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Thunderbirds, recruiters set record for largest swear-in ceremony

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Andrew O'Neel
  • 361st Recruiting Squadron
The 361st Recruiting Squadron Timberwolves and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds reached new recruiting heights recently by performing the largest Delayed Entry Program swear-in ceremony at an air show. 

Squadron recruiters inspired 151 future Airmen from Washington and Oregon to participate in the public ceremony conducted by Thunderbirds Commander Lt. Col. Greg Thomas at the 2008 McChord Air Expo. Colonel Thomas led the young men and women in the recitation of the Oath of Enlistment before a crowd of 165,735 air show enthusiasts in Washington. 

The swear-in contributed to the overall success of the expo and left a lasting impression on Airmen and visitors alike, said Col. Michael J. Hornitschek. 

"I genuinely believe that every spectator left our base this weekend with a renewed sense of patriotism, pride and confidence in our Air Force and Armed Forces," the 62nd Airlift Wing vice commander said.

The McChord Air Expo set a new base record for official attendance as well. The tally was 377, 616 for the two-day event, soundly trouncing the base's previous record of 150,000 attendees set in 2005.