JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash -- Team McChord held a newly revived enlisted promotion ceremony for Airmen Jan. 30 at the McChord theater, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
The ceremony, which has not existed for Airmen at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in several years and is planned to be a monthly event, recognizes Airmen promoting at all enlisted ranks.
“There have been a lot of requests for this type of event from across Team McChord, not only from our Airmen but also from our commanders,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffery Sandusky, 62nd Airlift Wing command chief. “Our first sergeants took the lead in putting this together -- it is a great event for our Airmen, by our Airmen.
“this monthly event, gives us an opportunity to come together for fellowship, to recognize each other, and to have fun together.”
The focus of the event is to bring Airmen together to celebrate each other’s accomplishments.
“This is the inaugural event to come together as one team and really put our arms around the Airmen as we get to highlight a significant milestone,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jason Torres, 62nd AW Maintenance Squadron first sergeant.
Promotions are meaningful, not just for an individual Airman but for those around the Airman as well.
“It’s an opportunity for them and for their family to come together at a monumental occasion in their lives to be recognized in front of Team McChord, not just their squadron, or their group, or their wing, but in front of their fellow Airmen,” said Sandusky.
Torres said he wants every Airman, no matter the size of the squadron they belong to, to know they have a larger team that cares about them.
“We wanted to put something together for all of our Airmen, all different assets and arms of Team McChord,” said Torres.
Team McChord’s involvement is a big part of what gives the ceremony significance.
“Promotions are incredibly important to be held publicly because in an average career an individual will only get promoted, five, six, seven, maybe eight times but each one is special because you never know if that one is the last one a person will have or what they’ve done to get to that point,” said Sandusky.
The importance of the event seemed to be shared by many on Team McChord, nearly every seat was filled with Airmen, family members and friends who came to take part in the event.
“When a promotion ceremony takes place, it’s not just about the individual putting on a new stripe, it’s about the family or the team behind that individual who helped them grow and made them successful, said Sandusky.”