445th Airlift Wing reservists re-enlist during OSU "skull session"

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  More than 13,000 Ohio State University fans witnessed a mass enlistment ceremony for 42 new enlistees coming into the Air Force Reserves and current reservists assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing during the pre-game Ohio State University vs. Wisconsin "skull session" at the St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 10.

"Having the enlistment ceremony during the Ohio State University "skull session" was a very unique experience. The feedback I received afterwards is that this was one of the best enlistment ceremonies we've had to date," said Master Sgt. Robert McDonald, recruiter, 445th Airlift Wing Reserve Recruiting Squadron.

A former member of the 445th Airlift Wing read the Oath of Enlistment to the enlistees. Lt. Col. Brady Johnson was assigned to the 445th Civil Engineer Squadron before accepting a new assignment as the commander of the 911th Civil Engineer Squadron at Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, Pa.

Those who re-enlisted included; Master Sgt. Phillip Finnegan, 87th Aerial Port Squadron; Master Sgt. Mark O'Connell, 445th Aerospace Medicine Squadron; Tech. Sgt. James Brown, 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; and Tech. Sgt. Nathan Lowman, 445th Maintenance Operations Flight. 

"It was a great opportunity to be recognized in front of so many people and be involved in such a tradition as the "skull session."  I also enjoyed meeting some of the young men and women that were enlisting in the Air Force Reserve and give them some insight on how the reserves operate and what to expect when they are in basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas," Sergeant Brown said.

Following the ceremony, participants and their families were treated to free hamburgers and hot dogs during a special tail gate party sponsored by the 445th Airlift Wing Recruiting Squadron.

"I hope we can do this again in the future. When the OSU marching band played "Stars and Stripes Forever," everybody in the audience was singing and you could feel the music. But when the Oath of Enlistment was being read, you could hear a pin drop because it was so quiet," Sergeant McDonald said.