My son is 20 years old and completing his second year in college. Our family has no military background – my father was Air Force from ‘46 to Dec. ‘51 but never spoke about it and he’s no longer around for my son to ask. My son is dual enrolled in our local community college and Oregon State University studying mechanical engineering with plans to minor in aeronautical engineering. He’ll transfer full-time to OSU this fall. He applied to USAFA last year and didn’t get nominated. Applied again, got nominated from our local congressman, but was turned down last week. I thought he was only interested because it meant his education would be paid for, plus it's a top ranked engineering school and might even provide the possibility to pilot a plane. My husband and I are financially able to pay for college but require our children pay most of their way in life because we don’t want our children to be entitled sociopaths (maybe they call it affluenza now?). Turns out, he really wants a career in the Air Force and plans to join after earning his degree. I’m really embarrassed that I haven’t quizzed him much about his career plans up to this point. He takes 20+ credits without flinching and is very creative so I always assumed he would want to work for a company designing technology. I thought the Air Force purchased all their technology so I’m trying to figure out what someone creative like my son would do and get from the Air Force? Would he have the chance to design new technology? From what I’ve read, it looks more like he would test equipment. I’m just worried he wouldn’t be utilized to his full abilities, become bored, and ultimately have regrets.