Son re-enlists mother from a world away

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  When 82nd Training Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Jeannie McLean stood ready to re-enlist for the final time July 25, it wasn't her commander she looked across at, it was a brand new second lieutenant - her son.

Second Lieutenant Vincent McLean, 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, got the honor of re-enlisting his mother via video teleconference, just weeks after she saluted him for the first time.

His first words to his mother were practical, letting her know his side could not see themselves in the teleconference. The chief's were the words of a proud mother.

"You look very handsome," she said. "I missed your face."

After a few moments of catching up, Chief McLean raised her right hand and swore to serve the United States in front of friends and family as she had done numerous times before. But this time, it ended with not only a salute, but an "I love you."

"Doing my mother's re-enlistment was great," Lieutenant McLean said, "it gave me the feeling of pride to know that we are there for each other in family life and in the military. She was my Silver Dollar Salute at the beginning of my career and I was her last re-enlistment. It has a nice kind of symmetry."

The pride the young lieutenant felt in seeing his mother re-enlist for the last time was mirrored by his mother. Her pride was in her seeing her only son become an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

"I think it's outstanding he made this choice," she said. "This is the only life he's ever known. I've been in 25 years and he's 22."

Lieutenant McLean said he wanted to join the Air Force straight out of high school, but his mother insisted he go to college first. He said he sought an Air Force commission because he wanted the leadership challenge.

The chief said it felt odd to re-enlist for her last time.

"This was my last re-enlistment, how beautiful to have had my son do it," she said. 

"The Air Force is a great way of life. I can't imagine having done anything different for the last 25 years. I've loved every minute of this. I love what we teach our folks."