Airman Wyatt Folgers (left), Senior Master Sgt. Ken Folgers (center), and retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Folgers, after Wyatt took the oath of enlistment at Volk Field, Wis., Aug. 14, marking the family’s third generation of military service. Submitted photo

VOLK FIELD, Wis. — An Airman’s enlistment into the Wisconsin Air National Guard at an Aug. 14 ceremony at Volk Field marked the beginning of a family’s third generation of military service.

Airman Wyatt T. Folgers joined his father, Senior Master Sgt. Ken Folgers, and grandfather, retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Folgers, when he took the oath of enlistment and joined Volk Field’s 128th Air Control Squadron.

Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Folgers (right), and his son Senior Master Sgt. Ken Folgers (center) stand at attention as Ken Folger’s son, Airman Wyatt Folgers, takes the oath of enlistment at the 128th Air Control Squadron at Volk Field, Wis., Aug. 14, marking the family’s third generation of military service. Submitted photo

“I get to serve my country, meet new people, and travel,” Wyatt said. “I feel like that would be interesting. And I knew it would make my dad happy.”

Folgers enlisted for six years with the 128th as a cyber-systems operations specialist, the day before his dad’s retirement.

“I’m so proud,” Ken said. “Just the fact that he realizes the importance of serving, and the benefits that come with it. I think it is going to broaden his view. He’ll get to travel, and get to see different places.”

Lt. Col. Michael J. Western, commander of the 128th Air Control Squadron (ACS), presents Airman Wyatt Folgers with a certificate of enlistment at an Aug. 14 enlistment ceremony at Volk Field, Wis. The enlistment marks the family’s third generation of military service. Submitted photo

The elder Folgers was proud to see both his son and grandson continue a family tradition.

“I wanted to go on to something that was bigger than I was,” Thomas said. “It’s kind of nice to see them follow in my footsteps. I’m proud of them.”

Thomas served a total of 42 years with the U.S. Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. Ken Folgers retired Aug. 15 with a total of 33 years in the Army Reserve and the National Guard. Both served together for four years at an Army Reserve unit at Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy.

Lt. Col. Michael J. Western, commander of the 128th ACS, hailed the family’s heritage of military service.

“What’s really neat about this is we have 75 years of total service, and 62 years of consecutive Folger-service,” Western said. “It’s really cool to have this happen at the 128th ACS.”