Andover – On July 30, Donald DJ Rankins, Jr., of Concord, took the USAF oath of enlistment before departing for basic training. DJ, along with 41 other recruits representing all branches of the military, met at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Boston where they signed their military contracts and, in the presence of their families, recited their final oath: “To support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over [them], according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, so help me God.” 

The new recruits then boarded buses to Logan Airport, and went on to their respective military bases. DJ graduated from Proctor Academy in 2019. While at Proctor, DJ was a Student Ambassador and was involved in many volunteer projects, including the organization of a baseball camp at a Dominican orphanage after the Proctor Academy Dominican Republic Baseball Spring Training Trip. 

He played Varsity Soccer and Baseball, Junior Varsity Football, and was the Team Captain for Junior Varsity Basketball. DJ graduated from Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, in 2023, where he majored in English, with a minor in Journalism and Conversational Chinese. There he was on the Stonehill Club Soccer and Baseball teams.

During college and after graduating, DJ worked in operations but was eager to take on new and bigger challenges. He credits his cousin Thomas, who is a USAF airman, for sparking his interest in pursuing a career in the military. 

After graduating in September 2024 from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, DJ will travel to Sheppard Air Force Base, located in Wichita Falls, Texas, to begin technical training in the field of Operations Management. We wish our hometown young man safe travels and thank him with pride for his decision to serve our nation. Aim High, DJ!