Shoulder to shoulder with sister services, future Citizen Airmen take the Oath of Enlistment in a mass enlistment ceremony administered by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Feb 23, 2026, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.
Forty servicemembers from across the Air Force Reserve, National Guard, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy took the Oath of Enlistment under the Secretary of War. Total Force recruiting's strength and ability to identify future warriors laid the foundation for this mass enlistment.
Total Force recruitment initiatives maximize combat effectiveness by integrating diverse capabilities across the Department of War.
The 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, was a key part in preparing the recruits for service by teaching Air Force values, critical thinking, and initiatives in the Development and Training Flight, led by Tech. Sgt. Moniqua Dilloway, flight chief, 302 AW.
Hegseth explained to the recruits, their families and service members in attendance that he wanted to prioritize conducting enlistments on the War Department's Arsenal of Freedom tour, because it's those very young men and women who are committing to serve their country that will be using the systems and capabilities the Defense Innovation Board provides.
"Those [DIB] systems are not effective unless they have qualified, trained Americans behind them, using them properly and swiftly with violence of action," Hegseth said. "The men and women who volunteer to serve their country are the most potent, powerful weapon we have."
Hegseth recognized several top performers during the mass enlistment, including Master Sgt. Kathelene Mercado Jones, production recruiter, 352d Recruiting Squadron, Peterson SFB, Colorado, selected to receive a Secretary of War coin for her exceptional dedication, not only to the mission, but to the individuals she serves.
"When society talks about elites or celebrities … or who we should look up to, I think the country should look right here," Hegseth said.
In Mercado Jones' first year of recruiting, she achieved 158 percent of her classification goal, earning distinction as a Century Club member, an accomplishment rarely attained in a recruiter's initial year, and she's currently on pace to achieve more than 240 percent this fiscal year.
"Master Sgt. Mercado Jones exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding leader and, most importantly, a true wingman," said Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Arnold, recruiting flight chief, 352d Recruiting Squadron.
Together, the 352 RCS recruits, the 302 AW trains, and the Air Force Reserve flys, fights, and wins.
"It's no surprise that we've broken recruiting record after record," said Hegseth. "You're all a part of that, a reflection of that, a part of the real 1 percent."
To learn more about serving in the Air Force, Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve, go to http://www.airforce.com/find-a-recruiter or download the https://www.airforce.com/aim-high-app app to speak directly with a recruiter.