Am I Insane For Reconsidering?

Hi everyone.

'28 Appointee. There was a post on SAF recently for someone who was struggling to accept their appointment because they couldn't come to term with certain things. While similar, my situation is different, and I come here hoping those of you with a lot more wisdom than me will provide some insight that will help me make a decision.

I'm stuck between two choices. USAFA, and continuing my career in the fire department as an EMT/Paramedic. I'm a senior in high school. For the past 2.5 years, I've been an EMT for the Fire Department, and have been full time for the last year. I started Paramedic School back in August, and have been doing well so far (graduation would be April 2025). Kind of on a whim, I applied for the Air Force Academy, and I got in. I love what I do currently; I get to directly serve the public (whereas the military to me seems more like you're serving a system), I am well set-up (job offers, good income, etc.), it's less education to sit through, and I have some amazing friends. Unfortunately, if I were to stay on this path, I'd be stuck in my hometown for longer than I want, I won't feel like I'm reaching for every opportunity, paramedicine as a field isn't very well respected (underpaid, underappreciated, feds classify us as transportation officials, is somewhat of a dead-end job), and I would be at risk for heavy heavy burnout.

The Air Force Academy would offer me a top tier education, will live a physically active lifestyle, have amazing benefits, unforgettable experiences, will be 'serving', and will have the opportunity to travel. Above all else, I get to be an officer in the Air Force. However, ideally I want to fly, but I do have a color deficiency so I am not sure if I even medically qualify. I recently take the Cone Contrast Test and pass, but my left eye was right on the benchmark (55). It also seems like the Air Force uses a slightly different variation of the CCT. Above all else, there is so much unknown, whereas I have so much control and comfort in my current life. I also wouldn't really start my career until 2028, 2030 if I get a pilot slot.

Right now, I'm leaning towards going towards the Academy, at least for the first year, and then re-evaluating. The Air Force doesn't require a service commitment after the first two years for a reason...

Give me your .02!

Sounds like you see a better long-term future by going USAFA, and the main thing holding you back is the possibility of not becoming a pilot. Your gut seems to tell you, “Try it for a year or two. If it’s not right for you, leave without any obligation.”

And at that point, you can always go back to being a paramedic. Seems like a no-lose situation. Best wishes to you, either way.

MidCakePa said:

Sounds like you see a better long-term future by going USAFA, and the main thing holding you back is the possibility of not becoming a pilot. Your gut seems to tell you, “Try it for a year or two. If it’s not right for you, leave without any obligation.”

And at that point, you can always go back to being a paramedic. Seems like a no-lose situation. Best wishes to you, either way.

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Exactly what I would say.

Go explore something entirely new - people, places, things, possibilities. Be open to the journey. You have another 60-80 years on the planet. Get out of your comfort zone. People attend service academies and enter the military for all kinds of reasons, and as they mature, motivation and goals often become clearer.

If you find it’s not for you, you can indeed walk away during the first 2 years. The service academies build voluntary and involuntary attrition into their intake numbers.

Something made you apply to USAFA. Listen to that voice - challenge yourself to live, learn and thrive in a new environment.

Go to USAFA bro(gender neutral) worst case scenario you can leave. Your fear of failure is probably what is holding you back here, bet on yourself here and trust that you can make proper use of all the incredible opportunities USAFA will offer you. Just graduating will set you far apart from most people and set you up for life tbh. Don’t pass that up because you’re worried. I would suggest talking to some other incoming cadets, because we are ALL a little nervous/afraid right now. It’s a totally normal feeling I think.

Also consider that at USAFA there is a cadet staffed emergency response/medical team and you could look towards the Special Warfare fields like Combat Rescue Officer (CRO) for a career in a field you enjoy and with which you are already familiar. Having the education from USAFA will be a good thing to have later in your career no matter where you end up and the job opportunities are more varied than you may know. Question to ask yourself is whether, in 10-15 years from now you will regret not taking the chance and trying for something like USAFA. Yes, to a degree you do serve a system, that's the military however as a CRO (and in many other roles) you very much serve your fellow airmen and warfighters across all branches.

I doubt anyone here will tell you to ‘stay put. Stay comfortable. Dont challenge yourself’ bc the kind of people who apply for a SA, and the parents that raised them, and others who have already ventured on the path to military service, and those who have served many years, just aren’t BUILT like that. Are you??

Go for it. Absolutely 200 pct go for it!! You can ALWAYS come back to what you had. Your current skills and experience will always be there for you to fall back on. Friends won’t leave you. Your comfortable life will be there.

But if you give USAFA a fair shake, I suspect you won’t look back. And if your future self knew what you ‘gave up’ (go read the amazing stories and adventures others have had on this path: from trainings and experiences during the 4 yrs of training, to AD life beyond the SA) by not attending? I’m pretty certain your future self would have regrets and wonder ‘what if I had gone…?’ I think this bc your post isn't questioning serving.

You will find a niche at USAFA that appeals to you. Don't doubt that for a second. And regarding the education? That will only open opportunities for you. It’s never, ever wasted time.

You don’t know what you don’t know. It’s normal to be comfortable. But why not challenge yourself and go for it?

I'm not completely educated on this, but there may be some opportunities to take the best of both worlds with something like pararescue. It's not for the weak, but those guys are real life superheroes.

You only get one life, so take chances, be bold, do uncomfortable things, that is the only way you will grow. Being a paramedic is a noble calling but will always be there (I worked my way through college as a paramedic). Your opportunity at USAFA is once-in-a-lifetime with the only real short-term risk being your time.

So in short, pack warm. It gets COLD in Colorado.

Check out these resources:

USAFA Medical Opportunities:



CRO Info:


Long-Term Value of SA Education:

(4 SA's in Top 25)

You could easily be volunteer fireman at your duty stations.

When I read your post I thought the tone sounded more excited about USAFA. My advice is to spend a day imagining you've decided to go USAFA and envisioning what your life will be like. Then spend a day imagining you've decided to pursue paramedicine and envisioning what that would be like. If one path is more exciting, fulfilling, or quite frankly more nerve wracking to you that may be the one to choose.

Two additional things to consider--neither path is permanent but USAFA might not be available later. On the other hand, if you continue towards paramedicine there are opportunities to travel and serve others. The Red Cross deploys volunteer EMTs and paramedics around the country in response to disasters.

Inspired by Post #10, @fromupnorth I want you to look waaaaay down the road, perhaps when you are an Air Force veteran, and are looking for ways to still tend that part of you that is a paramedic called to serve.

Take a look at this link:

There are all kinds of ways to keep a hand in with something that is part of who you are, the rest of your life.

Get out there and live, explore, try, risk - and grow.

I'll speak as a Dad and what I'd say to any of my kids faced with this. You'll never know if you don't go to the USAFA, BUT if you decide not to, you'll always wonder if it was a mistake. I learned a long time ago, make a decision, if it's the wrong decision, you can always adjust, but you cannot adjust from no decision. This is a big step into uncharted waters. Apprehension? Of course. You don't want to be 30 wondering how different your life would have been if you had gone to USAFA. As you grow into adulthood, you will be challenged regardless of what you decide to do. JUSTDOIT19 laid it out perfectly. I'd say, you've worked amazingly hard to get this opportunity, your EMT experience probably improved your chances of getting there and that experience will never be wasted. You have a terrific future ahead, take a chance, you may be surprised at what you learn about yourself. Good luck!

I swear this is my last two cents.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received as a young adult was, “Errors of commission are usually better than errors of omission.” That can apply to all kinds of circumstances, thinking, decisions and actions.

As I look back over my life, the things I most regret are things I didn’t do - errors of omission. The errors of commission - I always learned from those, and I always felt better if I did something.

fromupnorth said:

// I also wouldn't really start my career until 2028, 2030 if I get a pilot slot.

Right now, I'm leaning towards going towards the Academy, at least for the first year, and then re-evaluating. The Air Force doesn't require a service commitment after the first two years for a reason...

Give me your .02!

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The commitment for an Air Force Pilot is 10 years of active-duty service after completion of pilot training. Navy is less - 8 for an aviator(Maverick) , wings plus six for a NFO (Goose). If selected, you will typically spend between two and a half and three and a half years in training before you are qualified to fly an aircraft operationally. There are at-present some additional delays to get flight training underway and potentially between phases. All of this training will occur after you have commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force.

Just fyi, you start your career on the day you commission and are working while in flight training You won't though start paying back the years of service commitment though until you complete your pilot training. So say 3.5 plus 10. Translation - You're in as a pilot until you're aged 35+ if you're 18 now. And if in until 35, why not stay a bit longer and retire with a full pension before hopping to the airlines, or to be a paramedic etc. The other officer paths, you're payback may be done when you're 26 or 27 or so *if you want to get out\. Depending on the role those non-pilot commitments last between 4 and six years of active duty.

Given that there is risk that the AF may need you elsewhere, factor into your decision that you may end up serving as an officer, but not as a pilot.

Good for you and continue to understand where you score/ what your chances are to become a pilot. How's your red-green color blindness? I only ask as my DS is a commercial pilot/ cfi/ and now training to be a naval aviator. I've flown with him many times, and there are a lot of tail markings/ airport markings that distinguishing those two can help you know whether an other aircraft is approaching or departing, etc.

OK, all that being said, I agree with your idea of going for it - all in, for a year at USAFA and then re-evaluate whether or not you may wish to return. You can do that for years 1 AND 2 if you like. I like the idea of you eventually serving as an EMT while on campus too - combining your passions. Might get you out of other obligations too.

Good luck to you and thanks for your interest to serve the public and the nation.

My son earned an appointment to the Naval Academy after receiving medical disqualification from the Air Force Academy (migraines). He wound up turning down the appointment to pursue a degree in civil engineering at University of Idaho. Ironically, he is now headed to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for his junior year internship and is planning on returning after he graduates. There are many roads to your ultimate goal. Figure that out and follow you gut/heart. You are a thoughtful young adult, there are no wrong choices here...although if I were your mom I'd encourage you to go to the Air Force Academy!

Just tagging this one here, two member of my squadron work with both our medical teams and our response teams to emergencies. If you want more information like day to day, how to get more training for EMT or other let me know!

FlyFalcon said:

Just tagging this one here, two member of my squadron work with both our medical teams and our response teams to emergencies. If you want more information like day to day, how to get more training for EMT or other let me know!

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Send me as much info as you have!

I'd say go for it. Flying is a great job. Alternately, CRO can be very rewarding, as well (although I don't have personal experience there). Paramedic is also a fine career, but also one you can pursue later, if you desire. USAFA is a limited time deal.

fromupnorth said:

Send me as much info as you have!

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Send me a DM, I am tied in directly.

I think right now you (and many others) are deciding between the "known and comfortable" and the unknown. I think you know USAFA is the better path for the future and like others say, if it isn't, you can always go back to paramedicine but you can't turn it down now and then change your mind.