What Is Your Greatest Military Order(s) Ever Issued?

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 22:34:18 -0400

I have kept all my military orders ever issued-hard copy! It could be a OPORDER, Verbal, PCS Orders, Awards, Promotion, Deployment and TDY Orders.
Definition: a command or notice issued by a military organization or a military commander to troops, sailors, etc.
In retrospect, I cherish my Retirement Orders as the most meaningful, because it culminated with 25 years and 3 days worth of Duty Honor Country sacrifice to the United States Army. (per order below)

"You are released from active duty and, on the date following, placed on the
retired list. The people of the United States express their thanks and
gratitude for your faithful service. Your contributions to the defense of the
United States of America are greatly appreciated. On date placed on the retired list, you are transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Retired), U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, KY 40121-5500.
Effective date: 31 December 2014
Retired grade of rank: SFC
Current grade effective date: 01 April 2007
Authorized place of retirement: FORT HOOD TC (WOVC1A) FORT HOOD TX 76544-5056

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/order

the definition of order

Order definition, an authoritative direction or instruction; command; mandate. See more.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 10:42 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 22:42:03 -0400

My retirement orders.

Response by MSgt John Carroll made Oct 23 at 2015 11:08 PM

MSgt John Carroll — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 23:08:50 -0400

I need to find them again but my orders to the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. I went TDY there in 2004 for a JPAC mission. It felt good to recover and repatriate some MIA from the Korean war.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 11:16 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 23:16:47 -0400

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL I'm on the road but I have some that read, "For the duration" ..... How would you like those??

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 23 at 2015 11:17 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 23:17:17 -0400

Do verbal orders count? Now that a certain leader of ours has long since retired I can say that his last order to us crossing into Iraq was the best, most concise, common sense, and practical ROE order I ever received. "I will rot in jail for the rest of my life defending your decision to engage the enemy. If you can look me in the eye in all sincerity, and tell me you acted to save your life and the lives of your brothers, I got your back'. That statement answered everyone's last minute questions that we had for him.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Oct 24 at 2015 12:04 AM

Capt Walter Miller — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 00:04:30 -0400

"Pass me my sleeping bag."

Response by SP5 Michael Rathbun made Oct 24 at 2015 12:32 AM

SP5 Michael Rathbun — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 00:32:34 -0400

Not really orders, but life-changing to this day.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Oct 24 at 2015 8:17 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 08:17:27 -0400

My orders to be an Active Duty JROTC Instructor with duty at Balboa High School, DoDDS-Panama Region.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 24 at 2015 9:21 AM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 09:21:12 -0400

MY RETIREMENT ORDERS!!!
But my best were orders to Iraq cut by and in support of the Army while I was still Air Force. That's the first and only time I had that happen in my entire career!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 24 at 2015 9:39 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 09:39:42 -0400

You are retired on May 13, 2011.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Oct 24 at 2015 10:44 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 10:44:59 -0400

Tie between the orders sending me to Ft. Knox, KY on 23 Sept 1987 to begin my journey as a Tanker and the orders placing me on the retired list on 30 Sept 2013, ending my journey as a Tanker.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 1:21 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 13:21:56 -0400

Not mine, but I was in the Company when they were issued. My National Guard unit was tasked with bringing an M1 Abrams to the MLB stadium for a recruiting event. This was a 4+ hour trip in a car, so it took even longer in a HETT. Needless to say the men were not particularly enthused about the whole idea.

My Readiness NCO put the reason for the orders as "canine and equestrian presentation" as a snarky way to show his thoughts on the idea. Whoever approved the orders apparently didn't read them too closely. In the end our troops had orders stating they were on Title 32 active duty for a "dog and pony show...."

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Oct 24 at 2015 8:53 PM

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 20:53:13 -0400

Mine were orders to training as a Naval Flight Officer.

Response by TSgt David L. made Oct 24 at 2015 10:43 PM

TSgt David L. — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 22:43:15 -0400

I think all of my deployment orders are right up there for favorites, but I have to agree with you about my retirement orders SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. It was a bitter sweet moment, and still almost a tear jerker when I have the occasion to drive off of the base. The orders attest to my 23 years of Article 15 free service. Something an EOD Tech can be proud of! To top it off, POTUS George W. signed mine, since I retired 17 days before Y'ALLS Prez took over. LOL

Response by TSgt Mario Guajardo made Oct 25 at 2015 2:33 AM

TSgt Mario Guajardo — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 02:33:25 -0400

Orders in 1986 assigning me to the 4450th Tactical Group, Nellis Air Force Base, F-117A flightline maintenance. The orders were data masked since the stealth program was classified Top Secret Special Access Required. All I knew at the time was to report to Nellis.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 25 at 2015 11:00 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 11:00:37 -0400

A tossup between my orders to boot camp, and my retirement as a LCDR...

My orders to USS Hawkbill SSN 666 are up there too - I met the woman I would marry almost 32 years ago, the day after I reported aboard Hawkbill...

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 25 at 2015 11:00 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 23:00:46 -0400

Easy. My retirement/transfer to the Fleet Reserves orders!

Response by MSgt Stephan Hall made Oct 31 at 2015 9:07 AM

MSgt Stephan Hall — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 09:07:42 -0400

The day I participated in a joint Educational Seminar in Des Moines, Iowa as the lone Senior Drill Instructor putting on a skit showing the Educators what new recruit could expect getting on the Yellow Foot Prints. Having 1500 secretaries on the floor above us Military guys didn't hurt either.

Response by SGT Chris Hill made Nov 1 at 2015 6:06 AM

SGT Chris Hill — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 06:06:29 -0500

Most definitely my ETS orders, 50 days left!

Response by PO2 Joan Feledy made Nov 3 at 2015 9:03 AM

PO2 Joan Feledy — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 09:03:28 -0500

Well it wasn't actually orders, but while I was awaiting my first ship in 97, I was TAD to Sima Norfolk. Because I was TAD I got stuck in cleaning. One day I snuck into 31T which was the Gas Turbine Shop, my rating. I really wanted to be in there and talked to the Chief who was in there when I snuck in told him where I was and how boring and tedious it was. Well not sure what he did but he got me into 31T and it was the best ever. I actually got to work on gas turbines and learn stuff for my rate. We would go out to different ships and do jobs in their turbines. I loved that place and working on the engines and learning more about them by doing maintenance. I was only able to spend a bit under 90 days there, but by far one of my best.

Response by SFC Arthur Tucker made Nov 5 at 2015 11:12 PM

SFC Arthur Tucker — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 23:12:22 -0500

Many of my orders were verbal and never on paper. I sure wish that I had some on paper now that the VA is denying me.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Nov 6 at 2015 10:20 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 10:20:30 -0500

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL - LOL ... Like you, I have a copy of every order, etc. I have ever received, in addition to every pay voucher, medical record, etc., etc.... Never know when you might need them.. even after decades have passed... :-)

I guess the one that means the most to me is the one that awarded me with a Commission as a 2LT, Regular Army ... Next would probably be the orders awarding the Ranger Tab.

As far as my Retirement Orders, there are certainly many days, still, that I wish I had never received them and was still on active duty. I dearly miss the Army and everything about it. It was a very hard decision to retire when I did, but the opportunity I had was not likely to be around later, so I did it. Don't get me wrong, I have greatly enjoyed my post-retirement civilian career (and still do), but it just is not the same as the Army.

Response by SGT Joey Landry made Feb 23 at 2018 5:17 PM

SGT Joey Landry — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 17:17:37 -0500

My best orders were to Fort Dix, NJ from West Germany