Battalion XO

Battalion XO Justin

My Justin (who is now approximately 6'2" and taller than his father) was promoted to executive officer of his school's JROTC battalion tonight. A battalion executive officer (XO) is second in command and assumes command in the battalion commander's absence.

In a very rare and (at times) very awkward congregation, my mother, Justin's father, and I sat down together for a formal dinner before Jerry and I were called upon to pin Justin's new ranks to his uniform (he was previously a 1st lieutenant.) We spent most of the social hour before dinner taking pictures, not one of which turned out as well as I would have hoped (note the crooked tie and red badge on the photo above.) Justin then escorted my mother and me through the receiving line, sending his father ahead of us on his own after failing to persuade any of us that it would work better for Jerry to escort my mother as his date. Yes, that was one of the awkward moments. As it was, Jerry was instructed by our uncharactaristically etiquette-minded son that he was to stand any time any of the women at the table stood, and that he was to hold my mother's chair (she was seated to his right) every time she sat down. Despite the awkward moments, the evening was very pleasant overall, and we were all very proud of Justin.