TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Shaun Ian Rodriguez began his U.S. Air Force Reserve career Sunday, taking the oath of enlistment in a special ceremony held with a C-17 Globemaster III as its backdrop during the Travis Air Reserve Experience 2025 recruiting event at Hangar 46, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.
For Rodriguez, the moment was deeply personal.
"It feels great," he said after the ceremony. "I know my family is proud of me, and everything, so I'm excited for that."
Rodriguez continues a family legacy of military service, with an uncle currently in the Air Force and parents and a grandfather who served in the Navy. He will now follow a path similar to his mother’s by working in aircraft maintenance.
The oath was administered by Col. Cade C. Gibson, commander of the 349th Maintenance Group (MXG). The choice of an enlisting officer was a personal one, designed to connect Rodriguez to his new leadership from his first day in uniform.
“An officer is the only person authorized to sign off on an enlistment contract,” said Tech. Sgt. Shaira Navarro, an accession recruiter with the 349th Recruiting Squadron who organized the ceremony. “Col. Gibson was selected by the recruiting team since the applicant will be assigned to his squadron.”
Navarro said the decision to highlight Rodriguez’s enlistment was a deliberate one, capping an eight-month-long process that showcased his commitment.
“I selected this applicant primarily because I’ve worked his enlistment package for the past eight months, during which he consistently demonstrated determination and resilience,” she said. “Because of that, I believe he deserves the best oath of enlistment ceremony.”
The ceremony unfolded before a unique audience that included Rodriguez’s family, prospective recruits attending the event, local community leaders, 349th Air Mobility Wing Honorary Commanders and senior wing leadership who watched from the open cargo ramp of the C-17.
For Navarro, the ceremony was a point of pride, showcasing the crucial role recruiters play in a new Airman’s career.
“As his accession recruiter, I’m incredibly proud of the effort this applicant has put in and the outcome we’ve achieved,” she said. “It’s especially meaningful to have senior leadership witness the level of work we do, as recruiters serve as the applicant’s first supervisor—and we strive to set them up for nothing but success.”
The public nature of the enlistment, held during the wing’s largest recruiting event of the year, was intended to show potential applicants the supportive culture of the 349th Air Mobility Wing.
“I hope this enlistment ceremony serves as an inspiration for others who are considering joining the Air Force Reserve,” Navarro said.
The atmosphere, she noted, was “filled with joy and celebration.”
“It is amazing to witness the trust that the family is giving to the military,” she added.
Rodriguez will serve as an Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance specialist (Air Force Specialty Code 2A5X1) with the 349th Maintenance Squadron.