POTD 2017/286. Old Navy, New Navy (Monochrome)

Today I had the distinct honor of attending the commissioning ceremony for a shipmate of mine from Destroyer Squadron FIFTY. While assigned to the same command, headquartered in Bahrain, we both spent the better part of our time in Iraq, embarked on the Khawr al Amaya Oil Terminal or KAAOT.

An Operations Specialist First Class until her commissioning at 10 o'clock this morning, making her the United States Navy's most newly minted Ensign, Angie Marie Lewis has been working hard for years to get to this moment. She earned her way through sustained, superior performance on duty and through self-improvement off duty including her recently obtained masters degree. And in a nod to naval heritage, she chose this day, the United States Navy’s 242nd Birthday, to mark her passage from the enlisted ranks into those of the commissioned officer corps! To make it more special still she chose to do the Women In Military Service For America Memorial as the location for her ceremony.