Photo By Julius Evans | In Germany, Lt. Cmdr. John Stage, his family, friends and co-workers view his promoted...... read more read more
FREDERICK, Md. - Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC), located on Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md., hosted its first virtual promotion ceremony with its subordinate command in Pirmasens, Germany, Sept. 3.
Capt. Mary Seymour, NMLC’s commanding officer, promoted Lt. John Stage to Lt. Cmdr. via video teleconference. The ceremony was held in her office and was attended by as many personnel who could squeeze in. In Germany, Stage, his wife Rachel, their two children Cameron and Adrienne, and most of NMLC Detachment Pirmasens were on hand for the ceremony.
“Our comptroller couldn’t authorize the resources that would allow me to be in Germany for this promotion ceremony in person, so we thought this would be the next best thing,” Capt. Seymour said to the audience both near and far. “We are honored to be able to conduct this ceremony through teleconference.”
This unique, first-time occurrence provided an opportunity for two commands, separated by the Atlantic Ocean, to be in the same room simultaneously despite the distance for a time-honored tradition that distinctly signifies a tremendous accomplishment in a Sailor’s life.
“What a great way to join our fellow shipmate and his family who are over 4,000 miles away in Pirmasens Germany at his pinning ceremony,” said Command Master Chief Hospital Corpsman David Hall. “The CO’s office here was packed with faces both familiar and new to him as we joined in celebrating his past accomplishments, leading to his promotion. Hands down, that was video teleconferencing at its best!”
Although Stage reported to the command in June 2014 and is now thousands of miles away, several people in attendance had worked with him when he was previously stationed at NMLC. One shared a few complementary statements about their relationship.
“He really is a fine officer, a man of his word, someone you can depend upon and a friend. It may sound strange, especially if taken out of context, and I am certainly influenced by our time together here, but he is someone who I would willingly follow into combat...and there aren't a large number of people I would put into that category,” said Thomas Lippert, a Logistics Management Specialist and Integrated Logistics Systems Coordinator for NMLC’s Expeditionary Medical Facility Division.
The commanding officer also shared a few comments about his time here. “He was stationed here when he was an Ensign and started his commissioned service at NMLC. He was a prior chief and after getting commissioned, he went to the Naval Postgraduate School, earned his master’s degree, finished a tour with the Marines at Marine Corps Systems Command and is now the OIC at Pirmasens Germany,” Seymour said as she prepared to conduct the ceremony.
Through the modern advances of technology, both offices snapped to attention as the Navy officer promotion oath of office was recited by Capt. Seymour and repeated by Lt. Stage. After the applause and the pinning of the new insignia, Lt. Cmdr. Stage shared a few words to those in attendance.
“I’ve only worked with the staff here (in Pirmasens) for a short time, but they have proven to be outstanding. I’ve always said that you never get to this position (OIC) or get promoted without the support of the people that you work with,” Lt. Cmdr. Stage said. “If it weren’t for the outstanding staffs that I worked with at my last three commands, and early in my commissioned career at NMLC; working with Bill Hartmann, Tom Lippert and Ed Dofflemyer in the Fleet Hospital Program; and working with Capt. Seymour and Capt. Hall in Rota Spain, I would never have been successful.”
“But first and foremost, I want to thank God. When I got the results, the first thing I thought was there are days in my life when I realized that I am truly blessed and don’t deserve it – that was one of those days, but by the grace of God, go I and here I am. To him goes all the recognition for where I am today.”
After sharing a few heart-felt words about several of his past duty stations and his previous promotion where he was pinned while recuperating in a hospital bed, he turned to his family and expressed his deep gratitude for their support.
“My wife Rachel and I have been doing this for 30 years. She is definitely the CO of our house and if it weren’t for her love and support throughout all the years, the late nights spent at work, and while deployed, I definitely would not be where I am today. And for my kids, I am sure you can imagine what it was like for me to go home to tell my 13-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter – hey, we are moving to a place where you don’t speak the language and you get to leave all your friends behind. But, both of them stepped-up with no complaints and said, ‘Got it dad, we’re there for you.’ Without their support, I wouldn’t be here... I love you guys. So for everyone that I have worked with and that has supported me throughout the years, thank you very much.”
Naval Medical Logistics Command delivers patient-centered logistics solutions for military medicine and is the Department of Defense’s premier medical logistics support activity.
| Date Taken: | 09.03.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2014 12:47 |
| Story ID: | 142293 |
| Location: | FREDERICK, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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