Sold My Soul to the Air Force

Last night, there was a big dinner for every junior at the Air Force Academy to celebrate a special occasion. For me that occasion will occur in one hour. The first class I go to today will kick off my junior academic year. By going to that class, I will be legally agreeing with the Air Force that I will spend two more years at the academy, graduate, and serve at least five years as an officer afterward. I expected to be a bit nervous about the fact that I am making such a hefty commitment, but that has not been the case. Instead I feel a calm sort of happy confidence that I made the right choice.

Coming in, I wasn't sure that I would mesh with the military lifestyle and the fact that one day I might be personally responsible for killing somebody, or many sombodies for that matter. In the past few years, I've been trying to figure out where I stand spiritually and religiously and part of that was wondering whether I could agree with killing somebody who --just like me-- will believe that they are doing the right thing. I've thought about it long and hard and I know it won't be easy if/when I'm ever in that situation. I know it sounds too simple, but in the words of General T. Michael Moseley (Chief of Staff USAF) "Some folks just need killin'."

I'm excited about the next two years I have here at the academy, and I'm looking forward to working in "the real Air Force" after that.