Husband, wife selected for master sergeant together

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nathan Maysonet and Senior Airman Scott Saldukas
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Two married technical sergeants, who have worked and served together for ten years, were recently notified on their selection to the rank of master sergeant here May 17.

For Tech. Sgt.s Daniel and Donna Jacobson, who have only ever competed on who gets the dependent pay rate for their three sons, the announcement of the promotion selection stands out as the most memorable moment since crossing into the blue.

"We've had our individual achievements but this one was together," Donna said, 47th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of manpower and organization. "We made a plan, put it together and saw it through."

While studying and juggling life for the last eight months in preparation for their promotion test, the journey for this northern boy and southern girl began at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., where both were working in the same career field.

What began as a dinner date and an introduction to Donna's new shop has since become a ten-year commitment, which has seen their family expand with the birth of their two, six and nine-year-old boys who have only known life in the Air Force.

"The Air Force has helped us address the challenges of raising a family with both of us serving," Donna said. "It's provided for us and has worked hard at keeping us together."

Their testing for master sergeant was not the first time both found themselves spending late nights studying for a promotion. The test for technical sergeant played out in a much different fashion for the couple.

"For tech. sergeant I found out I was selected but my husband was not," Donna said. "I wanted to be happy but it puts a damper on things when one doesn't make it."

That's all changed now that both have been selected and were able to celebrate this promotion selection together.

"It's good to catch up to her," said Daniel. "We got to tag each other's ranks on and celebrate together."

The hard work they put in studying after putting the kids to bed and spending every moment of free time hitting the books is what helped them succeed, the couple said.

They were just two of more than 5,400 technical sergeants selected for promotion.
"Senior is the next goal, but we will take the next two years off before studying again together," Donna said.