News>Deployed Airman watches wife's commissioning 8,000+ miles away
Photos
Former Staff Sgt. Donna Tluczek, blows a kiss to her husband, Tech. Sgt. Pawel Tluczek, who smiles and waves goodbye on a TV screen located inside the Air Force ROTC Detachment 610 headquarters on the University of North Dakota campus. Sergeant Tluczek witnessed his wife’s commissioning ceremony, Feb. 2, 2012, via a live Internet broadcast. The Tlucezks are a military couple from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luis Loza Gutierrez)
Shortly after being commissioned as a second lieutenant, former Staff Sgt. Donna Tluczek returns a salute to her husband, Tech. Sgt. Pawel Tluczek. Sergeant Tluczek rendered the first enlisted salute from more than 8,000 miles away in Southwest Asia. The salute was broadcast via the Internet in order to allow Sergeant Tluczek to take part in his wife’s commissioning ceremony, which took place Feb.2, 2012, at the Air Force ROTC Detachment 610 headquarters inside the University of North Dakota Armory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luis Loza Gutierrez)
Capt. Timothy Dremann (left), Air Force ROTC Detachment 610 recruiting flight commander administers the Oath of Office to former Staff Sgt. Donna Tluczek (right), who became a medical officer in the Air Force during a commissioning ceremony, Feb. 2, 2012, at AF ROTC Det. 610 headquarters inside the University of North Dakota Armory. Prior to commissioning as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps, Tluczek was stationed as an enlisted member at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., for three years, and served as a radar maintenance and electronics specialist. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luis Loza Gutierrez)
Capt. Timothy Dremann (left), Air Force ROTC Detachment 610 recruiting flight commander and Tech. Sgt. Robert Carter (right), AF ROTC Det. 610 NCO in charge pin gold bars on the shoulders of former Staff Sgt. Donna Tluczek, who became a medical officer in the Air Force during a commissioning ceremony, Feb. 2, 2012, at AF ROTC Det. 610 headquarters inside the University of North Dakota Armory. Tluczek passed North Dakota’s state boards test for nursing, solidifying both her official status as a BSN-registered nurse and commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luis Loza Gutierrez)
Moments after being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps, former Staff Sgt. Donna Tluczek stands proudly with her husband, Tech. Sgt. Pawel Tluczek, who witnessed his wife’s commissioning ceremony via a live Internet broadcast, Feb.2, 2012, at the Air Force ROTC Detachment 610 headquarters inside the University of North Dakota Armory. The Tlucezks are a military couple from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luis Loza Gutierrez)
Former Staff Sgt. Donna Tluczek, holds in her hand a silver dollar destined for her husband, Tech. Sgt. Pawel Tluczek, who rendered the new second lieutenant her first enlisted saluted from more than 8,000 miles away via a live Internet broadcast Feb. 2, 2012, at the Air Force ROTC Detachment 610 headquarters on the University of North Dakota campus. Military tradition dictates that an officer give a silver dollar to the first enlisted member to offer a salute. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luis Loza Gutierrez)
by Senior Airman Luis Loza Gutierrez
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
2/16/2012 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) -- One Air Force couple put modern technology to work to help keep military tradition alive during a ceremony earlier this month.
Shortly after being commissioned as a second lieutenant on Feb. 2, Donna Tluczek received her first salute from her husband, Tech. Sgt. Pawel Tluczek.
But because he's deployed more than 8,000 miles away in Southwest Asia, the salute was broadcast from a computer screen.
"I didn't think I would be this nervous, but now that this moment is here I really am," said Lieutenant Tluczek, a former staff sergeant. The commissioning ceremony was held at Air Force ROTC Detachment 610 headquarters inside the University of North Dakota Armory.
Military tradition dictates that an officer give a silver dollar to the first enlisted member to offer a salute.
Lieutenant Tluczek, a native of Lodge Pole, Neb., raised her hand to the web camera, showing her husband a shiny silver dollar.
"This is waiting for you when you get back," she said to her smiling husband, the NCO in charge of the 319th Logistical Readiness Squadron's special purpose shop.
"I'm severely proud of my wife," said Sergeant Tluczek while tapping his chest with a closed right fist. "I miss the people (at Grand Forks AFB), and I miss my wife's hugs."
Lieutenant Tluczek was stationed as an enlisted member at Grand Forks for three years, and served as a radar maintenance and electronics specialist.
She was accepted into the Airman Education and Commissioning Program (AECP) and spent 2 ½ years with the ROTC detachment at UND.
Under the program, which the Air Force has now suspended indefinitely, she remained on active-duty while attending school as a full-time student.
She graduated in December 2011 with a bachelor's degree in nursing, and staying true to the Air Force core value of "Excellence in all we do," she graduated with honors. She recently passed North Dakota's state boards test for nursing, solidifying her official status as a BSN-registered nurse.
"AECP provided a great avenue for me to commission, and although the program is currently suspended I hope my story will encourage others to look at other opportunities and programs in becoming an officer," said Lieutenant Tluczek. "Yes, there will be challenges, but it's well worth it."
Her next stop is Commissioned Officer Training at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., later this month. She'll then have to complete the Air Force Nurse Transition Program at Scottsdale, Ariz.
Capt. Anthony Dremann, Air Force ROTC Det. 610 recruiting flight commander, lauded Tluczek for her hard work.
"It certainly has been a long and difficult road for her to get here," Dremann said. "Sergeant Tluczek showed high potential as a cadet, and there's no doubt in my mind she's going to do great."
As for Sergeant Tluczek, he said he plans to be back in time to see his wife complete NTP and collect that silver dollar waiting for him back home.
Comments
2/24/2012 12:58:39 PM ET Congrats Lt. Tluczek. I'm thrilled for both of you that you were able to share this tradition together despite your distance. The world is so much smaller now thanks to technology.
Hope Cronin, Kadena AB Japan
2/17/2012 10:31:36 AM ET @Mike, this would not be a case of fraternization. An enlisted and officer can be married under the following conditions: both were married while enlisted and one is then commissioned; one was already active duty and then the other joined the force either as enlisted or commissioned or, in a very rare case, both were married officers and then one shifted to enlisted. As long as the marriage came before the officer/enlisted relationship, they are not breaking any rules.
Paul, Boston
2/17/2012 8:51:38 AM ET Since they were married before her commissioning, there is no problem. There are many dual military members in which one is enlisted and the other is commissioned. My wife and I were the same. I was a TSgt when she got commissioned.
Steve Horton, Ramstein AB Germany
2/16/2012 5:41:40 PM ET Lt Congrats. Since the military doesn't allow fratnazation, I retired after over 26 years in the AF. will AF now force your TSgt husband to resign or retire? At any rate - Congratulations to you both for Lt for your hard work and Sgt Tluczek for your outstanding service in Southwest Asia.
