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Future Airmen show Air Force excitement at NASCAR race

  • Published
  • By Dale Eckroth
  • AFRS Strategic Communications Division
LONG POND, Penn. --  Gen. Bruce Carlson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, conducted two Delayed Enlistment Program oaths of enlistment ceremonies, prior to the start of the Pocono 500 race in Long Pond Penn. 

The general swore in the first group, consisting of 40 young men and women from the 318th Recruiting Squadron, in front of the squadron's recruiting booth with a crowd of family and friends. After, the general gathered the group of future Airmen around him and answered questions about life in the Air Force.

Three DEP members, Matt Varga, of Phillipsburg, N.J.; Kelly Kunsman, of Hellertown, Penn., and Matt Geitz, of Bethlehem, Penn., all agreed it was exciting to receive the oath of enlistment from the a four-star general. When asked why they decided to  join the Air Force, "Education, travel and career opportunities," they all answered.

Then, just minutes before the start of the race, more than 100 men and women preparing to join all of the military branches  took the oath of enlistment. Standing above the winner's circle, General Carlson, flanked by officers from the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps., raised his hand and administered the oath. With a thunderous applause and cheers from racing fans, the newly sworn-in DEP members marched proudly to waiting friends and family.