Traditions of Service

  • Published
  • By Public affairs staff report
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The military is steeped in tradition. From the flags and colors to salutes and forms of address, military life continues traditions that can be centuries old.

One of those traditions still observed is senior leaders serving their troops on holidays.
While leaders let subordinates eat first ordinarily, on holidays it's another matter.
Leaders - from captains to colonels and sergeants major - don their dress uniforms to dish out a special meal to their troops.

"It's a tradition to serve at the [dining facility]," said Army Capt. Leslie Fernandez, commander of the 56th Engineer Company and a native of Chehalis, Wash. "It's
good for the morale of the Soldiers. We had all the 2nd Engineer Brigade people there, and it was definitely nice to see my own Soldiers come through the line, and to serve them."