In 2023, according to the US Census Bureau, there were just over 18 million veterans living in the US. That’s approximately 6% of the adult population. My two brothers and I are three of those veterans and will be celebrating Veterans Day tomorrow. Every year I usually tell someone how I ended up in the military to begin with. This year, to those who are reading this post…LUCKY YOU!
Picture this, Kansas City, the year was 1991…I was feeling horrible because my older brother was in the Air Force, deployed during Desert Storm, and was hurt…to the point where he had to have surgery. Why was I feeling horrible you ask? Great question! My older brother and I are 18 months apart in age and we have always been close. BUT – when he asked me if I wanted to join the Air Force with him, I thought he had lost his mind. After all I was way too cool to go into the military…I mean, right?! He tried to make it seem so great. He said there was a buddy program where we could enlist together, go to basic together and tech school, etc. Still, I said no. Fast forward to him being on active duty and deployed during Desert Storm. My parents received a phone call one Sunday morning from a Saudi Arabian doctor telling them that my brother was injured and needed surgery. At that moment I was terrified for his safety, sad because I didn’t want him to be so far away from family and scared himself. But most of all, I was angry. Angry at myself for not going into the military with him when he asked because, in my mind, I thought if I was with him, I could have prevented anything from happening to him. (Clearly I thought I was some sort of super-hero that could protect him from anything! I was 19 years old! Of course I was a super-hero and completely invincible!) At that point it became my mission to go into the Air Force and be stationed with my older brother.
Side bar – Does anyone remember watching the show, China Beach? It ran from 1988-1991 and was based on a story written about a nurse in Vietnam. The nurses in the show were called “dollies”. I was hell-bent on becoming a dolly and taking care of my brother! End of side bar.
I went down to the recruiter’s office and began the process of enlisting in the US Air Force. First thing I had to do was take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery – otherwise known as the ASVAB. This test helps determine an individual’s eligibility for military service and job training. I kicked that test’s butt! Next, the physical. Very crude physical where the stories are true – you do have to squat and walk like a duck wearing very little clothing. This test is used to assess lower body flexibility and the condition of joints. Not to mention – it helps those who think very highly of themselves by knocking them down a few notches! Nothing like walking around like a duck in your skivvies!
After all of my testing was complete, I went into delayed enlistment in September of 1991. This meant I was entering the Air Force but I was waiting for my career selection as well as my basic training date. While I waited for that information, I went to different trainings that were held at the recruiting station. The trainings involved basic marching commands, dress and appearance, etc. I loved it. Then I got the call…I would be going to basic training in February 1992 and I was going to work in Supply. Now, my recruiter explained that being in supply would help me in getting stationed with my brother as he was in fuels. Those two career fields were both in logistics and worked hand-in-hand. My thought – Hold on big brother! I’m coming!
The night before I was to leave for basic training I had to go to MEPS. (Military Entrance Processing Station). The location wasn’t great, I was nervous every second that ticked by getting me closer to stepping on that plane and heading to Texas. Then, just before I was to raise my right hand and swear to support and defend the constitution of the United States, I tried to bail! That’s right – not happening! I would see my brother during holidays or whenever he came home. I called my mom and told her I wanted her to come and pick me up…she said NO! I could not believe it! My mother said NO! Was she crazy? Did she really want her only little girl to ship off into the unknown?!?!?! Not gonna lie – I hated her in that moment. But – I had an ace in my pocket. Someone who loved me waaaayyyyyy more than my mom and would never say no to me. MY GRANNY GERT! She would come get me. I could stay with her and everything would be right with the world. Then…she said NO! I could not believe my granny and my mom said they would not come get me. I was going into the Air Force……
20 plus years later, I was an officer…I had a dream-like career. (That’s for another post I will be writing). I made the best friends EVER in the Air Force, I gained a sense of community like no other, I have tremendous integrity in everything I do to this day, I like to think that I was a “dolly’ in my own way by taking care of those I served alongside, and I have a love of country instilled in me that makes me think things will get better no matter how bad they may seem at a given time. But – you know what I didn’t get…stationed with my older brother…nope, not once, NEVER! I did, however, get stationed with my little brother…TWICE!!!!
So, to all those who went before me, served with me and are serving now – Thank You for your service and everything you have done to ensure my freedom. And to all those who tell me Thank you – It was truly an honor (duckwalk and all)!
Until next time…xoxo,
Tracy
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