What is a commissioning ceremony?
Commissioning ceremonies are very important events for the Department of Defense and the U. S. Navy. It represents the official acceptance of a ship by our government and with it the designation of United States Ship: “USS”. It is viewed as the ship’s birthday and from that day forward it is placed into active service as a warship. Ships such as FREEDOM will go on to serve our country for the next 20 – 30 years. Several generations of sailors will deploy in her, defending our country well into the 21st century. The commissioning ceremony (and related events both before and after the actual commissioning) will attract a great many senior government leaders, military officers, elected representatives, and state and local officials. The ship’s builders also attend, along with its many subcontractors. The event is steeped in centuries of naval tradition with much pomp and circumstance. The ceremony also allows the community to view the ship up close and meet her crew.
A8. Commissioning is the ceremony in which the ship will become a unit of the operating forces of the United States Navy. Commissioning is an elaborate event, which dignifies the occasion as the ship “Comes Alive” and becomes USS ________. San Antonio will be commissioned in 2005 followed by the other ships of the class.
