Membership Has Its Privileges

We pull up to the gate, and an Airman First Class comes to check my ID. At first, I'm disappointed that The Doctor isn't driving. When an Airman checks The Doctor's ID, he or she is forced to salute upon realizing the ID's owner is an officer. Seeing people salute The Doctor never gets old.

But I was driving, so there will be no salute. Too bad, a missed opportunity.

The A1C takes my ID, scans it and checks it over.

"Is the Major in the car with you?"

That's not the usual procedure, but I point to my right. The Airman bends down, hands back my ID, and snaps to attention with a crisp salute.

It made my day.

Until the next day.

I pull up to the gate, alone this time, and the Airman asks for my ID. This time there's only one stripe on his arm. He checks the ID and scans it. It comes up clean, so he hands it back to me.

Then he snaps to attention and salutes me.

The Airman probably got flustered. He made my day. I could get used to that kind of treatment.