Monty Vikdal promoted to captain

When Monty Vikdal was deciding where to hold the ceremony marking his promotion to Captain in the US Navy Reserve, he had several options.

“I considered traveling to Washington D.C. to do this in front of the National Archives,” he said during the Aug. 1 ceremony. “I considered traveling to Philadelphia to do this at a naval monument. And at the end of the day, I decided I wanted to utilize a local venue to maximize the ability to have family, friends, and neighbors here with me, so I could thank all of you.

“This is important to me, as I fully realize that a successful military career is only possible with the support of all of you.”

Vikdal was speaking to an overflow crowd in the meeting room at the Lake City VFW that included friends, family, neighbors, former shipmates, local veterans, the VFW color guard, and other well-wishers.

Emceeing the event was Bill Stemper, Vikdal’s friend of many decades.

Parked outside was the Lake City Fire Department ladder truck flying the department’s enormous garrison flag.

This promotion, from commander to captain, comes as he nears his 40th anniversary in military service in December, he told the audience.

He enlisted in the Navy his senior year in high school, he said.

In 2003, he became an intelligence officer.

That’s when he met Capt. Dean Miereau, the presiding officer at the ceremony, whom Vikdal had served under for many years, he said.

“We’ve had a lot of good times, and we’ve had some tough times,” he said.

Like Vikdal, Miereau began his career as an enlisted sailor before getting his officer commission.

Miereau spoke briefly at the ceremony. He likened the jump from commander to captain to “going from college to the pros.” For Vikdal, that means more responsibility, more work, and more shared sacrifice.

Relatively few officers rise to the rank of commander, he said. Fewer still become captains.

Out of maybe 200 commanders eligible for the promotion to captain, Vikdal was one of just 13 this year.

“He’s a good officer,” Miereau said. “I trust him. The Navy trusts him. And this country trusts him.”

Vikdal thanked his family for taking care of things at home while he was deployed, as well as friends and neighbors who did things like watch his dog for a year while he was in Baghdad, plow his driveway, and mow his lawn.

He thanked the veterans in the room.

“Standing here today as captain in the world’s greatest navy is the honor of a lifetime,” he said. “But to be honest, the rank insignia on these shoulder boards and on this jacket belongs just as much to my spouse and children as it does to me. To my family, thank you for being my safe harbor through every deployment, every PCS move, every missed birthday, every missed holiday. Your resilience is the true foundation of my service.”

At the close of the ceremony, Monty’s children, Tia and Cooper, brought him a bouquet. He hugged both, presented the bouquet to his wife Tiffany, and hugged her.