MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – For military members, family goes beyond biological ties and is bound by common purpose, sacrifice and trust.
But for a mother and daughter from Martinsburg, love and loyalty to the motherland can truly be a family affair.
Blair Hessen, 18, and her mother, Marybeth Cole, 40, demonstrated their mutual motivation and dedication by enlisting together in the 167th Airlift Wing.
Blair worked at a local pizza shop for two years during high school and enlisted immediately after graduation.
“The recruiter gave a presentation at the school and explained the benefits,” Blair said. “The more I researched it, the more I realized that this could benefit me now and 40 years from now. So I went for it.”
Marybeth has been a sergeant with the Martinsburg Police Department for 15 years and also serves as a school safety officer for Berkeley County Schools. She enlisted right after her daughter and credited her decision to her daughter.
“I’ve always wanted to serve and wanted to do it right out of high school, but I wasn’t able to do it,” Marybeth said. “But seeing Blair enlist really tipped the scales for me. I thought if I’m going to put my kid through something, I should be willing to do it too.”
They enlisted for a variety of reasons, but their motivation is rooted in the satisfaction of being part of something greater than themselves.
“It’s a wise decision for me, considering the benefits,” Blair said. “But seeing how I was treated like family here, I thought it would be a very rewarding experience.”
Blair plans to attend college and use the stipend to gain work experience while serving in the 167th Regiment.
“I’ve always been a patriot,” Marybeth explained. “But I chose to serve because I felt I needed to be a part of something to make that happen.”
Blair and Marybeth will join the 167th Logistics Readiness Squadron in their career fields and will work in the same building after returning from basic military training and technical school. They believe that working together strengthens relationships.
“I think it brings us even closer together,” Marybeth said. “We can share experiences and learn from each other.”
