Lt. Gen. Lynch and Command Sgt. Maj. Ciotola swear in new military recruits to kick off Military Appreciation Night at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Friday, Feb. 11

Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commanding general of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, swore in 46 of the Army's newest recruits Friday, Feb. 11 at Military Appreciation Night at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

 

Lynch and IMCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, who rode alongside him during the ceremony, both served in the 1st Cav. Div. at Ft. Hood and gained experience riding horses during their service.

 

Lynch and Ciotola spent an hour visiting with the recruits and their Families before the ceremony.

 

"For all you youngsters, you know how much I love you," Lynch told the recruits before officially swearing them in as the newest members of the military. "I'm humbled to be in your presence."

 

The swearing-in ceremony kicked off the rodeo event, which sold out at 16,500 people, including 1,500 military personnel and their Families, according to Duane Heady, chairman of the Rodeo Ticket Committee. Every Friday night during the rodeo, which runs from Feb. 3 through Feb. 20, military servicemembers and their Families gain free admission to the rodeo.

 

"We wanted to combine the patriotic tenor of San Antonio with bringing in our new recruits," said Maggie Brewster, IMCOM community relations officer, who coordinated the ceremony. "The rodeo crowd is pretty all-American."

 

Photos by Andy Bujanos

 

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About the U.S. Army Installation Management Community:

 

IMCOM handles the day-to-day operations of U.S. Army installations around the globe - We are the Army's Home. Army installations are communities that provide many of the same types of services expected from any small city. Fire, police, public works, housing, and child-care are just some of the things IMCOM does in Army communities every day. We endeavor to provide a quality of life for Soldiers, Civilians and Families commensurate with their service. Our professional workforce strives to deliver on the commitments of the Army Family Covenant, honor the sacrifices of military Families, and enable the Army Force Generation cycle.

 

Our Mission: To provide standardized, effective and efficient services, facilities and infrastructure to Soldiers, Civilians and Families for an Army and Nation engaged in persistent conflict.

 

Our Vision: Army installations are the Department of Defense standard for infrastructure quality and are the provider of consistent, quality services that are a force multiplier in supported organizations' mission accomplishment, and materially enhance Soldier, Civilian and Family well-being and readiness.

 

To learn more about IMCOM, visit us online:

 

IMCOM Official Web Site - www.imcom.army.mil/hq/

 

Flickr Photostream - www.flickr.com/photos/imcom

 

YouTube - www.youtube.com/installationmgt

 

Twitter - www.twitter.com/armyimcom

 

Facebook - www.facebook.com/InstallationManagementCommunity

 

Scribd - www.scribd.com/IMCOMPubs

 

CNN iReport - www.ireport.com/people/HQIMCOMPA/

 

DoD Live Blog - usarmyimcom.armylive.dodlive.mil/

 

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