The United States Air Force has three core values:
Integrity First
Service Before Self
Excellence In All We Do
I am so hyped right now! “Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds” on Netflix is a must see!
I’m experiencing so many feelings at this moment.
Gratefulness: So grateful I had the opportunity to serve. Who knew that waking up one morning and deciding to join the Air Force would have this much of an impact on my life?
Nostalgia: I miss that life. I miss the camaraderie. We were more than coworkers and colleagues. We were family. (Been trying to find that same connection in the civilian world, but I’m not sure it exists.)
Pumped Up: I won’t leak any spoilers, but that ending! Listen, I already knew what was going to happen. There’s something about pressure and adrenaline that pushes you to excel.
And seeing General Jumper was the icing on the cake. I knew who he was before they even showed his name. I served under his command in Europe. Talk about chills!
Seeing this documentary made me feel like I was back at home. I believe I need to visit an Air Force base soon. I need to see my people.☺️
Good morning, and Happy Veterans Day to all who have served in any branch of the military. Thank you for your service!🫡
Thirty-two years ago, when I enlisted in the Air Force, I was clueless about the path my life would take. It was a journey I was definitely not prepared for, but one I’m glad I took. Until today, although I always hear “Thank you for your service,” I never considered “service” to be service.
Since childhood, I always wanted to be of service to others. However, I thought I would do this through the Peace Corps, volunteering, or later working for the United Nations in some capacity. I never considered the military as service, mostly because it was not what I had imagined as service. Hmmm… I guess taking an oath to sacrifice our comforts and possibly lives for the freedoms of others and our country is an act of service. The ultimate act of service.
Here are a couple of photos from the beginning of my official service career.
I was tired, but I made it! I didn’t know my own strength.Smiles were not permitted. We meant business.😁
Y’all, I still can’t believe I was in the Air Force. Forever an airman—always aiming high.🇺🇸
Shaun
A thought…
Thinking about my life and my lifelong mission to serve, does anything ever look like what we imagined? Or happen the way we imagined? When I really think about it, I have been serving in some capacity since childhood. As the oldest child, I served my siblings. As a teenager, I served as our church’s historian. In high school, my sister and I started the first recycling club (this was in the late 80s—we were going to save the planet 😊). I have been doing the work, but never considered it service.
What were/are some of your lifelong dreams and aspirations? When you think about it, have you already been doing them in some capacity? Have you already been living out your dreams?
Y’all, I am finally starting to socialize more, and lately it’s been with my fellow veterans. This year, I have attended at least four events, including a small social I attended last night in honor of Veterans Day. Typically, I attend one every other year. However, this year is different—maybe my age has something to do with it (Giggles). This year, I am finally fully embracing my veteran status. I realize I belong to a very special community, and it’s a community I look forward to serving, as well as serving with.
Here’s a picture of me with one of my favorite veterans and friends, Mrs. Raylawni Branch. She’s a retired Air Force nurse and a pillar in our community. I always have a great time when we’re together.
Mrs. Raylawni is a fascinating person. Fun facts, she loves to travel and she taught herself the Korean language by watching Korean movies. Beautiful being.🥰
So far, my Veterans Day weekend has been pretty good. Not sure what I’ll do today. However, tomorrow, which is Veterans Day, is when the real fun begins. People treat us so well on Veterans Day. Smiling
Are you a veteran? If so, what are your plans for tomorrow?
Mine—Breakfast at IHOP, lunch at Olive Garden or Chili’s, and I’m not sure about dinner yet.☺️
Well, that’s all for now. It’s raining good (which is why I’m posting a little late) and I am about to turn over and go back to sleep.
Good Morning! Today’s post is a screenshot of notes I took on September 5, 2022 while watching an episode of Laurie Crouch’s “Better Together” podcast. Unfortunately, I didn’t include a link (probably should start) or the title. However, I did include who said what so you might be able to find this particular episode if you’d like to watch it.
Notes from September 5, 2022
Me seeing this message today makes me want to pursue my dreams even more. It’s confirmation that I am moving in the right direction and that they are happening…now!
I wrote those notes two years ago. Today (literally), I’m serving. I’ve been working with a nonprofit organization helping them prepare for their charity day event (coincides with the International Day of Charity) which is happening in a few hours. Y’all, I have been serving, and God has been building. Forever grateful and beyond blessed.🥰
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading. I pray you have a wonderfully, beautiful day.♥️
I was 19 years old when I joined the Air Force. Believe me, I had no idea of what I had gotten myself into; however, I knew I had to do something. At the time, I was heartbroken, too grown to continue living with my mother, and I was failing my first semester of college. Yeah.. I needed to do something. So I spontaneously joined the Air Force. Really! I put no real thought into it. As Nike says, “Just do it!” Well.. I did it!
Up until my first full day of basic training, I had no clue of what I had done. I had actually signed eight years of my life away– four active and four inactive, and it was all because I wanted to get away from home. Little did I know that I was giving up my freedom for the sake of others. That at anytime within those eight years I could possibly go to war. So no, I did not join because I was patriotic, I joined to get away.
Anyhoo.. It was during basic training that I discovered my true strengths and weaknesses. For instance, I had no idea my left arm was so strong! Well, I found out my first night/early morning at basic training. You see, my recruiter told me I needed to pack for basic training and technical school (which was to come afterwards). And pack I did! I brought two bags with me, one of which contained laundry detergent and an iron. I had clothes, makeup, shoes and purses. For some reason I had packed like I was going on vacation instead of boot camp. For years I blamed the recruiter when in reality it was all me! All Shaun!! I was like, “I’m not buying stuff I already have.” Too funny! Well, I paid for it.
That night (which was the only time) my training instructor/drill instructor got in my face and yelled at me. She asked me what was I thinking bring all that s**t with me. Y’all, I was soooo embarrassed. I was this 5’1 3/4”, 100 lb, sleep-deprived female being yelled at by a woman at least twice my size– okay, might be over exaggerating, but just a little–in front of over 100 airmen in my section. There were even more airmen further down. Well, of course I wasn’t the only one being yelled at, but it sure felt like it. As I said, I had no idea my left arm was so strong. She made me pick up both of my bags with my left hand and carry them around the building (which I later learned we were already at the entrance but they had to make everything DRAMATIC) and up five flights of stairs without dropping or dragging them. She put me at the end of the line because she didn’t want me “holding up” her line. That was the day I learned to pack light. Carryon luggage, only! Bae-bé, I can pack several days in a carryon. Skills!!
I have so many other stories about my eight weeks at Lackland AFB. To this day, I have no desire to revisit San Antonio. That one stay was enough. Overall, I am so grateful for the experience. Joining the military was like extending my family. The people I worked with, lived with, went clubbing and church with, toured with, all become part of my family. As many of you know, Ramstein, Germany was my first duty station. I knew absolutely no one when I got off the plane. However, I was greeted with so much love and camaraderie. Everyone, from my Chief to my roommate, made sure I had everything I needed. They were my family.
I could write sooo much more, but I don’t have time. Maybe one day I’ll write my memoirs. I’m so grateful God granted me that opportunity and experience. So grateful for all of the wonderful people I met along the way. We really had some good times.
For the past few years I have celebrated Veterans Day with my little sister, who served in the Navy. This year, because of COVID-19, and a few other things, I won’t be able to spend it with her. Our ritual is to get as many freebies as possible. We usually spend the entire day hitting up one restaurant after another. It’s pretty awesome, and even more awesome because we spend the day with our fellow veterans. So I am dedicating this blog to her. Thank you for your service, Shartese! And you too, Sarah!! She’s my other little sister who served in the Army but acts like she didn’t. Lol!
Happy Veterans Day to my fellow veterans; and from one vet to another, thank you so much for your service!
It’s Shaun’s World 
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