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New recruits enlist; thousands of Chicago Air and Water Show spectators watch

  • Published
  • By Maj. Karen Roganov
  • National Civic Outreach Office, Chicago
CHICAGO (AFPN) --  Following a full-throttle aerial display of brute two-engine thrust by the F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team, 50 young men and women were sworn in to the United States Air Force Aug. 15 during the 51st Annual Chicago Air and Water Show held Aug. 15 -16.

"Today has been crazy ... I'm beyond excited," said Michael Leonard, 20, from Round Lake, Ill., who is slated for a winter timeframe departure for basic military training and a hopeful follow-on to technical training in the computer or signals intelligence field. 

Thousands of faces on the lakefront gazed at Mr. Leonard and the other recruits while they raised their right hands to commit to a higher calling. 

"I want to be part of something special," he said, referring to his future service to the country. 

If world-class aerial displays weren't enough to hype the recruits up for the swear-in, they also got the time of one of the Air Force's top fighter pilots. Maj. Gen. Gregory Feest, 19th Air Force commander, administered the oath of enlistment. General Feest is responsible for all Air Force pilot training and is also a fellow Midwesterner from neighboring Racine, Wis. 

Prior to swearing in, the general gathered the recruits in a private huddle for some encouraging words.

After citing his 31 years of service, the general asked how many recruits planned to stay for a full career. While the group of young men and women pondered that question, the general added, "If you're having fun, stay in!" 

For Tom Derosa, 18, from Itasca, Ill., responsibility and a rewarding job were immediate concerns. He said he hopes to soon become an Air Force firefighter or aircraft mechanic. 

He just may achieve that goal thanks to the efforts of Master Sgt. Joey Minor, 347th Recruiting Squadron flight chief. Sergeant Minor oversaw the logistics of getting four 15-passenger vans full of recruits from Matteson, Des Plaines, Schaumburg and South Holland, Ill., from the surrounding suburbs to the lakefront airshow. 

Sergeant Minor is enthusiastic about his responsibilities leading a team of seven recruiters. 

"I'm loving it ... the best job in the world ... I'm living the dream," he said. 

Apparently he wasn't the only one with high energy that day. 

"Every single kid has a parent with them," he said pointing to the designated parents' front-row seating. "They know how important this was." 

And if rocketing jets, a crowd from the nation's largest free air show and a general officer wasn't enough, another event followed the recruits' ceremony. 

While parents congratulated their children for taking the oath, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn dropped in to shake hands with a few. The small group soon became a larger gathering and the target of a photo opportunity for parents beaming with pride. 

Some new recruits will be leaving for military training as soon as next week, with the first one departing O'Hare International Airport Aug. 17.