KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. – As of 2025, there are roughly 1.6 million military children in the United States. These “military brats” encounter many challenges and sacrifices throughout the time their parents serve, one of the biggest being constant change and navigation of the unknown. These challenges, however, expand their capacity for resilience, adaptability, and service. These values shaped me into a better Airman.
My dad, U.S. Air Force Maj. Jake D. Thueson, currently the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron clinical management flight commander, Scott AFB, Illinois, joined the Air Force in January 1998 as an aircraft maintainer and later commissioned in 2012 as a critical care nurse. Both jobs created different challenges for him and our family, working in incredibly high speed environments like the flightline and the intensive care unit.
My dad deployed seven times throughout his career, supporting several operations including Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Inherent Resolve.
He has always been my example for what it means to follow the Air Force Core Values: integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. Throughout my whole life change came often, and it came with little warning. Moving across state lines, countries, and the international date line was a common theme of my childhood. New schools, friends, houses, and environments became a routine part of life. I learned to establish myself quickly in unfamiliar places, and was quick to develop relationships with my peers, even if some would not last. This ingrained an adaptability very early in my life that has pushed me through many hard times.
That shared experience of constant change is something I carry with me today, not just as an Airman, but in my personal life as well. Hannah Tewes, my wife and fellow military brat, understands that lifestyle in a way few others can. Together, we’ve built a life grounded in that same resilience and flexibility, knowing that change is not something to fear, but something to embrace.
I eventually decided to follow in my dad's footsteps, enlisting in the Air Force on July 23, 2024, and now serving as a public affairs specialist at the 81st Training Wing, Keesler AFB, Mississippi. My job demands flexibility at all times, navigating new projects, teams and ever-evolving expectations. This familiar feeling of change has allowed me to not just navigate but thrive in the unknown.
Change wasn’t always easy, though. Saying goodbye was a hard skill to learn, especially from a young age. Not knowing if I’ll see friends ever again was difficult as a child, especially before social media. However, taking a moment to appreciate the time I did have is what helped me grow.
I quickly learned that many things in life are temporary, and to enjoy them while they last. You can’t always guarantee they’ll be there tomorrow, so make the most of today.
My family was the only consistency I could find comfort in while surrounded by change. Having four siblings, we became a tight knit group. No matter how many times we had to find new friends, we always knew we’d have our brothers and sisters at home to rely on.
My older brother, Conner Thueson, will commission into the Air Force in May of this year after completing Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado, further increasing my family’s ties to the Air Force.
Service in the Air Force can come with many costs. My dad missed birthdays, holidays, and even the birth of his first child. This sacrifice is also seen today in my father-in-law, Senior Master Sgt. M. Travis Tewes.
His time spent as a first sergeant required a lot of sacrifice from him and his family. Time together became constrained, stress was always around the corner, and the mission came first. The example he shows has set the standard for me to go above and beyond as an Airman and husband.
His commitment to excellence is evident in the consistency with which he approaches both leadership and mission execution. That balance between accomplishing the mission and taking care of his family is something I strive to emulate in my own career. His example serves as a constant reminder that excellence is not a single act, but a habit built over time. One that defines both the Airman and the father others can rely on.
As a public affairs Airman, it is my responsibility to navigate an ever-changing world and communicate the truth in a sea of confusion. The resilience instilled in me allows me to manage uncertainty with confidence and regulate stress with clarity.
The challenges I faced as a military child shaped who I am today. They taught me resilience, adaptability, and what it truly means to serve something greater than myself.
Today, these values are carried on in myself and my family. My dad, my brother, my father-in-law, and my wife. Service was not just a path I chose, it is a legacy I’ve been raised in and now get to carry on in the world’s greatest Air Force.