Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

New Army soldiers go through Basic Training and AIT at Ft. Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma on April 16, 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

More than 800 Airmen assigned to Flights 470-486 march in the 737th Training Group’s graduation parade, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 26, 2025. The ceremony is one of three graduation events for the Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training and signifies the transition from trainee to Airman. Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr., Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the reviewing official for the ceremony. The 37th Training Wing, known as “Gateway to the Air Force,” is home to BMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ismael Ortega)

More than 800 Airmen assigned to Flights 470-486 march in the 737th Training Group’s graduation parade, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 26, 2025. The ceremony is one of three graduation events for the Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training and signifies the transition from trainee to Airman. Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr., Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the reviewing official for the ceremony. The 37th Training Wing, known as “Gateway to the Air Force,” is home to BMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ismael Ortega)

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

More than 800 Airmen assigned to Flights 470-486 march in the 737th Training Group’s graduation parade, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 26, 2025. The ceremony is one of three graduation events for the Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training and signifies the transition from trainee to Airman. Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr., Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the reviewing official for the ceremony. The 37th Training Wing, known as “Gateway to the Air Force,” is home to BMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ismael Ortega)

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

Family day

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

Frumtamning í Holtsmúla

More than 800 Airmen assigned to Flights 470-486 march in the 737th Training Group’s graduation parade, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 26, 2025. The ceremony is one of three graduation events for the Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training and signifies the transition from trainee to Airman. Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr., Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the reviewing official for the ceremony. The 37th Training Wing, known as “Gateway to the Air Force,” is home to BMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ismael Ortega)

More than 800 Airmen assigned to Flights 470-486 march in the 737th Training Group’s graduation parade, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 26, 2025. The ceremony is one of three graduation events for the Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training and signifies the transition from trainee to Airman. Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr., Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the reviewing official for the ceremony. The 37th Training Wing, known as “Gateway to the Air Force,” is home to BMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ismael Ortega)

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

Erie County State Fire Instructor Ken Eason. Photo by: Tiger Schmittendorf

Infantry Squad Demonstration by the Super Squad at my son's graduation ceremony from Fort Benning at the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, GA

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

My daughter, Rachel and my son Jimmy at his graduation reception. Fort Leonard Wood, MO, 10-30-2008

An Afghan National Army soldier holds his company guidon while other soldiers sit behind him during their basic training at Camp Darulaman in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 27, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Teddy Wade/Released)

USAF Basic training graduation for trs 322/flt 035 or however it is supposed to be written :)

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

The Drill Sergeant Academy hosted its first fiscal year 2018 graduation ceremony for members of Drill Sergeant Course class 001-18, June 22. Soldiers in the course spent weeks of learning how to inspire, motivate and mentor new Soldiers in Basic Combat Training. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Tynisha L. Daniel / released)

More than 800 Airmen assigned to Flights 470-486 march in the 737th Training Group’s graduation parade, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 26, 2025. The ceremony is one of three graduation events for the Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training and signifies the transition from trainee to Airman. Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr., Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the reviewing official for the ceremony. The 37th Training Wing, known as “Gateway to the Air Force,” is home to BMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ismael Ortega)

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

More than 800 Airmen assigned to Flights 470-486 march in the 737th Training Group’s graduation parade, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 26, 2025. The ceremony is one of three graduation events for the Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training and signifies the transition from trainee to Airman. Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr., Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the reviewing official for the ceremony. The 37th Training Wing, known as “Gateway to the Air Force,” is home to BMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ismael Ortega)

Rsp. Jordon Tan (center) attaches the rope in a mechanical advantage system the men of ALERT Unit 45 demonstrate.

Army National Guard Soldiers participate in OSUT and AIT at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA on March 27. 2019. © Vance Jacobs / Army National Guard 2019

trying to get down from the stands

Holden and me

More than 800 Airmen assigned to Flights 470-486 march in the 737th Training Group’s graduation parade, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 26, 2025. The ceremony is one of three graduation events for the Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training and signifies the transition from trainee to Airman. Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr., Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the reviewing official for the ceremony. The 37th Training Wing, known as “Gateway to the Air Force,” is home to BMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ismael Ortega)

More than 800 Airmen assigned to Flights 470-486 march in the 737th Training Group’s graduation parade, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 26, 2025. The ceremony is one of three graduation events for the Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training and signifies the transition from trainee to Airman. Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr., Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the reviewing official for the ceremony. The 37th Training Wing, known as “Gateway to the Air Force,” is home to BMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ismael Ortega)