{"id":79053,"date":"2020-05-06T08:29:36","date_gmt":"2020-05-06T12:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=79053"},"modified":"2020-05-08T07:32:16","modified_gmt":"2020-05-08T11:32:16","slug":"its-just-a-screen-shot-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/05\/06\/its-just-a-screen-shot-away\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s just a \u2018screen\u2019 shot away!"},"content":{"rendered":"

While many area seniors wait for word on what their graduation will look like, several local families attended a different graduation ceremony, virtually. On March 26, Owego Free Academy graduates Brent Buchmann and Matt McDougal completed Basic Training for the United States Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. And although a major life event for the two, their families had to cancel plans to attend the ceremony and instead were able to tune into a live ceremony held on the same date.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I wanted to be there,\u201d said McDougal\u2019s mom, Jenn Welch, owner of Tom Ash Agency in Owego, adding, \u201cBut I\u2019m blessed we had that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"It\u2019s<\/a>

Pictured is a screenshot of Airman First Class Matt McDougal at his graduation ceremony, held March 26 at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Her son was also disappointed. According to Welch, as an Element Leader, McDougal would have carried the flag during the airman\u2019s run. He was also an honor grad. <\/p>\n

Buchmann’s mom, Liz Woodard, who has served as the middle and high school secretary in Owego for over 20 years, described the cancelation of the ceremony as difficult. Buchmann, too, was an honor grad. <\/p>\n

\"It\u2019s<\/a>

Pictured is Airman Basic Brent Buchmann . Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been rough working from home, and I\u2019m still not over it that I couldn\u2019t see him graduate,\u201d Woodard said of her son\u2019s ceremony, adding, \u201cWe kept hoping things would change.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, Woodard had all of the travel plans set, and then cancelled things about two weeks before her son\u2019s graduation date in March. She waited until three days prior to the ceremony, however, to cancel the flight; a sign that she was still holding on to hope that the ceremony would move forward as previously scheduled.<\/p>\n

\"It\u2019s<\/a>

Pictured is a screenshot of Airman Basic Brent Buchmann at his graduation ceremony, held March 26 at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

But it didn\u2019t, and Woodard, as well as Welch, were able to watch the graduation instead, via a live stream. Woodard added that the approximate 700 graduates from the base camp were recognized during a two-hour ceremony that was broken down further into four short ceremonies – by training squad, and by flight.<\/p>\n

The ceremony was aired Live on Facebook.<\/p>\n

And although many miles separated these two moms\u2019 and their graduates, they were really just a screenshot away.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw them close up,\u201d said Woodard, adding, \u201cThey all marched directly in front of the camera for the exit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Welch had similar plans to attend, but then, she explained, they shut down the base. At first she was concerned there was a coronavirus outbreak at the base, but soon learned that a portion of the base was being utilized to quarantine passengers arriving back in the states from cruise ships. One of her many concerns she has for her only son.<\/p>\n

Soon, Welch explained, her son will be training to become a SERE Specialist, or Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape. For Welch, that occupation, although rigorous training is required, is the Air Force\u2019s version of Special Forces. He begins his training on May 18.<\/p>\n

\"It\u2019s<\/a>

Pictured is Airman First Class Matt McDougal. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

If McDougal advances through the grueling selection process, he will advance for further training that will involve water, desert, and even jungle training.<\/p>\n

A 2016 graduate of Brockport with a Bachelor\u2019s in Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology, the SERE program will be a perfect fit for McDougal, once he successfully fulfills the training program, which spans over a period of one year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what a SERE Specialist does, they train pilots how to get out of situations,\u201d Welch added.<\/p>\n

Brent Buchmann is a 2019 graduate of Owego Free Academy; McDougal graduated in 2012. McDougal will be moving on to further training and to selection for SERE; Buchmann will be attending tech school.<\/p>\n

How they met, however, is the real story.<\/p>\n

McDougal was at his recruiter\u2019s office and Buchmann’s photo, as a new recruit, was on the wall. After the meeting with the recruiter, McDougal went to get gas, and the young man at the pump next to him looked like Buchmann, from the photo he saw.<\/p>\n

A conversation ensued, and as soon as they learned they would be attending training together, the two were on a quest to be as prepared as possible.<\/p>\n

McDougal was working for Peak Performance in Owego, and Buchmann had just graduated, so the two spent their spare time throughout the summer preparing to become as physically fit as possible before the deployment in January of this year to Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey would go to the Adirondacks and hike with weighted sacks,\u201d said Welch, adding, \u201cThey were even using the track over at Owego Free Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n

And now that the ceremonies are over, Airman Basic Brent Buchmann and Airman First Class Matt McDougal will go their own separate ways, but have gained a friendship for life.<\/p>\n

And being one of last year\u2019s graduates of Owego Free Academy, Brent Buchmann also received congratulations from one of his former teachers, Christina Bangel.<\/p>\n

In a letter, she told him that his mom has kept everyone updated, and that when she announced she couldn\u2019t travel to see her son graduate due to the pandemic, she began passing along messages sent from classmates, and even strangers. She also noted how proud everyone is as Buchmann begins his new journey. <\/p>\n

In his response, in part, Buchmann wrote, \u201cI would like to send a sincere message of appreciation and gratitude to everyone who wrote a message in the letter started by Mrs. Bangel. Not being able to see our families for graduation was hard to accept for many of my wingmen and I throughout the final weeks of training, so the fact that so many of you were willing to take the time out of your day to send me messages of sympathy, gratitude, encouragement, and just all around positivity means the world to me.\u201d <\/p>\n

And he ended his letter with a familiar sentiment, \u201cSo thank you all, stay awesome, stay motivated, and God bless America.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While many area seniors wait for word on what their graduation will look like, several local families attended a different graduation ceremony, virtually. 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