A letter I hope to write in a week or two...

To all my close friends and family,

I have recently made the decision to enlist in the United States Air Force. After speaking at length with a recruiter and several current Airmen, I have secured a position as a loadmaster, and I will leave for Basic Training early next year. After my training, I will spend the next four years on board either a C-17 or a C-130 aircraft, traveling all over the world to deliver supplies and troops to those in need. This was not a decision that was made lightly, and I want to take a moment to explain my reasoning to everyone whom I truly care about, in the hope that I can ease concerns many of you may have.

This choice has been over 4 years in the making, dating back to my decision to join the Air Force ROTC program at Pitt. At that time, I knew that the Air Force would provide me with opportunities that no civilian company could. Ultimately, however, I did not feel completely prepared to make the long commitment required of an aviation officer.

After spending nearly two years in the civilian world, I have gained a much clearer vision of my future. It has become increasingly clear to me that the risks involved with my enlistment are greatly overshadowed by the numerous lifetime goals that this decision will help me achieve. These goals- traveling the world, flying on a regular basis, working in an ever-changing environment, staying in great shape, and gaining experience that will help me for the rest of my life- can all be fulfilled by this lifestyle, and all that is asked in return is a four-year commitment.

Please understand, though, that I am not taking this commitment lightly. Even now, I am not completely sure that this will be a life I will fully enjoy at all times. In fact, I may even have moments where I question my decision-making....and this is where you come in.

As the people who matter most to me, it is your opinion that I hold highest, and your support that I cherish the most. I am sure you can imagine the great amount of uncertainty and anxiety that go into the choice to leave everything you've known for the past 24 years. In that light, I would ask that you give me your undivided support, as well as your honest insight into the challenges I may face, and how best to handle them.

In any event, I am sure that this decision will benefit me for the rest of my life. For the first time in years, I feel like my hard work will be towards a tangible and attainable goal...rather than simply the result of a standard "life plan." For this, I thank all of you for helping me reach this point, and I look forward to sharing many happy stories of adventure for years to come.

PLH,

Nick

P.S. If you have any questions about my future job/my decision making process/etc, please don't hesitate to ask!