Son re-enlists mother from across the world

Published Aug. 8, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- When 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 her son: a brand new second lieutenant.

Second Lieutenant Vincent McLean got the honor of re-enlisting his mother, the command chief master sergeant here, via video teleconference from his duty station at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. The opportunity came just weeks after Chief McLean gave her son his first salute as an officer.

Lieutenant McLean's 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 in her two-and-a-half decade career. But this time, the words, "I love you!" were added to the salute at the end.

"Doing my mother's re-enlistment was great," Lieutenant McLean said. "It gave me a 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."

Chief McLean's 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 and was a little misty eyed at it.

"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."

Son re-enlists mother from a world away