CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER — At a U.S. military base in northern Iraq, a U.S. Army colonel raised his right hand to recite the oath of office. Thousands of miles away in a classroom at Virginia Technical Institute, Blacksburg, Va., Christopher Fetterman stood at attention, right hand raised, awaiting his father’s instruction.

“I, Christopher Lee Fetterman … do solemnly swear … that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America …”

Col. Patrick Fetterman, chief of staff, 4th Infantry Division and U.S. Division-North, commissioned his son Chris as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during a video teleconference, Dec. 16.

“I do not think you can be the child of a military member and not be impressed by the fact that the military helps people to become better,” Col. Fetterman said. “It is really gratifying to me that Chris has turned out to be a good man who wants to serve his nation and do right by his fellow man.”

Chris completed his Reserve Officer Training Corps curriculum at Virginia Tech, where he was commissioned one day before receiving a bachelor’s degree in history.

“It is good to know my hard work has paid off,” Chris said after the ceremony. “I’m graduating from college as well, but being commissioned into the Army gives me a greater sense of accomplishment.”

Chris said his father’s 30 years of military service had an important impact on his decision to pursue a military career.

“Growing up in a military Family gave me a taste of it; I met soldiers and I liked them,” he said. “I saw how important their work was, and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Col. Fetterman, a U.S. Military Academy graduate, said he looks forward to seeing his son succeed as a Soldier.

Col. Fetterman’s Wife, Sabina, and youngest son, Patrick, Jr. attended the ceremony, and the whole Family visited with Col. Fetterman face-to-face for the first time since he deployed to northern Iraq in November in support of Operation New Dawn.

Chris said he is slated to join 4th Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., as a transportation officer upon completion of the Basic Officer Leaders Course and air assault school.