ARMY RESERVE IMAGES 

 

 

 

 

Direct to gold
Army Maj. Gen. James F. Pasquarette (left), commanding general, U.S. Army Japan (USARJ), stands at attention with Army 2nd Lt. Riki R. Riordan (third from left), signal officer, 311th Signal Command, during a direct commission ceremony conducted at USARJ's headquarters building in Camp Zama, Japan, Jan. 6, 2016. Riordan's father, Patrick (second from left), and his wife, Miyuki (right), pinned gold bars on their son and husband's shoulders, officially distinguishing him as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. Born and raised in Tokyo, Riordan is one of the first Soldiers in USARJ history to transition from the enlisted to officer ranks without having graduated from a military academy, Officer Candidate School, or Reserve Officer Training Corps program. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV, U.S. Army Japan)