HOOAH

 On Friday Hubby and I and Angela drove to JBLM (Joint Base Lewis McChord) to watch Sam's promotion to sergeant.  Since Sam has spent most of his military career in the south or on the east coast we haven't been at some of his graduations or promotions.  Once he got stationed at JBLM this mama was thinking we'd get on base for some kind of ceremony.  Sam's promotion to sergeant was coming up and I had told him that if his mama wasn't there to witness it that the U.S. military would have a war like they haven't ever had in their history.  They change dates and times sometimes without much warning and I was worried I would miss out.  But everything went as scheduled, Sam even got input since his was the highest ranking promotion that day, on the time and the ceremony.  He preferred no Class 1 uniforms,  a smaller group and Friday afternoon.

 I don't really understand why but sometimes they were at attention and sometimes they were just waiting.  I felt bad for one soldier that got in trouble and had to do burpees to the door.  But Sam told me not to feel sorry for him, he shouldn't be so stupid.  Okay.

 We saw where Sam works everyday.  We couldn't  see his ambulance as it was locked up some place where we weren't allowed to go.

 Angela pinned him and Hubby put on his new hat with his new rank.

 The old ranks get thrown on the ground and the new rank literally gets punched into place.  Angela just couldn't punch Sam but later on others gave him a punch.

There were four or five others getting promoted that day.  Sam had helped one of the soldiers so he asked Sam to pin him and Sam spoke about him.  I'm not sure of the rank of the soldiers that spoke when Sam was promoted but very nice things were said about Sam.  Two of his superiors came and talked to Hubby and I and told us such nice things about Sam and how much they appreciated our parenting.  It warmed my heart.  It's what every mama wants to hear.  Our soldier is a good soldier.

Then everyone offers their congratulations to those who were promoted.

 After the ceremony we looked around where Sam works.  We saw his cage.  It is full of gear because of Iraq and Afghanistan, and needing different gear for those places.  Sam didn't go to Afghanistan, that was a case of you're going, you're not going, X20, so he has all of the gear.

 Hubby and I are so thankful that we got to be part of Sam's promotion and so happy he got it.  

I'm pretty proud of my kiddo and all he's done.  Hooah!