What is a Change of Command?

Today at a change of command for a Coast Guard friend, our pastor’s wife asked me if I’d ever attended one before.

“Frequently for 20 years,” I said.

Changes of commands are part of the military ritual and I enjoyed today’s very much.

Most of my civilian friends, however, didn’t know what I what I was talking about.

A change of command is exactly what it says it is–changing the officer responsible for a unit for the next officer responsible for the unit.

The program explained in a little more detail:

The Change of Command is a formal, time-honoring ceremony conducted before the assembled members of a command. It formally restates the continuing authority of that command.

This ceremony is a transfer of total responsibility for the unit and crew from one individual to another.

Aside from its legal connotations, the change of command affords members of the command, guests and the community at large the opportunity to recognize the achievements and service of the Commanding Officer, while welcoming aboard the Prospective Commanding Officer.

At the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Petaluma on July 15, Captain Charles Fosse handed over the command to Captain Paul Flynn.

Official Ceremonies

Like most military ceremonies, a change of command traditionally starts with a color guard bringing in the flag, followed by the National Anthem.

On this beautiful day, I listened with my eyes closed, feeling a surge of patriotic pride for what my friends in the military have accomplished during their tenures.

After an invocation by a military chaplain, the outgoing and incoming commanding officers inspected their men.

They paused to shake hands with the senior enlisted men.

A senior officer oversaw the ceremony, Rear Admiral David G. Throop.

Admiral Throop knew both men well and he told a few stories. He presented Capt. Fosse, the outgoing commanding officer, with a citation of merit.

Capt. Fosse thanked a long list of distinguished guests for attending the ceremony. He worked through a list of senior military officers, local

dignitaries, family members, and friends.

Guests

Particularly impressive to me, because I was sitting with them, were the four people who had given long service to their country during war.

One was a survivor of Pearl Harbor, and one a flyer who spent a long time in a Germany POW camp during WWII.

One air force officer flew many missions over Viet Nam and when Capt. Fosse compared notes with him, discovered the pilot had attended a school with Capt. Fosse’s air force officer father in the mid-1970s.

My personal favorite, was a 98 year-old former analyst with the Department of Navy during WWII.

I knew many stories about her, but in this case I hadn’t heard that one day her boss came in and placed an Enigma machine on her desk and asked her to figure out the code breaker.

I whispered to her, “did you figure it out?”

She laughed back, just as Capt. Fosse quoted her answer: “I didn’t know how to do stuff like that.”

Capt. Fosse’s three years were well spent at  the only training command on the west coast. In particular, the Coast Guard culinary school is located there–which meant delicious food was served at the reception afterwards!

He thanked many people, reflected on his time and made everyone in the audience feel appreciated on that warm, beautiful California day.

As a now “retired” Navy wife, I always listen closely to an outgoing officer’s words about his/her spouse.

Juggling life in a military environment is challenging and requires dedication to both the spouse and the military far more than the average person can ever really know.

We only moved a dozen times–and we had several four-year tours. We were an exception.

Most of my military friends moved more times than that and we all tended to travel back and forth from one side of the continent to another.

My Coast Guard wife friend Karen Fosse heard many deserved and wonderful praises about her on July 15.

Capt. Fosse wrapped up his remarks by reading his orders.

If you’re a real fan, here is a recording of all 28 minutes of his speech!

After all the applause and thank yous from Capt Fosse, Capt. Paul Flynn stood, made a few remarks, and read his orders.

The chaplain returned to pronounce a benediction, the colors were retired and we moved up the hill for lunch, more stories, a cake cutting and a few gag gifts for Capt. Fosse and his family from his men.

A lovely day and a fine tradition.

Thank you, United States Coast Guard.

Thank you, Chuck and Karen.

Tweetables

What is a Change of Command? Click to Tweet

What happens at a Change of Command? Click to Tweet

Enigma, Pearl Harbor, POW and pilot; honorees all. Click to Tweet