LIFE WHILE PRESERVING TRADITION AND
STIMULATING ESPRIT-DE-CORPS."
Singer Proceeds to podium
Narrator “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE POSTING OF THE COLORS AND THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BY XXXX.”
Flight CC Comes to attention and commands over right shoulder:
“FLIGHT…ATTENTION”
Remains at attention.
Official Party Enters room, proceeds to center stage, faces audience on command of rear person (incoming CC) and remains standing at attention in front of their chairs.
ADVANCEMENT OF COLORS/NATIONAL ANTHEM/INVOCATION
Honor Guard Proceeds to position in front of stage and faces the audience, then presents arms.
Singer Sings National Anthem, returns to seat.
Honor Guard At the conclusion of the National Anthem, Honor Guard will post colors and leave the room.
Narrator “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS CHAPLAIN XXXX DELIVERS THE INVOCATION.”
Flight CC As the chaplain moves to the podium, commands over right shoulder:
“PARADE…REST”
Assumes parade rest.
Chaplain Delivers invocation when the flight is at parade rest, then returns to seat.
Narrator “PLEASE BE SEATED.”
REMARKS
Narrator “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME.”
Officiator Proceeds to podium, makes remarks and moves into position in front of the US flag.
AWARD PRESENTATION
Outgoing CC Stands and moves into position to Officiator’s left.
Narrator “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING AS OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME PRESENTS THE XXXX MEDAL TO OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME .
Flight CC Comes to attention and commands over right shoulder:
“FLIGHT…ATTENTION”
Remains at attention.
Narrator: “ATTENTION TO ORDERS. CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE XXXX, TO XXXX …. THE SINGULARLY DISTINCTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF XXXX REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.”
Award bearer As citation is being read, proceeds to Officiator’s left with award and medal
At conclusion of award narrative, OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME and OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME both face center. OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME receives the award and medal, clips medal on OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME uniform and pause for photographs with both holding award folder. They shake hands, OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME takes award folder, and exchange salutes. OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME returns to his chair.
Narrator “EVERYONE, PLEASE BE SEATED.”
Flight CC As OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME returns to seat, flight CC commands over right shoulder:
“PARADE…REST”
Assumes parade rest
Narrator “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, (PAUSE) OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME”
OUTGOING CC Proceeds to podium and completes remarks. Cues stage assistant to get flowers.
Stage Assistant Presents Flowers to ______.
OUTGOING CC Moves into position on stage, facing the center of the flight.
Narrator “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE 437th XXXX WOULD LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME WITH A FINAL SALUTE.”
Flight CC Comes to attention, and commands over right shoulder:
“FLIGHT…ATTENTION” (pause)
“PRESENT…ARMS”
Squadron presents arms
OUTGOING CC Returns salute
Flight CC Orders arms, and commands over right shoulder:
“ORDER…ARMS”
Remains at attention.
Narrator “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE FOR THE CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY.”
As the narrator begins to speak, guidon bearer moves to stage and removes flag from base and pauses while officiating party takes place on center stage. OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME is on stage right, OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME on stage center, INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME is on stage left.
Narrator: “ONE OF THE OLDEST MILITARY TRADITIONS IS THE PASSING OF A UNIT FLAG SYMBOLIZING THE PASSING OF AUTHORITY FROM THE OUTGOING COMMANDER TO THE NEW COMMANDER WHICH WE WILL WITNESS HERE TODAY.”
Flag Bearer: Brings flag forward and moves into position between and behind OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME and OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME .
OFFICIATOR States “PUBLISH THE ORDER” upon flag bearer reaching position
CHANGE OF COMMAND
Narrator “ATTENTION TO ORDERS. UNDER PROVISIONS OF AIR FORCE SPECIAL ORDER XXXX, , INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE 437th XXXX FROM OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME , EFFECTIVE DD MMM YY”
OFFICIATOR COMMANDS, “CENTER FACE.”
OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME executes left face. OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME and , INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME executes right face.
OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME salutes OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME and states, “SIR, I relinquish command.” They exchange salutes, then OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME takes the guidon from the bearer, hands it to OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME and takes one side step to the right and two steps back, then one step to the left (now behind INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME ). INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME takes two steps forward while OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME is taking two steps back.
INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME receives guidon from OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME and passes it to bearer. INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME salutes and states, “SIR, I assume command.” OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME returns salute. Guidon bearer returns guidon to base and departs stage to original position.
OFFICIATOR COMMANDS, “READY FRONT.”
Official party faces back towards the audience. OFFICIATOR’S RANK/NAME and OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME take their seats.
Narrator “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE SEATED.”
Flight CC As everyone begins taking their seats commands over right shoulder:
“PARADE…REST”
Assumes parade rest.
Narrator “THE COMMANDER, 437th XXXX, INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME”
INCOMING CC Proceeds to the podium and gives remarks. Returns to center stage but remains standing.
Narrator “THE 437th XXXX WOULD LIKE TO RENDER INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME HIS FIRST SALUTE.”
Flight CC Comes to attention, and commands over right shoulder:
“FLIGHT…ATTENTION” (pause)
“PRESENT…ARMS”
Squadron presents arms
INCOMING CC Returns salute
Flight CC Orders arms, and commands over right shoulder:
“ORDER…ARMS”
Flight CC Commands over right shoulder:
“PARADE…REST”
Assumes parade rest.
INCOMING CC Takes his seat.
Narrator “THE MEMBERS OF THE 437th XXXX ARE VERY DELIGHTED TO HAVE INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME AND HIS WIFE, XXXX JOIN OUR FAMILY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MRS. XXXX WITH THESE FLOWERS.”
Escort Presents Mrs. XXXX with flowers.
Narrator “THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 437th XXXX EXTEND THEIR BEST WISHES TO OUTGOING CC’S RANK/NAME AND HIS/HER FAMILY AS HE/SHE TAKES ON NEW CHALLENGES. WE ALSO WELCOME INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME AND HIS/HER FAMILY AS HE/SHE ASSUMES HIS/HER NEW DUTIES AS SQUADRON COMMANDER.
**BENEDICTION OPTIONAL**
Narrator “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE AS CHAPLAIN XXXX DELIVERS THE BENEDICTION, AND REMAIN STANDING for the SINGING of the air force song and the departure of the official party. tHE WORDS TO THE AIR FORCE SONG ARE PRINTED ON THE BACK OF YOUR PROGRAM.”
Chaplain Delivers benediction when the flight is at parade rest, then returns to seat.
Flight CC IMMEDIATELY AFTER BENEDICTION - Comes to attention and commands over right shoulder:
“FLIGHT…ATTENTION”
Remains at attention.
AIR FORCE SONG/DEPARTURE
Air Force song is played.
Official party departs at the conclusion of the first verse of the Air Force song, escorting their family from the room.
CLOSING REMARKS
Narrator “THIS CONCLUDES TODAY’S CEREMONY. WE THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING AND INVITE YOU TO A RECEPTION AT XXXX HONORING INCOMING CC’S RANK/NAME AND HIS/HER FAMILY. HAVE A GREAT DAY!”
Flight CC Executes an about face and commands:
“DISMISSED”
Flight does an about face and falls out.
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