100th Day!

Well I have now been here for 100 days and what better way to commemorate that milestone than to find out that I have been selected to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

I am very humbled by this. It’s been a long time in the making and may very well be the last promotion that I experience in my military career.

The Army published the list this afternoon (my time), so I had thought that I would need to patiently way by my computer all day long to find out the results. However, my commanding general over here had other plans.

This morning, all us military types were told to report to the General’s conference room for a special meeting concerning reassignments. Major General Scott informed us that he had gotten word for Washington that he had to give up 3 Majors. He then turned to me and two other officers and said, “I guess that means we will just have to make Lockard a Lieutenant Colonel so he can stay here.”

It takes a lot to surprise me, but I never saw that coming. He then went through an Air Force tradition (he is an Air Force General) by ripping off my Major rank and “punching” my new rank on.

Now although, I have not been officially promoted to this new rank, in accordance with another Air Force tradition, General Scott told me to wear the rank for the rest of the day. I didn’t feel right about wearing the new rank until I had the promotion orders in my hand, so I compromised and wore both. So for the rest of the day I was unofficially a “Lieutenant Major” or a “Major Colonel”.

Depending on when the Army starts to promote off this new list, I will probably be able to wear the rank full time starting in October or November. Until then I will have to settle with being know as Major Promotable Lockard.

All is well here.