Three senior members of a Tennessee Air National Guard unit are being disciplined after performing and filming a formal re-enlistment oath ceremony with a dinosaur puppet.
The video was posted to the "Air Force AMN/NCO/SNCO" Facebook Group, which is a unofficial forum for enlisted and former Airmen and other service members to share news, stories and plenty of inside jokes.
Many members of the group were outraged, calling it a mockery of what should have been a serious and respectful display of a time-honored military tradition. Others were baffled why the trio conducted the oath in such a fashion or why no one raised an objection while it was happening.
Major General Terry M. Haston, the Adjunct-General for the Tennessee National Guard, responded to the outrage -- saying the three senior ranking Airmen involved with the video are facing various levels of administrative punishment.
"I am absolutely embarrassed that a senior officer and a senior NCO took such liberties with a time-honored military tradition," Haston said. "The Tennessee National Guard holds the Oath of Enlistment in the highest esteem because that oath signifies every service member’s commitment to defend our state, nation and the freedoms we all enjoy. Not taking this oath solemnly and with the utmost respect is firmly against the traditions and sanctity of our military family and will not be tolerated."
In the past days, Haston said National Guard leadership investigated the incident and has taken actions against the senior non-commissioned officer who was re-enlisting, the senior officer who conducted the oath, as well as another senior NCO who recorded the event.
The colonel administering the oath was immediately demoted a rank to lieutenant colonel and retired, according to Haston.
Master Sergeant Robin Brown, the one taking the oath with the dinosaur puppet on her hand, was removed from her full-time position in the Tennessee Joint Public Affairs Office and is facing further administrative actions.
The other senior NCO who recorded the event received an official reprimand and was removed from his position as the unit First Sergeant.
"The actions of these three individuals in no way represent the professionalism, honor, and courage of the 14,000 Soldiers and Airman in the Tennessee National Guard," Haston said. "This act does not define our organization nor the men, women, and families that sacrifice so much every day for our state and nation. I am truly honored to lead such a professional organization."
The Oath of Enlistment is conducted across all service branches, but the Air Force has specific rules and instructions for conducting the oath with proper customs and military bearing.
Many Airmen in the Facebook thread quickly dug up the guidelines for re-enlistment oath ceremonies ordered by the Secretary of the Air Force outlined in AFI 36-2606, Chapter 5.3.:
"Commander/civilian directors ensure ceremonies are conducted in a dignified and professional manner, appropriate for an official act in a place that provides reverence to the oath being taken; safety of all participants should also be paramount."
According to that instruction, re-enlistees can request any commissioned officer within the U.S. Armed Forces to perform the ceremony. The ceremony also calls for service members to wear 'authorized uniforms,' which are held to the normal dress and appearance standards (including accessories and hand wear) outlined in another Air Force Instruction .