Journal…Of Sorts…

Every 4 or 5 years, an enlisted member of a US armed force such as the Air Force has to re-enlist.  This means that they are committing to stay in the armed forces for another 4 or 5 years.  Officers have to certify that this is an official event.  They can either simply sign the paperwork, or they can turn it into something more, and have a ceremony.  The ceremony is quite simple, it’s one of those “repeat after me” type events.  A good officer will also give a short speech and say some nice things about the member.  On Friday, one of the master sergeants that works for me re-enlisted.  I was not the officer that performed the ceremony though, that honor fell to his son.  His son works in the group that I used to work in, is a C-130 pilot and is 29 years old (only 1.5 months older than me).  This was the first re-enlistment he had ever performed.  This was probably the last re-enlistment his father will have.  It was a very special occasion and I was proud to be present.  It was very neat to see a father be re-enlisted by his son, especially with the first and last circumstances.