Reciting the Oath of Commissioned Officers
Army Maj. Gen. James F. Pasquarette (left), commanding general, U.S. Army Japan, conducts the Oath of Commissioned Officers to newly promoted Army 2nd Lt. Riki R. Riordan (right), signal officer, 311th Signal Command, during a direct commission ceremony held Jan. 6, 2016, in Camp Zama, Japan. The ceremony was one of the first of its kind to take place within U.S. Army Japan as Riordan, a former sergeant first class in the Army Reserve and current Department of Army civilian working at USARJ's G3 (plans/operation) section, earned his rank without having first graduated from a U.S. military academy, Officer Candidate School or Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Direct commissions are typically only offered to enlisted Soldiers seeking a commission in the Army Reserve. Born and raised in Tokyo, Riordan enlisted in the Army in 2001 and served as a cavalry scout. Riordan transitioned to the Army Reserve in 2003 and continued to serve his country as a drill sergeant and, later, as a Contingency Acquisition Support Model subject matter expert for U.S. Army Japan. (U.S. Army photo by Army Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV, U.S. Army Japan)