Big Things Part 1: Matt's Change of Command

I realize I've been silent for the past six weeks, and I apologize (mostly to myself) for it.  I won't go into all of the details just yet, but on top of the frustrations of getting kicked on my butt with a vicious cold virus, continuing to struggle with healing my feet, and frantically preparing for Matt's Change of Command, I got a job offer that also required an enormous amount of attention.  I was keeping it close to my chest during the process because this is a job I had been unofficially offered before.  I made a big to-do about it back then, and it ended up falling through.  This time, the offer was official, and literally two days before I was scheduled to sign on the dotted line to accept it, I had to turn it down.

There are a lot of reasons why I decided on that route, and, like I said, I won't go into all of the details just yet.  All of you who are shaking your fists at me and calling me an idiot, slow your roll.  A lot of big things have been in the making, and I'll get to it. The point right now is that, thus far, 2013 has been very hard on us (us being Matt and myself.)  Up until yesterday, we didn't have a lot to celebrate, just a series of disappointing news stacking up on top of each other.  But, yesterday, at 8am, Matt accepted responsibility of 300 AIT soldiers. (AIT = Advanced Individual Training.  This is where soldiers learn their MOS or their job in the Army.  Kind of a college crash course. Matt's company is full of computer guys.  Their jobs will basically be the IT guys of the Army.)

Every day for the past two months, Matt has had a daily quota of saying "I can't wait to take command."  A quota he has dutifully fulfilled, I might add.  He's spent his time after graduating the Captain's Career Course on staff of his future battalion, meeting colleagues, taking notes, and getting a feel for how things function on the ground. ("On the ground," by the way, is an Army general phrase for "in the area," or "in training." ie: Matt was getting a feel for how the unit functioned as a whole.)  In the long run, I kept reminding him, it would be to his advantage, but I know he was eager to put all of his training to the test and flex his CPT (Captain) muscles.

The eventful day dawned cloudy, slightly breezy, and dreary as hell.  It's been raining in Augusta since Sunday, and they decided bright and early in the week to move the ceremony indoors.  To my grave displeasure.  With funds running freakishly meager, I decided not to waste gas money on renting a lens for the occasion and just hope with every fiber of my being that the weather would heed my call.  To no avail.  So I packed up all my less-than-worthy zoom lenses and hoped for the best.  The pictures did not turn out to my standards, and I'm not pleased with them, but I remind you (and myself) that I was seated as part of the family of the new commander, and didn't precisely have the freedoms to wander around snapping my shutter like the three PAOs I enviously observed circling INSIDE the formation (ugh!).  Captions explain what's going on in the shots.

The company Matt took over dubs themselves "C-Rock."  C standing for Charlie Company, and The Rock (like from Fantastic Four) being their mascot.  The Spartan helmet represents the Battalion - 447th - "The Spartans."

Captain Daley, who received the guidon (the flag) from 1SG Johnson (the commander of troops; ie: the company commander's right hand man, he executes the orders), hands the guidon on to his battalion commander, LTC Ruder.  During Change of Command ceremonies, the handing of the guidon signifies the flow of responsibility.  Commander of Troops to Outgoing Commander to Battalion Commander to Incoming Commander back to Commander of Troops, it goes up the chain of command, and back down again.

I'm still surprised he managed not to grin when LTC Ruder handed him the guidon.

After the handing of the guidon, the speeches begin, starting with the battalion commander.  LTC Ruder talked about how Matt was "chomping at the bit," to take command, and even mentioned how I "confirmed his suspicions" that Matt was ready to get out of Staff Duty and into the boss-man role.  (Oops.)

CPT Daley (Jeff), the Outgoing Commander, had trouble getting through his speech as he thanked all of the people who helped him through it, including his wife and children for being so understanding in how they had to "share daddy with others."

CPT Daley left Matt a present on top of his speech - a diaper, to tease him about his youth, just as Matt had teased Jeff about his age.  Matt is the youngest Company Commander in the Battalion, possibly even the Brigade, as most before him were "prior enlisted," meaning they had been soldiers before becoming officers.

Matt's speech was short and sweet, at less than a minute.  He set a precedence for himself that he tends to keep.  "I hate when a brief isn't brief," he told me later that night.  He kept to his word this morning during his first safety brief of his NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officers, the soldiers who execute his orders and oversee the AIT soldiers), and intends to continue doing so through tonight's safety brief of the trainees.

Matt salutes his commander, LTC Ruder, as Ruder leaves the formation, and thus leaves him in charge.

Matt and his "Battle" (a term Army uses to officially refer to a colleague.  In casual terms, it tends to refer to a strong friendship with someone who has been through battle with you), Beka, who took command of a company last November, and has been Matt's best friend since they graduated from West Point in 2008.

Matt and his mom, who drove eight hours down from Fort Campbell in Tennessee to be here.

Matt and his parents.  Mr. Sinda is a technology teacher at a high school in Michigan.

Matt's family, who rarely get an opportunity to all be together.

Matt's sister, Taylor (on left) and his brother, Shane (on right).

Matt and Beka with their Brigade Commander, COL Elle, a friendly and efficient boss.

Matt's XO (Executive Officer, generally held by a 1LT at the company level), comparing his photos with who I assume to be the Brigade PAO (Public Affairs Officer - ie the photographer who not only covers Matt's company, but all the companies and events two levels up from his command).

Matt (I'm going to try to fix his eyes so they're open), his brigade commander, his battalion commander, and his battle.

It's tradition to give roses to the closest female of both commanders at the beginning of the ceremony.  Red for the outgoing commander's lady to signify the loyalty and devotion of the command to the lady, as well as the sacrifices she had to make to support the commander, and yellow for the incoming to signify a warm welcome and friendship the command extends to the commander's lady.  Matt shook up tradition by asking for two bouquets of yellow roses, one for his mom, and one for me.

As soon as Matt found out he had gotten the position, people started asking me how I felt about never seeing him again for the next two years.  Knowing how much Matt loves his job, and how protectively hard he will work to make sure his soldiers are ok, I decided to ensure Matt remembers not to work too hard, so I got the picture below framed, and the graphic below printed on a mousepad for his office, to remind him there are things waiting for him at home.  I doubt I needed to do it though.  This morning, Matt told me he made two reservations tonight for our Valentine's dinner - one for if he manages to get off of work on time, and one for if he has to stay late.  So I think we're prepared to make things work.  I'm ridiculously proud of his accomplishments (though I can't claim I had any part on helping him reach his goals - yet), and I'm ecstatic that he's doing a job that he loves.  I know he'll feel the same when my chance comes.

Matt and me before one of my best friend's weddings last November.

 

A graphic I made for Matt when he and I had first started dating to show off my photoshop skills.  (I drew all of it using various effects and techniques.) Irene is the name of his car and is his most prized possession.

For the ceremony, Matt's family all traveled many many many miles down.  They also have had a rough year, so the opportunity for all of them to be together for a couple days was a rare treat, and Matt was stoked he got to have them here.  (He tries to deny it, but the boy is a family man through and through.)  Fourteen plus truck-fire-traffic hours from Michigan (where his dad teaches, and his sister is prepping for PA school in May), and eight hours from Tennessee (where his mom is helping his 1LT brother through a rough health problem), both parties arrived safely Tuesday evening.  This was my first time meeting them, so, considering my severe lack of experience being acquainted with "the parents," I was a mite nervous.  Me being me, I was worried - well, that being me and speaking my mind - would end up with an offense or something. As far as I'm aware, things went well and we all emerged from the week drama-free. They all headed back home this morning.


In other news, now that I have a little more time on my hands, I will try to make sure I post more consistently.  With my feet finally on the mend, I can start venturing forth for more photo adventures and find more excuses to re-attach my trusty Nikon to my palm. Babbling complete.