Parades and Honors Arrivals or Departures

Parades and Honors — Arrivals/Departures and Award Ceremony

Large Ceremony Categories

Large Ceremony Types

Ceremonies may be held when officials entitled to such honors visit military installations, such as:

Parades
Honor cordons
Motorcades
Other ceremonies that involve large numbers of Airmen and resources

Full Honors

Full Honors Eligibility

Full honors are reserved for:

Statutory appointees
General or Flag Officers
Foreign dignitaries
Occasions when ceremonies promote international good will

Authority

Installation Cmdr Authority

The installation commander determines which types of honors are rendered.

Award Ceremony

Award Ceremony Purpose

An award ceremony affords an opportunity to recognize a member's accomplishments.

Format Decision

Format Authority

The commander or other official determines whether to:

Present an award at a formal ceremony, OR
Present it informally

Common Setting

Commander's Call Award

Many units present awards during commander's call.

No Specific Guidelines

Commander Discretion

Because there are NO specific guidelines for an award presentation, commanders and supervisors must ensure the presentation method reflects the significance of the award.

Parades and Honors — Decoration, Promotion, and Reenlistment Ceremonies

Decoration Ceremony

Decoration Purpose

Decoration ceremonies formally recognize service members for:

Meritorious service
Outstanding achievement
Heroism

Why Formal

Formal Preserves Integrity

Formal and dignified decoration ceremonies preserve the integrity and value of decorations.

Commander Personal Presentation

Commander Should Personally

When possible, commanders should personally present decorations.

Timing

Earliest Possible Date

Regardless of where the presentation is conducted, the ceremony is conducted at the earliest possible date after approval of the decoration.

Uniform

Decoration Uniform

All military participants and attendees should wear the uniform specified by the host.

Promotion Ceremony

Promotion Significance

Promotions are significant events in the lives of military people.

Recognition Responsibility

Cmdr/Supv Responsibility

Commanders and supervisors are responsible for ensuring their personnel receive proper recognition.

Same as Decoration Guidelines

Promotion = Decoration Guidelines

Many of the guidelines for promotion ceremonies are the same as for decoration ceremonies.

Customary Timing

Last Duty Day Before

Because most promotions are effective the first day of the month, the promotion ceremony is customarily conducted on the last duty day before the promotion effective date.

Base-Wide vs. Organizational

Base-wide vs Organizational

Some bases hold a base-wide promotion for all promotees, while other bases prefer to recognize promotees within their organizations.

Reenlistment Ceremony

Reenlistment Honor

Unit commanders will honor all reenlistees through a dignified reenlistment ceremony.

Officer Selection

Any Officer/Guests

Airmen may request any commissioned officer to perform the ceremony and may invite guests.

Family Invitation

Family Invitation Reasoning

The member's immediate family should be invited to reinforce the recognition that when a member makes a commitment to the USAF, the family is also making a commitment.

Location Flexibility

Place Flexibility

The ceremony may be conducted in any place that lends dignity to the event.

Flag as Backdrop

Flag Backdrop

The United States flag has traditionally served, and should be used when available, as a backdrop for reenlistment ceremonies.

Uniform Requirements

Reenlistees and officers administering the oath must wear an authorized uniform for the ceremony.

Retired Officer Exception

Unless the officer performing the reenlistment is retired, then the uniform requirement for the reenlisting officer is optional.

Reference

Reenlistment Reference

DAF policy concerning reenlistments is found in DAFI 36-2606, *Reenlistment and Extension of Enlistment in the United States Air Force*.