Military tradition: Father and son serve together at Beale

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Allen Pollard
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It was March 1994 when Joseph Surin left for Air Force Basic Training; twenty years later his son Darren Surin would be serving alongside him at Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

When Joseph graduated high school, he decided he wasn't really the college type. Instead he wanted to do something different, something better with his life. He decided joining the U.S. Air Force was the path for him.

"I have a brother in the Army and one in the Navy," said Master Sgt. Joseph Surin, 9th Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of training. "I chose to join the Air Force because of the willingness of the recruiter to allow me to make my own decisions. I didn't feel like he was selling me anything."

The New York native has spent his entire career in security forces with the first half as a Military Working Dog handler at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where young Darren would wait to see his father when he returned from work. Now, Joseph is able to spend time with his son Airman 1st Class Darren Surin, 9th Intelligence Squadron, during the duty day.

"It's nice to be able meet at the Dining Facility for breakfast or go out to lunch with your son during the duty day," Joseph said.

Darren, who says he also, enjoys the unique opportunity of being stationed with his father, enlisted in April 2013.

"It's definitely an interesting opportunity," Darren said. "Especially going through the gate -- since my dad is security forces his troops are always shocked to see my ID and that I'm Master Sgt. Surin's son."

While growing up Darren was exposed to the military lifestyle and seeing all the positive the military does for the country, he knew he wanted to be a part of it.

"When I went into my recruiter's office, I qualified for an intelligence position and I was sold," Darren said. "I'd be able to help ensure the safety of our brothers and sisters in arms downrange."

Although they don't share the same career field both, Joseph and Darren share the protective nature in safeguarding the nation's servicemembers.

"The opportunity to positively affect the forces downrange means a lot to me," Darren said.

With Darren's career just beginning and Joseph's nearing its end, a father passes the torch to his son while sharing the honor and privilege of serving beside him in the world's greatest Air Force.

"I get excited at the amount of pride I see in him when he wears the uniform," Joseph said. "No matter how long he decides to serve, this is something we will always share, and that's pretty cool."