COMM SUPPORT:

plays background music till ceremony begins

NARRATOR:

"DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE (UNIT) ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND CEREMONY. TODAY, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE (UNIT) WELCOME THEIR NEW COMMANDER, (RANK AND FULL NAME)."

"THE PRESIDING OFFICER (PO) FOR TODAY’S ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND CEREMONY IS (RANK AND FULL NAME) (COMMAND POSITION), (UNIT), (WING), (BASE), (STATE)."

"I AM YOUR NARRATOR, (RANK AND FULL NAME)."

"TODAY’S CEREMONY SIGNIFIES THE ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND OF THE (UNIT) BY (RANK AND LAST NAME). IN THE MILITARY, WE VEST ALL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THE HANDS OF OUR COMMANDERS. THE CHANGE OF AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY REACHES FROM THE LOWEST MILITARY UNIT DIRECTLY TO THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, PRESIDENT CLINTON. NO MILITARY UNIT MAY BE WITHOUT A COMMANDER EVEN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. IN THE CEREMONY YOU WILL WITNESS, THE INSTANT (NEW COMMANDER'S RANK AND LAST NAME) SALUTES (PRESIDING OFFICER'S RANK AND LAST NAME) AND SAYS, "I ASSUME COMMAND," ALL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TRANSFER IMMEDIATELY TO (HIM/HER)."

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE CEREMONIAL PARTY, THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS, THE PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, AND THE INVOCATION."

COMM SUPPORT:

Plays marching music as the new commmander and presiding officer enter

March from the holding area to the stage and position themselves in front of the 2 seats on the stage

The PO gives the appropriate facing movement (quietly) so he/she and the new commander are facing the audience

PO:

"PRESENT THE COLORS."

HONOR GUARD:

Marches forward to a position in front of the stage and presents the colors when comm support plays the National Anthem

COMM SUPPORT:

Plays the National Anthem

HONOR GUARD:

Following the National Anthem, gives whatever commands are required to move the colors to the rear of the room (this procedure is used only when presenting the colors vs. posting them. You must modify the script if the honor guard is going to post the colors)

NARRATOR:

"CHAPLAIN (LAST NAME), WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD, AND PRESENT THE INVOCATION."

The Chaplain comes forward to the podium

CHAPLAIN:

Following the invocation, he/she returns to his/her seat

NARRATOR:

"THANK YOU CHAPLAIN (LAST NAME)."

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE SEATED."

Pause

"(PO'S RANK AND LAST NAME) WILL NOW EXECUTE THE ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND FOR THE (UNIT)."

PO:

"OFFICERS POST." (quietly)

PO and the new commander each take two steps forward and then the presiding officer executes a left face as the new commander executes a right face

FIRST SGT:

On the command "officers post", walks onto the stage carrying the unit guidon and takes a position behind and between the PO and the new commander

NARRATOR:

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, SPECIAL ORDER NUMBER (NUMBER), SUBJECT: ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND, DATED (DAY, MONTH, YEAR), ASSIGNS (NEW COMMANDER'S RANK AND FULL NAME) AS COMMANDER, (UNIT), (BASE), (STATE), EFFECTIVE (DATE).

NEW COMMANDER:

Salutes the PO and says...

"SIR/MA'AM, I ASSUME COMMAND."

PO:

Returns the salute

FIRST SGT:

Hands the unit guidon to the PO who in turn hands it to the new commander (the new commander should take the unit guidon with his/her hands below that of the PO)

The new commander accepts the guidon and then turns to the right and hands it back to the first sgt (the first sgt should give and take the unit guidon with his/her hands below that of the officers)

The first sgt takes the unit guidon from the new commander, executes a facing movement and proceeds to the flag stand where he/she posts the unit guidon, then moves back to his/her original position off the stage

PO:

"OFFICERS FACE" (Quietly).

Exequits a right face as the new commander exeqcuts a left face. Both officers are now facing the audience

NARRATOR:

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, (RANK AND FULL NAME OF PO), COMMAND POSITION), (UNIT).

NEW COMMANDER:

Takes his/her seat on the stage

PO:

Approaches the podium for remarks. At the conclusion he/she returns to his/her seat

NARRATOR:

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, (RANK AND FULL NAME), COMMANDER, (NEW UNIT)."

NEW COMMANDER:

Approaches the podium for remarks. At the conclusion he/she returns to his/her seat

NARRATOR:

"THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE (UNIT) WELCOME (RANK AND LAST NAME) AND ENTRUST TO (HIM/HER) THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE UNIT."

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLAYING OF THE AIR FORCE SONG AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE DEPARTURE OF THE CEREMONIAL PARTY."

COMM SUPPORT:

Plays the Air Force Song

Gives appropriate facing movement (quietly) to face the way of departure

Depart the stage and join with their spouses who are in VIP seats.

The entire ceremonial party departs the area and proceeds to the reception area

NARRATOR:

"ON BEHALF OF (RANK AND LAST NAME OF PO AND RANKK AND LAST NAME OF THE NEW COMMANDER), WE THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TODAY’S CEREMONY. YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO JOIN US IN WELCOMING (NEW COMMANDER'S RANK AND LAST NAME) AT A RECEPTION LOCATED IN (LOCATION)."