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Change of Command Ceremony

Sample Change of Command Ceremony brochure

The line officer of today’s US Navy looks forward to the time when – with added years and varied experience in the sea service – he or she will be ordered to command a ship. The orders will be issued by the Chief of Naval Personnel in approximately these words:

“Proceed to the port in which USS Advance may be and upon arrival, report to your immediate superior in command, if present, otherwise by message, for duty as commanding officer of USS Advance.”

At this point the new CO [commanding officer] will be participating, for the first time actively, in the “change of command” ceremony. What is the tradition of the change of command?

Very little has been written on the subject. The basic sources, outside of custom and tradition are Navy regulations. The first mention of the ceremony in Navy regulations occurs during the Civil War; there has been little change in the procedures of the change of command since then.

The 1865 edition of Regulations for the Government of the United States Navy in Article 3, Section 1, no.72, says:

When a Commodore, Captain, or any other officer is appointed to the command of a single vessel, he will, if she be at a navy yard and ready to be transferred to him, make, in company with the Commanding Officer of the yard, or some other proper officer or officers appointed by such Commanding Officer for the purpose, a thorough personal examination of her, and inform himself as to all her arrangements and preparations of equipment; after which the transfer is to be formally made in the presence of as many of her officers and crew as can be assembled, before whom his appointment is to be read; and then the vessel is to be placed in commission by hoisting her ensign and pendant. If the vessel is already in commission, he is, nevertheless to examine her and inform himself as stated above, and to read to her officers and crew his appointment.

The 1990 edition of United States Navy Regulations in Article 0807, says that a “commanding officer about to be relieved of his command will: (a) inspect the command in company with the relieving officer, (b) In the case of a ship, and within other commands where appropriate, cause the crew to be exercised in the presence of both the commanding officer and the relieving officer at general quarters and general drills, unless conditions render it impracticable or inadvisable."

Relating specifically to the change of command ceremony is the regulation that at the time of turning over command the outgoing CO will “call all hands to muster, read the order of detachment and turn over command to his or her relief, who will read the orders of relief and assume command. At shore activities, this procedure may be modified as appropriate."

The change of command ceremony itself is under way when all hands are called to Quarters at the appointed hour. Sufficient room is left for the guests. The uniform is normally service dress with the official party in full dress uniform with medals and swords.

When the executive officer (XO) reports the crew at Quarters, the outgoing CO and his relief proceed to the ceremonial area together. The ceremony routine will generally include an honor guard to parade the national ensign, the singing or playing of the national anthem, and an invocation and benediction. After a brief speech, the outgoing officer reads the orders of detachment to the officers and crew, then turns to his relief and reports "I am ready to be relieved." The relieving officer steps forward and reads his or her orders to command, after which he salutes the outgoing officer and says, “I relieve you sir/ma'am."

The new skipper typically will give a brief talk to the personnel of his or her new command and may include a statement that standing orders will remain in effect. He then turns to the executive officer and orders the XO to continue with ship's routine.

The ceremony is over and he or she is now CO of USS Advance.

Navy regulations also specify that "the officer relieved, though without authority after turning over the command, is, until final departure, entitled to all ceremonies and distinctions accorded a commanding officer."

Adapted from: “How Did It Start: Change of Command Ceremony.” All Hands 451 (September 1954): 57.

Image of the cover of a Change of Command ceremony brochure.
Image of the cover of a Change of Command ceremony brochure. Text of image: Change of Command Ceremony of Commander, New York Naval Shipyard; 29 June 1956, Brooklyn, New York.
Image of page 2 of Change of Command Ceremony brochure.
Image of page 2 of Change of Command Ceremony brochure. Includes two officer biographies; text of biographies is below.

REAR ADMIRAL ROY T. COWDREY,
U.S. NAVY


Admiral Cowdrey’s skilled and inspired leadership of the New York Naval Shipyard for nearly five years marks the culmination of a brilliant Navy career of 40 years begun in 1916 at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Since taking the helm as Shipyard Commander on November 25, 1951, Admiral Cowdrey has been responsible for the prestige of the Shipyard soaring to new and greater heights. His extensive experience as a topflight shipbuilding and repair specialist made possible the miraculous ten day replacement of the bow of the carrier WASP extensively damaged in a collision at sea. There followed conversion of the carriers HENNINGTON, HORNET and TICONDEROGA; the Navy’s first angled-deck was installed in the ANTIETAM; the world’s most powerful carrier, the SARATOGA, was built; and her sister ship, the INDEPENDENCE, was started.

In Safety the Shipyard, under his guidance, achieved top honors in the National Safety Council Marine Section Contest for 1955, and is still in first place for 1956 to date.

Rear Admiral Cowdrey leaves to the Shipyard a splendid heritage of difficult objectives spectacularly achieved.

 

REAR ADMIRAL LESLIE A. KNISKERN, U.S. NAVY

As Admiral Kniskern assumes his new duties today it will be his third command of a Naval Shipyard having served in similar capacity from November 1946 to May 1949 at Puget Sound, and from there going to Philadelphia. In June 1952 he reported as U.S. Navy Shipbuilding Representative, Europe, where he remained until June 1955 when he was assigned as inspector General, Bureau of Ships, at Treasure Island, San Francisco, California, the billet he just left to come to New York.

During Admiral Kniskern’s long and outstanding naval career, his various exceptional capacities have earned him numerous honors. In addition to the Legion of Merit and the Commendation Ribbon, he has the Victory Medal (World War I), the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Admiral Kniskern has also been awarded the Order of British Empire (Honorary Commander) by the Government of Great Britain and the Legion d’Honneur (rank of Commandeur) by the Government of France.

Image of page 3 of the ceremony brochure.
Image of page 3 of the ceremony brochure. Text of page: Schedule of Events: 1500 - Music by U.S. Naval Base Band; 1522 - Rear Admiral Kniskern USN arrives at ceremony area; 1523 - Rear Admiral Cowdrey USN, Commander New York Naval Shipyard, arrives at ceremony area; 1530 - National Anthem; 1533 - Rear Admiral Cowdrey reads his orders; 1545 - Rear Admiral Kniskern reads his orders; 1553 - Rear Admiral Cowdrey is presented with his personal flag; 1555 Benediction; 1557 - Rear Admiral Cowdrey departs; 1559 - Rear Admiral Kniskern USN, Commander New York Naval Shipyard, departs; 1600 - Guests depart.


Schedule of Events

 

1500 - Music by U.S. Naval Base Band
1522 - Rear Admiral Kniskern USN arrives at ceremony area
1523 - Rear Admiral Cowdrey USN, Commander New York Naval Shipyard, arrives at ceremony area
1530 - National Anthem
1533 - Rear Admiral Cowdrey reads his orders
1545 - Rear Admiral Kniskern reads his orders
1553 - Rear Admiral Cowdrey is presented with his personal flag
1555 - Benediction
1557 - Rear Admiral Cowdrey departs
1559 - Rear Admiral Kniskern USN, Commander New York Naval Shipyard, departs
1600 - Guests depart

Image of back page of Change of Command ceremony brochure.
Image of back page of Change of Command ceremony brochure. Photo on back page is of cranes on the New York Naval Shipyard with the Empire State Building in the background.

[END]

Published: Tue Aug 29 14:16:48 EDT 2017