Commissioning is a great achievement and a life-changing experience for Officer Candidates (OC) and their families. The Academy of Military Science welcomes families, friends and commanders to join us for the commissioning events on Thursday and Friday of graduation week to honor the accomplishments of the soon-to-be second lieutenants!
There will be an Open House for family and friends the Thursday before commissioning. Guests are welcome to visit their OC in the morning where they may tour the campus and facilities. Guests are encouraged not to arrive prior to 9:00 am. AMS hosts a Spouse's Orientation from 9:00AM - 10:00AM in the COT Conference Room to provide an Air Force Officer spouse perspective. Families can then have lunch on base with their OC at the Dining Facility, Golf Course, Base Exchange Food Court or Officers Club between 11:00 and 12:45 pm. There will be a formal presentation for all guests from 1:00 to 1:50 pm. OCs WILL NOT be permitted to leave campus during the duty day, so please make all necessary arrangements.
5:30-9:00 PM:AMS Awards Banquet- The Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, October 4th, 2012, from 5:30 - 9:00 pm with a social hour from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. The banquet will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Montgomery, AL. The cost of the event is approximately $40. Checks can be made out to your OC or to the Embassy Suites Hotel; however payment must be received no later than Friday, September 28th. OCs will contact their guests with exact costs and deadline for RSVP/payment. There are also numerous hotels in the downtown and local area which typically offer a military rate (please click on the link below to see a list with approximate distances from base). The attire for civilians is cocktail dress or suit, the attire for military is mess dress for officers; semi-formal or mess dress for enlisted. Children over the age of 12 are welcome to attend the banquet. Student protocol officers will work to provide childcare options for those too young to attend. Unfortunately, childcare is not provided during this event so please make other arrangements for children under the age of 12.
Each OC has a limited number of guests they may invite to attend the Awards Banquet, which is based on class size. The typical number of guests is five. Invitations will be sent during the first two weeks of the program. We ask that ALL questions regarding these events be coordinated through your OC as much as possible.
To make reservations at the Embassy Suites Hotel click on the link below and follow these instructions:
1. Click on Link below - Enter Dates of Arrival / Departure on Calendar and click go
2. Type in Group Code that’s under Special Accounts and Rates and fill in all other data.
GROUP CODE: AN1
3. Hit Continue button on bottom left of page.
4. Rates and room choices will populate. Choose a selection.
8:00-10:00 AM: State Oaths/Commissioning Ceremony – (Various Locations) During this ceremony, family, friends and commanders are welcome to see their graduate take their Federal and State Oaths. All graduates will take the Federal Oath in unison and receive their Federal Commissioning Certificate. During the State Oath portion, Flight Commanders or
honored guests will administer the State Oath of Office to their respective Officer Candidates. The final State Oath locations will be available when you arrive for the Open House. Parking will be available near the OTS Complex and transportation will be provided if necessary. Busses will pick up and drop off in front of Boyd Auditorium near Boyd Auditorium. Conservative casual attire for civilians is appropriate for this event. Military members may wear the UOD; however, if you are administering the Oath, service dress is strongly encouraged.
10:30-11:00 AM: Graduation Parade - (Welch Parade Field) Senior officers will review the parade.
The earliest flight departure time for students is 3:00 pm on Friday.