Minnesota siblings take oath to become brothers-in-arms Published May 14, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Timothy Bernau 342nd Recruiting Squadron FT SNELLING, Minn. -- Two siblings enlisting in the Air Force is not uncommon today, but brothers taking the oath on the same day is a special family event. Joel and Erik Bakke of Burnsville, Minn., simultaneously recited the Air Force Oath of Enlistment May 9 at the Minneapolis Military Entrance Processing Station. Lt. Col. Doug Stropes, 342nd Recruiting Squadron commander, delivered the oath for the ceremony. When asked whose idea it was to enlist, the Bakke brothers give credit to their father, Robert Bakke, who encouraged his children to consider military service. Erik, however, takes credit for initiating research about which service to join and deciding on the Air Force. The top reasons Joel and Erik said they chose to become Airmen were to become independent, gain life direction, do an important job and pursue higher education through the Air Force tuition assistance program. The brothers head to Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, later in the year. Upon their graduation, they continue their transformation as Airmen in technical school where they learn how to do their Air Force jobs and earn credits toward their Community College of the Air Force associate degrees, one of several educational benefits the Air Force offers.