Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  News Features
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 ANG Brings Childhood Friends Full Circle as top Achievers By Airman Ivy Thomas,
                121st Air Refueling Wing
 RICKENBACKER AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ohio - Michael Zinsmeister and Lance Perone were just two young boys from a small town near Zanesville, Ohio, who rode the school bus together. Mutual friends led them to hang out with each other. However, once college came around, they went their separate ways. Little did they know their paths would cross again, as they both enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard. Now, 33 years later, they will soon be chief master sergeants at the 220th Engineering Installation Squadron in Zanesville. Chief Master Sgt. Michael Zinsmeister went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and Senior Master Sgt. Lance Perone attended Ohio University in Zanesville. Although they had plans to finish school, the Ohio Air National Guard was brought to their attention during college. One Saturday, Zinsmeister’s friend, Robert Gilger, was getting ready for drill. Zinsmeister didn’t know what this meant or what drill entailed. “When he got home, we all hung out at my house, and I asked him what it was all about,” said Zinsmeister. That same night, Zinsmeister hung out with Gilger’s Air Force buddies. “The following week or so, I started talking to a recruiter,” said Zinsmeister. “This was right around 1989. I think I signed up around February.” About the same time, Perone was taking college classes at night and working full-time at a distribution center. “I was like, Wow, this is going to take forever,” Perone said. One of Perone’s coworkers happened to be Robert Gilger. Coincidentally, he also told Perone he should consider joining the Air National Guard. “I asked him what he did, and he said he climbs towers and drives big trucks,” said Perone. Gilger suggested Perone go through with it with Zinsmeister. “It was just that spontaneous,” said Perone. “I said sign me up.” Fast forward a few months, Perone and Zinsmeister left for Basic Military Training on the same flight. “I was on one side of the dorm, and he was on the other,” said Zinsmeister. “We battled through, and we supported each other.” After BMT graduation, Perone and Zinsmeister returned to their home unit in Zanesville to complete their job training. They shared a hotel room and completed roughly eight weeks of training together during the summer. Now, 33 years later, Zinsmeister is chief master sergeant, and Perone will be promoted soon. “He is chief of operations, and I am chief of plans,” said Perone. There are only two chief master sergeant slots at the 220th. “For 10 years, there were a lot of qualified people and we just kind of waited it out,” said Perone. “I don’t really look at it as waiting it out, though, because I really like what I do. The only thing I’ve done longer than this is breathe.” The same is true for Zinsmeister. “I told them they would have to drag me out,” said Zinsmeister. Zinsmeister and Perone said the camaraderie is what has kept them at the 220th for so long. “The people you meet in the Guard are that percent of people you want to hang out with constantly,” said Perone. “I hadn’t found that on the civilian side.” Perone and Zinster explained that their favorite part of the job is the people. “It’s almost like a family reunion every drill weekend,” said Zinsmeister. “It’s easy to stick around as long as we have if you have a culture like that.” “I think we have the same mentality, as far as both wanting to be there,” said Perone. “Seeing this family atmosphere at the base is what always kept us there.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Ohio Air National Guard
 NY Army Guard Band Performs for Netherlands King and Queen News Features • yesterday
 Chaplains Address Guard Soldiers’ Spiritual, Mental Health News Features • 6 days ago
 Guard General Retires After Final Watch at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier News Features • 7 days ago
 Young Cancer Patient Made Honorary 1st Sergeant in Illinois Guard News Features • 7 days ago
 80 Years Ago, National Guard Units Played Key Role in D-Day Landings News Features • 13 days ago
 2024 (47)  2023 (107)  2022 (121)  2021 (119)  2020 (203)  2019 (208)  2018 (165)  2017 (164)  2016 (109)  2015 (52)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil