The East Union High JROTC just wasn’t for Bryan Blair.

He spent a semester in the uniform – learning the marches, focusing on the classes and learning a bit about the chain of command.

His true passion, however, was on the pitch – he poured his heart and soul into soccer. He couldn’t just grasp on the JROTC concept.

But things change.

On May 26 Blair will be graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point. It is a big change for the former Modesto Junior College student and Military Channel buff that once spent most of his time watching other people put on the uniform.

Blair’s Mother Susie and Father Joseph will be on hand for all of the pomp and circumstance and regalia of a military academy graduation. They undoubtedly will be beaming as they watch their son – shaped into a man and educated by the United States Army – complete his education at the institute.

“All that I can say about it is Amen,” Susie Blair said. “It’ll definitely make a great Mother’s Day gift.”

An avid military channel watcher with his father and younger brother, Blair never exhibited the signs that he wanted to attend one of the most prestigious schools in the country while at the same time signing up for military service.

It wasn’t easy.

The rigid structure and the constant hassling by older cadets – labeling the newcomers as “plebes” – made it difficult at times.

With the goal of training officers, Blair went from a big fish in a small pond to an extremely small fish in the ocean. He was surrounded by valedictorians, football stars and legacies that had the goal of graduating and serving their country already sealed up.

Blair kept up, but he would periodically question whether this was something that he really, truly wanted to do with his life. Once graduation is completed then the real world and the work in the United States Army begins.

“All early West Pointers learn to hate West Point,” Susie Blair said. “It’s tough for them that first year, but then when they get to move up and eventually become juniors and seniors they get that my husband’s calls that ‘hoo yaa’ attitude and it starts to spread.”

And at this point, nobody can take the rings that he’s earned away – he’ll lifelong symbols that he’s done what very few military men can claim that they’ve accomplished.

Seeing her son prepare for a career as a systems engineer – a spend some time at Fort Benning, Georgia and then be stationed with the infantry at Vilsec in Germany before likely shipping off to Afghanistan – lets her know that she did something right. 

“We must have done a pretty good job to raise a child like that,” she said. “We’re proud of the fact that he picked this up early and that he cares so much about it.

“We’re looking forward to going back and seeing him. Not a lot of moms can say that their sons are graduates of West Point. I honestly can’t think of a better Mother’s Day present.