On March 10, 1984, 18-year-old John David Eaves raised his right hand, took the oath of enlistment and joined the Virginia Air National Guard.

Forty years, four months, five days and two “near” retirements later, Master Sgt. Eaves’ military career has come to an end. The 192nd Squadron hosted his family, friends and colleagues who gathered on August 3, 2024, to celebrate his retirement and four decades of service.

Throughout his career, Eaves served exclusively in the VaANG and weapons field, serving in a variety of roles including flightline weapons systems mechanic with the 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, shop mechanic with the 192nd Maintenance Squadron, load checker with the 192nd Maintenance Group, and weapons section chief with the 192nd AMXS.

“In my opinion, the position of master sergeant in the Air Guard is one of the most unusual positions in the U.S. military,” Eaves said. “It’s not unusual to do the work of an airman, a shift supervisor (expeditor) and a flight chief – sometimes all in the same day.”

Eaves began his career with the VaANG when it was stationed at Sandston and saw the unit renamed three times, first from the 192nd Tactical Fighter Group to the 192nd Fighter Group, then to the 192nd Fighter Wing and finally to the 192nd Wing.

The first aircraft he maintained weapons for was the Vought A-7D Corsair II, a subsonic jet designed primarily for close air support. In 1991, he moved on to his second aircraft when the VaANG became the first ANG unit to receive the Air Force’s modernized Fighting Falcon, the F-16C/D.

“In terms of weapons systems – and that’s the only thing I can really comment on – it wasn’t that different, as far as I can remember,” Eaves commented on the transition. “The F-16’s weapon system was hingeless, but it was the same weapon. We used virtually the same launchers and bomb racks. There was a new missile launcher on the F-16 that we didn’t have on the A-7, but in terms of weapons, it wasn’t that dramatically different.”

In 2007, Eaves stayed with the unit as the Sandston era ended and a new one began at Langley Air Force Base, now Joint Base Langley-Eustis. The relocation of the then-192nd Fighter Wing, more than 70 miles from its original location, resulted in a reduction in its full-time force. However, Eaves and many others transferred to the new location and continued to serve while new career opportunities arose and new members joined.

“The maintenance people who established us here are indeed the best generation of the VaANG,” said Col. Matthew R. Hummel, 192nd Squadron deputy commander. “These are the folks who stayed, who came when it was tough, who fought for space and relevance, and who worked every day to make us the bastion of F-22 (Raptor) excellence and expertise that the 192nd Squadron is today… It took people like John Eaves to show the way.”

The VaANG was integrated into the 1st Fighter Wing as part of the US Air Force’s Total Force Integration strategy and replaced by another aircraft.

Eaves’ third and final aircraft with weapons systems was the F-22A Raptor.

“It literally changed my life,” Eaves said. “I can’t describe how big the change was. It wasn’t just a change of location and a change of plane, it was basically a complete change of personnel. We lost about 70 percent of our full-time staff. They didn’t want to come to Langley, and that created a lot of openings. And so a lot of people were hired at the same time.”

During the first half of his career at Sandston, Eaves felt like he was always the “new guy” compared to his much older colleagues. He said he became the “old guy” almost overnight. With the move of the VaANG to Langley, many new Airmen have joined and continue to join.

“I think I’m kind of a bridge between the generations because when I joined, I was literally getting advice from a World War I veteran on how to get through basic training,” Eaves said. “And then when I got to the unit, there were still World War II veterans serving in uniform. They were my age now. And my first one-man was a Vietnam veteran. It’s kind of weird to be a bridge between the past generations and this new generation.”

Newly appointed 2nd Lt. Jordan A. Spotswood, 192nd Squadron public information officer, remembers his time as Airman 1st Class Spotswood, 192nd AMXS aircraft armament systems specialist, with Eaves as one of his superiors.

“Eaves taught the younger generation a different mindset and approach,” Spotswood said. “He didn’t want any Airman to be left behind or not fully understand their job and role in the shop. By working long hours and staying late, he invested his time and effort into training the next generation of weapons systems mechanics in the VaANG.”

Twice Eaves was faced with the decision – or not the decision – to retire.

The first “near-retirement” – after 26 years of service, Eaves was notified that he was being sorted out and retired due to his length of service and lack of career opportunities. During one deployment, his term of service was extended to give him time to complete the mission and return home. But Eaves wasn’t ready to end his service. Senior Master Sgt. Len Austin strongly encouraged Eaves to reapply for a full-time position as a weapons loader with the VaANG. He was selected for the position and was therefore able to continue his service.

The second “near-retirement” – Eaves was faced with the choice of retiring or re-enlisting. At this point, he wasn’t sure which path he would take. He was advised to just go ahead and “push the button” and if he changed his mind later, they could reverse the decision. When Eaves decided to continue serving, his superior, then-Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Strouse, rejected his retirement request in the computer system. Well, the system kept running anyway. A confused Eaves began receiving notifications of his impending retirement.

Thankfully, the bug was fixed and the VaANG was able to hold onto Eaves for a little longer – at least until Eaves decided it was time to hang up his boots.

“During my deployment last year, an active duty Airman asked me when I enlisted and I told him 1984,” Eaves said. “And he said that’s when his parents were born. That was amazing! I thought that meant two people were born, grew up, got married, had a child, raised that child and then joined the military. And I was there the whole time.

“That’s when I knew it was time to get out,” laughed Eaves.

After just over 40 years of serving exclusively in the VaANG’s arms service, Eaves officially retired. For real this time.

“Like the artisans of old, you have forged amazing and beautiful things that stand the test of time,” Hummel told Eaves. “Except your products are not made of silver or gold, but of something more important: you have shaped and improved people…You can leave knowing that you have left a positive and lasting legacy to the Virginia Guard.”

“It was the biggest, most important thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Eaves recalls. “It was the center of my life – being in the Guard – all the experiences, deployments and all the people I got to meet. The whole package, you know, it was just incredible. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. And it’s hard to leave, honestly, but I know it’s time.”