The Chief of Staff of the US Air Force decided that he would personally intervene in the severe recruiting crisis affecting all of our Armed Forces. He directed that a nearby Air Force base would be opened for public inspection and that all eligible young men and women would be invited.

As he and his staff were standing near a brand-new F-15 Fighter, a pair of twin brothers who looked as though they had just stepped off a Marine Corps recruiting poster walked up to them. The Chief of Staff greeted them, stuck out his hand and introduced himself. He looked at the first young man and asked: "Son, what skills can you bring to the Air Force?"

The young man looked at him and said: "I'm a pilot!"

The general got all excited, turned to his aide and said, "Get him in today, all the paper work done, everything. Do it!"

The aide hustled the young man off. The general looked at the second young man and asked, "What skills can you bring to the Air Force?"

The young man said proudly, "I chop wood!"

"Son," the general replied, "we don't need wood choppers in the Air Force. What do you know how to do?"

"I chop wood!" replied the brother.

"Young man," huffed the general, "you are not listening to me. We don't need wood choppers. This is the 20th century!"

"Well," the young man said, "you hired my brother!"

"Of course we did," said the general, "he's a pilot!"

The young man rolled his eyes and said: "Dang it, I have to chop it before he can pile it!"