Editor's Note: We are not sure if we will keep the blog going every week. Now that Jordan has graduated from Basic Training we will be able to hear from him whenever he wants. He received his cell phone today and has already texted us to say he was processing to his Tech School which is there at Lackland Air Force Base. He will be there another 9 weeks but it won't be as strict. He will then receive orders to got who knows where in the world. We will keep everyone posted about that. Below is our experience going to San Antonio to see Jordan graduate. What an awesome experience!
We flew in Wednesday. We checked into our hotel and then headed to
Lackland Air Force Base. We drove around and made sure we knew where
we needed to be for the next day.
Thursday we lined up to see Jordan for the first time running and saying "jodies" or
cadence. It was a thrill to see all the trainees in formation.
After the run we had some time to go to a briefing and find our place for the
coin ceremony. This is a ceremony where their Training Instructors present them
with the Airman coin. They are now Airmen and not trainees.
It is a moving experience as they play God Bless America
and Proud to be an American. Hard to keep a dry eye. After, we were able to go and
tap Jordan and see him for the first time and hug him. It was quite emotional.
It was hard seeing other trainees without family there. They had to be tapped by a
brother so they could come out of attention. I'm sure it was hard for them to watch
all the families greet their Airmen. I wanted to hug them all for their hard work and
diligence.
We were able to take Jordan after that and be with him on base. He only had a base
pass so we couldn't take him off base. We only had him for a few hours as their flight
didn't pass an inspection and so they had to be back early. We were sad but understood
that it was all up to their instructors that day.
Friday was the big parade day. We were able to see Jordan march in his blues and
repeat the Airman's creed and take the oath once again. We were able to go onto the
field and tap him again. There was a sea of blue and we had a hard time finding him.
Jordan and his proud mom.
Father and son in blues.
We met other Airmen brothers and their families.
We were able to go and see his dorm and where he has slept, ate, marched and lived
for the last 9 weeks. After seeing his living quarters, we were able to take him off base
since he had a town pass. We decided to go to the Alamo and the Riverwalk. He wasn't
really excited and we think he was tired too. We took him back to our hotel and let him surf
the net and just relax. He fell asleep on the way there and we knew he just needed some
down time. We took him to dinner and then back to base where he walked back with
his brothers to his dorm.
Saturday, we were able to have him at 9 a.m. We decided we would get breakfast and
then go to Sea World. It was Here's to the Hero's day and all military and their families
got into Sea World free. We decided to take advantage of that along with a ton of other
Air Force Families. We stayed for awhile and then decided to leave and let Jordan have
more down time. He fell asleep in the car again. I just felt bad for him and that he just needed
sleep. I had Dad just keep driving like when you were little kids. We went to dinner and then
on to our hotel to just chill. We took Jordan back to base to pick up his backpack and boots
he had ordered then off to meet with his brothers to walk back to his dorm. (they always have
to walk with another brother or wing-man. Kind of like having a missionary companion)
On Sunday we met him for church. What an amazing time. We had an opening song and prayer and then split into groups. The female trainees to Relief Society, the men to priesthood and any trainees that were not members met with the Elders. It was interesting how they had it all split up for anyone who attended. After the first hour, it was testimony meeting and
the trainees and Airmen testified at how much prayer had got them through their training and
that having the gospel in their lives was a blessing. It was quiet and the spirit was very strong.
It was hard to get through the songs. We were able to be with Jordan for a while this day but
only on base as he only had a base pass. We had lunch with him and drove around base and
took him to meet up with some brothers he could walk back to the dorms with.
We were sad to leave him but could feel that he really wanted to get back to the life he was used to.
Our trip was truly and eye opener for me and such a great experience for all of us.
Airman Chadwick and Airman Peshard.
They are rooming together at Tech School.
