Photo By Spc. Erica Isaacson | Army 1st Sgt. James Venske, senior enlisted advisor to the Joint Task Force Public...... read more read more
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By Jesus Uranga
Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – On a bluff overlooking the Caribbean Sea in Camp America here, two Sailors serving as individual augmentees were promoted in front of a mixed formation of their peers, Soldiers and Sailors.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Gino A. Flores, mass communications officer, a reservist, and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class (SW) Rudy P. Polach, from the USS Boxer (LHD 4) participated in an age old Navy tradition, a frocking ceremony, with a slight Army twist.
"It was much different than any frocking ceremony I have ever seen," said Polach.
A traditional Army promotion ceremony consists of a Soldier presented in front of his company or unit wearing his current rank; the Soldier is then presented with their new rank by a person of their choosing, civilian or other military member. The Army enlisted promotion ceremony loosely resembles a Navy's Chief pinning or officer's promotion.
The frocking of two Sailors serving on IA missions with Soldiers presented a unique experience for those present and an opportunity for Sailors to share Navy heritage with their Army counterparts. In honor of both services, the ceremony borrowed from both traditions to create a truly joint ceremony.
The frocking letter was read by the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs, Army 1st Sgt. James A. Venske, and the ceremony was conducted by the JTF's Director of Public Affairs, Navy Cmdr. Pauline Storum. Following Venske's reading of the citation, the Sailors being frocked removed their desert patterned blouse and replaced them with ones representing their newly acquired rank.
"Serving in a joint environment, I felt it was a privilege to be able to watch two Sailors who I work with get promoted," said Public Affairs Specialist Army Spc. Cody L. Black.
Although the ceremony was a unique hybrid of traditions from the two services present and a first for many who were there, the significance was not lost on the novelty of the event.
"It's always good when we get to promote people," said Venske.
Flores and Polach are serving with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, 112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (MPAD), deployed here, in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo's (JTF-GTMO) detention mission.
JTF Guantanamo conducts safe and humane care and custody of detained enemy combatants. The JTF conducts interrogation operations to collect strategic intelligence in support of the Global War on Terror and supports law enforcement and war crimes investigations. JTF Guantanamo is committed to the safety and security of American service members and civilians working inside its detention facilities.
| Date Taken: | 05.30.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2008 08:07 |
| Story ID: | 20172 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 1,056 |
| Downloads: | 679 |
This work, Frocking Ceremony, by PO2 Jesus Uranga, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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