(This is Pg 8) Ceremonies & Celebrations

   Army Traditions and Ceremonies go back to the first militia companies that joined General George Washington in our fight for independence.

   Two traditions he started endure today.

   In 1779, he specified Continental Blue for the uniform coat, which today is still the color of the Army Service Uniform.

   In 1782, he began the honor and tradition of the Military Order of the Purple Heart to acknowledge wounds received in battle fighting for our country. It is said that he cut pieces out of his cloak to give to the soldiers.

      Over the years many traditions and ceremonies have developed Army wide as well as unique to an individual unit. This is to enhance morale, celebrate victories and unit achievements, and honor heros of days gone by.

   Today, our American Army and the Austin Medical Company continue to carry on many of these traditions and ceremonies.

One Austin Med Company tradition bestows a Geneva Convention Armband  upon a new soldier when he is inducted into the company.  Each soldier then carries it in his ACU pants pocket to be ready at a moments notice.

Stand-Up Ceremony-Jan 2009
Austin Medical Company is formally installed

The Med Brigade General, Company NCOIC and CO cut the cake! Hungry troops await!  Using the Commanders Sword to cut the unit birthday cake is a centuries old tradition.

 

 Austin Med Company joins Alamo Medical Group for Annual Army "Dining-Out" on the historic Alamo grounds. We were treated to a private night tour by an Alamo Historian.  Since the TxStGd roots are in the early TX militia companies, knowing that the "Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers" militia of 32 men rushed to the Alamo to join and die in the siege helped us appreciate the deep history and spirit of Texas Military Forces. The photo below is in the Chapel, the final defensive position of the Alamo garrison. An honor to stand on hallowed ground.


All good ceremonies should have important speakers.

 Another Army Tradition: "NCOIC Change-of-Responsibility" Ceremony using a Model 1840 NCO Sword.

Austin Med Soldiers always appreciate a fine cake at Company's Annual Birthday Party.

MAJ Santa Claus makes annual visit at December Planning Drill. He knows which soldiers have been naughty or nice! Nice get candy, naughty get push-ups. Ho-Ho-Hooah!

You know you have the real Hooah attitude if... 

  1. All your possessions are military issue or ACU color.
  2. Your kids recite their ABC’s phonetically, i.e. alpha, bravo.
  3. Your daughter’s first haircut was a Ranger flattop.
  4. Your newborn’s first words were “Hooah!”
  5. You have to look up your parents phone number, but can dial the CO, NCOIC, and all squad leaders by memory.
  6. When your kids are too noisy, you yell “at ease!”
  7. You keep a box of MRE's at home and in the trunk of your car in case of emergencies.
  8. When talking to relatives by phone, you end the conversation with “Out here.”
  9. You & your kids refer to your spouse as “Household 6″.
  10. You’ve seen Patton enough times to memorize his speech.
  11. You take the family camping with no tent, but lots of MRE's.
  12. The only time you and the spouse eat without the kids is at the unit “Dining Out.”
  13. The only suit you own is your Class A uniform.
  14. You tell your kids to go to bed at 2100 and they try to explain that it’s only nine o’clock .
  15. No one understands the stories you tell because of all the Army acronyms.
  16. Your kids know the words to cadences of “She wore a yellow ribbon” and "Oh, O, soldiers! Where have you been?"
  17. Your two-year old calls everyone in ACU's “daddy” or "mommy".
  18. You ruin the movie for everyone around you by pointing out the unrealistic military scenes.
  19. Your family calls you “Sir or Mam.”
  20. All your jokes begin with “there was this soldier, a marine and a fly-boy…”
  21. All of your shoes are military style, except for one pair and that pair is your P.T. shoes.
  22. You are convinced that coffee is a nutrient.
  23. Your first impressions of civilians is that they all need haircuts.
  24. All of your underwear is ACU colored .
  25. Civilians exercise and you conduct PT.
  26. Your POV is equipped with blackout lights.
  27. Your kids volunteer to pull real shotgun on the school bus.
  28. You give the command “Fix Bayonet” at Thanksgiving Dinner.
  29. Your kids turn in a meal ticket at the kitchen door.
  30. You make your daughter sign out on pass on Prom Night.
  31. Your kids salute their grandparents.
  32. Your kids initials are AR, FM, or TSG.
  33. Your kids are hand-receipt holders for their toys.
  34. Your spouse left you and you held a “Change of Command” ceremony.
  35. Your dog’s name is “Scout” or “Ranger.”
  36. You decorate your Christmas Tree with Texas and State Guard shoulder patches.
  37. You always reply back with “Roger, Wilco, or Hooah.”
  38. Your home library consists of FM’s and AR’s.

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