SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Goodfellow’s top military leadership from the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy participated in Our Community Salutes, a ceremony recognizing high school graduates who enlisted in the U.S. armed services, May 19 at Angelo State University. The 23 enlistees received t-shirts, certificates and a challenge coin to recognize their commitment to join the military.
OCS was established in 2009 as a non-profit organization helping communities recognize, honor and support high school seniors who enlisted in the U.S. armed services after graduation.
“Now there are 50 chapters all over the United States and Puerto Rico. So far they have recognized over 100,000 enlistees into our United States military,” said Concho Valley chapter organizer, Blake Ferguson
Patriotic Blue opened the ceremony singing the national anthem and Lt. Col. Robert Borger, 17th Training Wing chaplain, provided the invocation.
Col. Ricky Mills, 17th Training Wing commander, provided some wisdom and advice to the new enlistees. He shared his appreciation that within the military, a glass ceiling does not exist and what matters most is not ethnicity, gender or religion, but instead what they do once the enlistees put on their respective uniforms.
“There’s three things that I’d ask that you could remember that will set you up for success. All three of these things are completely within your control,” said Mills. “If you do those three things – give your best effort, have a positive attitude and make smart choices, there’s no reason why each and every one of you can’t succeed in the service of your country or in the service of anything else you choose to do in life.”
The ceremony concluded with final thoughts from both Mills and Ferguson about family and while the enlistees leave their current family, they become part of another.
“You are joining another family. No matter where you are, you are part of that family and we are honored to be here with you,” said Ferguson.