Newly promoted Army 2nd Lt. Riki R. Riordan, signal

Newly promoted Army 2nd Lt. Riki R. Riordan, signal officer, 311th Signal Command, stands at attention as his father, Patrick (left),and his wife, Miyuki (right), pin second lieutenant bars on their son and husband's shoulders during a direct commission ceremony conducted Jan. 6, 2016, at Camp Zama, Japan. Army Maj Gen. James F. Pasquarette (center, behind Riordan), commanding general, U.S. Army Japan, presided over this unique ceremony only offered to enlisted Soldiers seeking a commission in the U.S. Army Reserve. Born and raised in Tokyo, Riordan enlisted in the Army in 2001 and served as a cavalry scout. Riordan transitioned to the Army Reserve in 2003 and continued to serve his country as a drill sergeant and, later, as a Contingency Acquisition Support Model subject matter expert for U.S. Army Japan. I (U.S. Army photo by Army Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV, U.S. Army Japan)