For the San Agustin family, Air Force is the only way to go

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachel Waller
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  "I, Christine San Agustin, do solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies foreign and domestic and bear true faith and allegiance to the same."

So began the oath of enlistment for a new recruit, cloning the words that all Service members have recited when joining the armed forces. For her military family, these words hit close to home.

On Oct. 4, Christine, was administered the oath of enlistment by a family friend, Lt. Col. Robert Gerleman, 100th Air Refueling Wing staff judge advocate, at the legal office here.

The oath enlisted her into the Air Force; the same oath enlisted her older brother into the Air Force a year prior and her father more than 23 years ago.

"I decided to join because I wanted to keep up with the family tradition," said the new recruit. "This is something that I wanted to do for a long time."

Her father, Master Sgt. James San Agustin, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron section chief of air terminal operations and passenger travel, couldn't be more proud of his two children.

"I'm glad my children are following in my footsteps," said San Agustin. "My wife's father was in the Air Force as well as her brother and sister, so we're like a great big Air Force family."

The new recruit said that she joined because of her dad being enlisted in the Air Force and it has always interested her. She also said she's looking forward to being able to serve her country.

The master sergeant is slated for retirement May 1, 2012, and after retiring he plans on settling down in Washington and enjoying life.

As one career comes to an end, another one begins as the newest San Agustin Airman recruit is scheduled to depart for basic military training Oct. 5. Following her successful completion of BMT, she'll attend technical training school to become a finance journeyman.

"In the future, I want to continue my career in the Air Force and probably retire from it," she said. "Someday, I also want to be a reserve officer training corps instructor."