Different reasons bring new Reservists together Published Oct. 23, 2006 By SrA Mark Orders-Woempner 434 ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind -- "Play like a champion today" is written on a sign at the exit of the Notre Dame Football locker room, and several people will get their chance to be "like a champion" after joining the U.S. Air Force Reserve team. A mass enlistment ceremony was held at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., Oct. 19, where 13 people from around the Midwest took the oath of enlistment in front of friends and family. The Hall of Fame is only a few miles away from the Notre Dame's campus. Reasons for taking the first steps towards military service varied among enlistees, but most stated they joined to serve their country and get the benefits associated with military service. "I decided to join because I want to go to college, travel and be independent," stated Christina Glover, a resident of Cassopolis, Mich. "I thought it would be a great experience for me." Another enlistee said he joined for experience that would help him in the outside world. "I always wanted to be a cop," said Doug Cox. "I went to the police department and they said military experience would help, plus I want to travel." Enlistee Michael Wendlinger had similar reasons for joining. "I joined for the experience," stated Andrew Lemacks, a native of Mishawaka, Ind., and is hoping to be a structural maintenance apprentice. "I'm hoping to get more of a technical experience as I want to go into a construction or architectural field." When asked why he chose the Air Force Reserve over other services reserve components, enlistee John Vanrees gave a prompt answer. "The Air Force seemed like it had the best options for me," stated Mr. Vanrees, 19, about why he chose the Air Force Reserve. "I've wanted to be around airplanes all my life, so I figured the Air Force was the way to go." As their families watched on, the moment each of the future Airmen experienced seemed to dramatically affect them. "This moment's great right now; I'm loving it," said Mr. Cox about the enlistment ceremony. "This is the first step in something bigger than me." Not only did this ceremony mean something to the enlistees, it also had an affect on their parents. "I'm just so proud of her," is what Tina Glover, mother of Ms. Glover, said over and over after the ceremony. The location of the ceremony was chosen because it is the half-way point between Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., and General Mitchell Air Reserve Station, Wisc., said Chief Master Sgt. Gary Anderson, Air Force Reserve Command recruiter, who added that after the closure of the Air Reserve station many of the reservists in that area will come to Grissom to fulfill their service commitments. The Air Reserve Station was selected to be closed down after the base realignment and closure proceedings in 2005 and will be completely closed down by February 2008. "The mass enlistment will include applicants of the Gen Mitchell recruiters and the Grissom recruiter's as we are now one team," said Chief Anderson. Though they may come from different places and their reasons for joining the Air Force Reserve may differ, each of the enlistees will now go on a road that all Air Force reservists have taken and begin their lives in that global community.
