I commissioned last week. It was a long process getting to board and a lot of waiting (12 months). So I spent a bit of time trying to think about what I wanted to do as far as ceremony.
One thing I found was there is no clear direction on wearing a uniform, so wearing one is a subject for debate. I assumed I would wear one, but when it got close, I chose not to.
I thought about a venue and was thinking seriously about doing it at the front gate by the display aircraft (same spot I was frocked to AT3 in 1994), but the weather was extremely cold and like I said before, the uniform debate.
I also want to have an old Navy buddy who is now a CMC locally give me my first salute.
What I did: My wife and daughter went with me to the recruiting office, I wore a suit and swore in, we then went to dinner. Recruiter seemed shocked that I wore a suit and not sweat pants or something.
What I plan on doing: I hope to get orders to a local command and have a small ceremony at the NAS Oceana front gate in my summer whites when the weather gets warm. I know its months away, so I plan on inviting my CMC buddy to lunch and doing the saluting part with just the two of us, that way I can make it the real first salute. And we can do it again later.
Thanks for this. What exactly took so long? Getting the COMDOCs or scheduling the commissioning? I find it interesting bc it seems like some folks are commissioning w/in a few months, and for others it is taking a year....
Also, do you have to commission within your recruiting district, or can you arrange to hold it elsewhere? I'm on the East Coast now, for example, but would prefer to have it closer to family in Southern Cal. Wondering if I could try to line something up with the San Diego Navy folks?