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Airman 1st Class Melissa Frazier and Airman 1st Class Payton Frazier are mother and son and a family in arms.
In 2016 Payton recited the oath of enlistment and became an Airman in the U. S. Air Force. Just over a year later Melissa, his mother, recited the same oath and became a wingman to her son.
“I’ve always wanted to join the military,” said Melissa, 890th Security Forces Squadron member. “My Grandfather served during World War II, and until my son and I joined he was the only one to serve in my family, so I felt that this was a way I could make a difference.”
Joining the military is never a simple feat for anyone, for Melissa that was no different, maybe even a little harder.
“When she first told me she was going to join, I thought ‘You’re Crazy! You’re 37, you have three kids and husband at home,’” said Payton, 22nd Maintenance Squadron, fuel systems apprentice. “That said, I will support her no matter what she does. It makes me very proud to know that my mom and I are both serving the greatest country on earth.”
When asked about what it’s like knowing that she may one day be the defender between the enemy and her son, Melissa paused and said “I’ll do exactly what I’m supposed to do. I will defend him and our fellow Airmen with the same strength and instinct that is taught to us as security forces members.”
One of the first people Melissa met upon arrival at F.E. Warren was Chief Master Sgt. Brady McCoy, 890th Missile Security Force Squadron, security forces manager.
“In my time in the Air Force I have seen parents and children in the military together, but I have never seen a mom and son that came in within a year of each other,” said McCoy. “A mother and son joining at roughly the same time is an amazing story to tell. It strengthens the feeling of the Air Force being one big family.”
Joining the military is more than going to basic training. Its months of preparation and commitment to one goal.
“To get ready for basic training I had to train consistently for five months,” said Melissa. “Making it to basic and having to run every day and do drills all the time was hard on my body, but with determination and persistence, I made it through and here I am. An Airman in the U.S. Air Force.”
Resiliency is a key factor learned early as an Airmen, and this was no exception for Melissa, with a husband and kids back home.
“Melissa’s circumstances were different than if you are young and single,” said Stephen Frazier, Melissa’s husband. “At first I was angry, and it was a struggle. Having our girls made the situation much more difficult. The anger lasted through the first couple of letters, then it subsided along with the anxiety, and the real transition began. That transition was talking to our daughters every night about what changes would be coming with their mom when she finished with basic training. We were all used to life before the military and that life was about to change.”
Part of that transition is the family learning to flourish in a new place, while Payton flourishes elsewhere. The transition to life in the Air Force isn’t easy, but our family is ready for it, Stephen added.
Though Payton is hundreds of miles from his family, he and his mom have a new and stronger bond as a family in arms.
Story was originally posted to the Base F.E. Warren website July 19, 2018, and may be found at
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.26.2018 12:58 |
| Story ID: | 285822 |
| Location: | FRANCIS E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WY, US |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Family by birth: Wingmen through oath, by SSgt Braydon Williams, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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