News

Father, son share commitment to service, unique hobby

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Grant Saylor
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Like many American kids growing up as Air Force 'Brats', Tech Sgt. Jason Nilsen was inspired by his father's service. Anders Nilsen was stationed in California and Japan with the active-duty Air Force from 1974 to 1985. But a funny thing happened after Jason followed his dad's footsteps and enlisted in 1995. You might say his dad got jealous.

"I found myself living vicariously through my son," said Tech. Sgt Nilsen, now a Reservist with the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron. "I missed the camaraderie and sense of team. Private industry can be pretty cut throat. Everyone seems to have their own agenda for their own career... in the Air Force, you don't find that."

Sergeant Nilsen, a native of St. Helens, Ore. who works as a field service engineer in his civilian life, assumed he was too old to rejoin the Air Force. But his curiosity got the best of him and he contacted a recruiter, who told him otherwise. Shortly thereafter, in 2006, the senior Nilsen re-joined the Air Force, this time as a utilities specialist with the Reserve 939th Air Refueling Wing, Portland, Ore. He no longer had to live vicariously through his son.

Jason, meanwhile, was busy forging a decorated active duty career as a joint terminal attack controller. He is now the chief JTAC instructor for the 1st Air Support Operations Group at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lewis-Main, Wash. He has multiple deployments under his belt, including tours to Korea and Iraq in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He is set to deploy again in January 2012.

But it's not just a dedication to duty that bonds this father-son team. When the work day's over, they pour their energy, and some tasty ingredients, into a unique passion: homebrewing.

The Nilsen family venture into homemade beer got its start about five years ago, and it's now serious business, even if the start was a little sour.

"My dad bought me a homebrewing kit as a gift after I got back from Iraq," said Jason.

The kit was called, 'Mr. Beer.'

"It was terrible!"

The younger Nilsen was disappointed, but motivated. With dad's blessing and encouragement, he got a better kit and started experimenting. When he deployed to Korea in 2009, he was brewing experimental three-gallon batches every month.

"I was a pretty popular guy in my unit."

Upon his return, father and son doubled down on the experimentation and process building involved in their new hobby. They began to realize they complement each other quite nicely.

"Jason's the creative one, I try to keep the process the same," said Anders. "There's really two goals we try to focus on - a recipe that tastes good, and a process whereby you can repeat that same recipe batch after batch."

Since father and son are separated geographically (Anders and his wife live in Oregon while Jason resides with his wife and and three daughters in Puyallup, Wash.), Reserve weekends take on special significance.

"Saturday night is brew night," said Anders.

A chance for father and son to perfect their passion, sandwiched into a weekend dedicated to serving their country.

Thanks to Anders' long break in service, he and his son are on track to retire around the same time, about four years from now. While they haven't yet detailed plans for a retirement party, Jason said it's more than likely beer will be involved.

"We'll have definitely perfected a few recipes by then."

After retirement, both father and son have talked seriously of taking their hobby to the next level and opening a brewery together. Whatever the future may hold, it's clear they haven't lost sight of what's really important.

"My dad always inspired me to live life to the fullest and take care of your family," said Jason. "Careers start and careers end, but family is forever."

A sentiment worth raising a glass to.