05/10/2026
For many families, quality time means Sunday dinners or holiday gatherings. For Senior Airman Michelle Bradley and her son, Airman Gion Gomez, it means serving side by side in uniform at March Air Reserve Base.
In April 2026, the pair reached a milestone: 21-year-old Gomez completed his first Unit Training Assembly (UTA), commonly known as a drill weekend. Now both members of the Air Force Reserve, the mother and son are living out the core value of “Service Before Self” as a shared family commitment in Southern California.
For Bradley, the decision to join the Air Force Reserve was nearly a decade in the making.
“The idea had been there since high school,” she said. “I took the ASVAB, scored well, but ended up going to college because that was the expected path at the time and received a scholarship.” Years later, after raising children and navigating a divorce, Bradley felt the pull to serve once again—this time with urgency.
“When my son said he was considering joining the military, I thought, ‘It’s now or never—let’s do it,’” she said. After what she described as an eight-year process, Bradley finally received confirmation that she would attend Basic Military Training.
“I realized I wasn’t getting any younger,” she added. “If I was going to do this, I needed to make that decision.” Today, Bradley serves in the 452d Operations Support Squadron as an Aircrew Flight Equipment specialist, responsible for maintaining critical, life-saving gear that supports mission readiness. Her journey left a lasting impression on her son.
“I wanted to join the Air Force because of my mom,” Gomez said. “Seeing her come home in uniform and watching her graduate on the parade field inspired me. I wanted to experience that for myself.”
“It’s definitely an honor seeing my mom in uniform,” he added. “We even carpool together, and I get to tell people, ‘Yeah, that’s my mom—she works on base too.’”
Gomez now serves in the 452d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron as a Medical Materiel specialist. Outside of his military duties, he is a college student, hoping to get into ROTC and looking to major in education and enjoys hiking local trails, including Mount Rubidoux.
For Bradley, her son’s decision to enlist was both personal and rare. “A lot of senior leaders talk about trying to encourage their children to join,” she said. “So when he made that decision on his own, it was a very proud moment.”
Looking ahead, both Bradley and Gomez share another goal: earning a commission as Air Force officers.
“I’m definitely exploring opportunities to become an officer now that I have more experience,” Bradley said. Their shared ambition has sparked lighthearted competition at home. Since enlisted members salute officers, the question of who will commission first has become an ongoing family debate.
“It’s definitely a battle,” Bradley said with a laugh. “He thinks I’ll be saluting him first—but I’m determined it’ll be the other way around.”
Whether it’s sharing a ride to drill, working toward their next goal, or simply wearing the same uniform, Bradley and Gomez are proving that service can be more than an individual calling—it can be a family bond.
At March Air Reserve Base, their journey is not just about supporting the mission, but about doing it together.
Story by Capt. Johnny Chau
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