BU Student Chloe Lester Earns Air Force Honors

Bluefield University student Chloe Lester, a native of Panther, West Virginia, spent the summer of 2023 in Texas graduating from Basic Military Training (BMT) where she earned her marksman ribbon, an award of the United States Air Force that is used to recognize Airmen who have reached the expert proficiency in either the service rifle or pistol.

Lester was named Airman First Class (A1C) upon graduation.  Her home base is the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, West Virginia, and she is currently in Fort Greg–Adams, Virginia, for technical school. 

“BMT is challenging,” Lester said. “Of course, it is physical, but really it’s testing one’s mentality. Some say it’s the best time you never want to have again, and I completely agree. If it weren’t for the girls I went through it with and my letters from my family, I probably wouldn’t have been as optimistic as I was. I would remind myself that it’s what I signed up for to go at it every day with 100 percent and to keep pushing.”

Lester said she was always curious about joining the military, but what ultimately motivated her to commit was the opportunity to continue a family legacy.

“I think what really pushed me was the idea of regret,” Lester said. “There is really no con to joining, so why not? It benefits me and my country. Another factor was that once I enlisted, I continued a legacy, wanting to be just like my mother who served in Dessert Storm. I am now a fourth generation military service member on my mother’s side of the family.”

Lester said Basic Military Training is “not for the light-hearted.” When asked about the most challenging part of BMT, she had a lot to say, but pointed out that she made life-long relationships with some of the girls she dormed with. She also said she enjoyed the opportunity to grow in her faith and to help those around her grow as she served as a chapel guide in BMT, ensuring her wingmen could practice their faith. 

Lester is Communication major with a concentration in Modern Media at Bluefield University. She is currently enrolled in online classes only to accommodate her military service. She said she still hopes to graduate from BU with her degree, and she plans for her future in the military to consist of Temporary Duty Travel, where she is in the Air Force National Guard, but does not deploy like active members do. Active member cycles last six months or more, while Guard members can only do up to 180 days.