CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Choices made in one's life usually depend on an individual's upbringing. Depending on surroundings, someone can usually figure out what they want to be when they grow up at an early age.
For Capt. Gregg Brock, 16th Airlift Squadron C-17 pilot and standard evaluation liaison officer and recently promoted 1st Lt. Colt Brock, 437th Contracting Squadron acquisition officer, and his brother, that's exactly what happened. They not only came from a line of military family members, but Team Charleston family members.
"My family's legacy in the Air Force is something that means a lot to me," said Captain Brock. "It provides me with a great sense of pride. This pride is what made me want to join the Air Force."
In 1985, now retired Senior Master Sgt. Veston Brock Jr., Captain and Lieutenant Brock's father, joined the Air Force to follow in his own father's footsteps. He served as a flight engineer for 22 years, 15 of which were served at Charleston AFB. He retired out of the 16 AS in 1999.
"Growing up, my father and the officers he worked with were a very big influence in my life," said Lieutenant Brock. "Since I was little, I always wanted to go to The Citadel in Charleston."
Lieutenant Brock hopes to be a colonel some day in his Air Force career and have a family. He would also like to have kids one day and have them follow in his footsteps.
"The Air Force has always been great to me and my family," said Mr. Brock. "When my sons told me of their decision to join the Air Force, I couldn't have been happier. I'm very proud of them and the decisions they have made in their lives."
Unlike Capt. Brock, who planned to come back to Charleston AFB to pilot C-17s, Lieutenant Brock was hoping to be stationed anywhere in the southeast of the U.S. for his first assignment. When he saw Charleston AFB on his orders, he wasn't disappointed in the least.
"I was happy to be a part of Team Charleston again," said Lieutenant Brock. "Now that I'm stationed back at Charleston, I'm able to work with Air Force retirees and civilian contractors who knew me when I was little. Knowing the work they did with my dad, I knew I can count on them to be the best at everything they do."
From 2001 to 2005 Lieutenant Brock attended The Citadel to follow his brother, Capt. Brock. In May 2005, Lieutenant Brock graduated from The Citadel and was given his first oath into the Air Force by his brother, Captain Brock.
"We have always done things together since we were very young," said Capt. Brock. "It was only par for the course when we both joined the Air Force after graduating from The Citadel. I was honored to be able to give my brother his oath while our family watched us."
"I'm very proud of both my sons," said Mr. Brock. "The Air Force was very good to me and my family when I was in and I know my sons will be taken care of."
Capt. Brock is deployed at the moment and isn't due back until August. After his return, he will be leaving to attend air drop school in Altus AFB, Okla.
"Although I think we both knew we would eventually end up in blue, I don't think we ever thought we would be stationed at the same base, just miles away from our family," said Capt. Brock. "We have both been very fortunate."