KABUL, Afghanistan –
Promotion ceremonies in the military often include a senior member of the organization to preside over the promotion, some co-workers to support the one being promoted, photographer, family, friends and refreshments.
In a deployed environment, though, there has to be some changes. Family members are more than seven-thousand miles away, co-workers are in the same category as friends and refreshments are limited to bottled water.
During one promotion ceremony, what was lacking in family-member presence and refreshments, was compensated in the form of senior leader attendance.
Air Force Capt. Randy Wardak, a communications officer deployed for a year from Langley as an Embedded Training Team member mentoring the Afghan National Army's air corps communication squadron, was promoted to the grade of major during a ceremony presided over by the Afghan Minister of Defense, Gen. Rahim Wardak, at the Afghan Ministry of Defense compound.
"As ETTs, we are authorized to wear Dari name tapes on our uniform," said Maj. Martin Rudy, Captain Wardak's colleague within the communications Embedded Training Team. ANA soldiers recognized the last name of the newly promoted major and couldn't help but ask his relation to the defense minister.
"When it became time to start planning his promotion ceremony, Randy thought it might be fun to see if Minister Wardak would be interested in participating," said Major Rudy. After a few phone calls to members of the ETT's parent organization, the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan, and various Afghan Ministry of Defense mentors, the plan was all set.
As Major Wardak stood next to the lectern in the pristine foyer conversing with guests, members of his ETT, the media and ANA members filled the foyer before the ceremony to await the arrival of Afghanistan's defense minister.
The guests took their places and readied their camera shots as an American service member looked up the steps to prepare to call the room to attention for Defense Minister Wardak. The room grew silent in anticipation.
"Room 'tench-hut'" called the American servicemember. Minister Wardak, walked down the steps with his staff members and the master of ceremonies continued her narration of the ceremony.
After she read the promotion order, colleague Maj. Matthew Tucker administered the oath of office. When Major. Wardak lowered his right hand and faced the audience, they cheered and clapped, commemorating the first day of his service to the U.S. armed forces as a major.
Minister Wardak and the primary recipient of Major Wardak's mentoring, ANA Lt. Col. Abdul Wahab, the air corps's Kabul Air Base communications squadron commander, pinned on his gold oak leafs.
"It is a great pleasure and honor to pin the ranks of a U.S. Air Force major who actually has the same name as mine," said Minister Wardak when he addressed the audience. "There is even no mistake in spelling," he said. The crowd laughed.
"Since you are a Wardak, I wish you all the best and all the successes in the future," Minister Wardak said. Managing to extract a final chuckle from the crowd, Minister Wardak concluded his statement by saying "you have to make it to at least brigadier general."
Major Wardak had the opportunity to speak and thanked his co-workers through his career for making his success a reality. "I've worked with some awesome people and what (the promotion) really means to me right now is that I get to do more of that with you guys."
Major Wardak has been in Afghanistan for three months mentoring the ANA air corps communications squadron located at Kabul International Airport. Colonel Wahab said Major Wardak is a great mentor, and with his help the communications structure and the capability of the ANA will greatly be improved.
This communications squadron has specialized in radios traditionally, Major Wardak said. "They're getting into things that even we find challenging."
"The amount of change is tremendous," he said about their progression into more advanced communication infrastructure knowledge. "It's going to take a lot, but they're doing it pretty fast." In addition to the squadrons' progress, the directives coming from Minister Wardak's office to support the communications efforts also impressed Major Wardak.
"It's amazing the amount of change (Minister Wardak) is handling right now," he said.
Considering the work Minister Wardak is devoting to the communications infrastructure here, Major Wardak calls it unbelievable that the defense minister of this country was able to participate in his promotion ceremony.
"So that's why I thought it was very cool that he came down here ... you know he's really busy and that's huge."