Two South Plains twins who graduated last week from Littlefield High School said they plan to commit to the military.
Tyra and Jyra Griggs, 17, said their desire to further their education motivated them to join the ranks.
“I still can’t believe I walked the stage. It hasn’t hit me yet,” Jyra said.
“We finally accomplished it, and it feels really good,” said Tyra. “We’re going to miss it though, we’re going to miss high school.”
Tyra said she leaves for the Air Force on August 9. Jyra ships off to the Navy on August 22.
“I wanted to do something for my country and also wanted to travel around a lot,” said Jyra, who wants to become a veterinary technician.
“I go to boot camp and right now my job is somewhere in administrative,” Tyra explained. “Figured I might as well join the military. And I wanted to go to the Army at first, but I got talked out of that pretty quick. So the Navy was the next best thing for me.
The twins said their family has been supportive of the process since day one.
“I just love knowing that they support everything I do. I’m making them proud of every decision that I go with, and just seeing them happy for me, makes me really happy for my future and all the goals that I set up for myself,” said Jyra.
“It just makes you feel like you’re on the right path, with all the support going on. You know you’re headed in the right way and you know they’re going to be behind you no matter what,” Tyra added.
Both girls said they got their strength from their mother, and intelligence from their father.
“I’m feeling excited for them. Starting a new life, new part of their life,” said Lonnie Griggs about his daughters.
“I have a family that’s been in the military, especially the branches that they’re going to. They kind of eased my nerves a little bit. Let me know that hey everything is going to be alright. Especially one going to the Navy the other going to the Air Force. They kind of helped me out and let me know that hey it’s not as bad as what it seems,” he explained.
One of those family members is Darren Griggs, the girls’ cousin, who is on reserve for the Navy.
“I’m excited for them,” he said. “Just expand your mind, serve your country, travel the world. You kind of get both.”
The twins said the family support system has been crucial.
“[They] worked hard to get us to where we were, so taking this path I can be able to pay them back for all the things that they did for me and it’ll be good,” Tyra said.