We have several different ways that you can enter into the Air Force.
Both in the Academy, where you would earn a degree
and then be commissioned as an Air Force officer.
We also have, as you have here in Penn State, the ROTC detachments, where you can participate
in an ROTC program and then be commissioned.
And then we have also some after you finish your degree,
that are accepted through officer training school
to meet specific needs that the Air Force has.
It actually isn't a job that you come in for.
It's a profession.
And it's the profession of arms.
And there's so much that we do that's involved in humanitarian relief,
peacekeeping, some of it is war fighting.
But we also do stability operations, as we have been doing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
So you could end up doing lots of different things.
As part of that profession, anywhere from, you know, flying to working within the cyber domain,
or doing security forces or, or maintenance or, or, or acquisition, or public affairs.
So there are so many different opportunities.
I really encourage people to just decide what it is they want to do with their lives.
And there are many ways to come into the Air Force.
But it is a, a noble calling to be able to serve your nation in that capacity.
I will say within the Air Force right now there are many different needs and actually the focus
on diversity and bringing in different ways of thinking and,
and thought are critically important.
There is one area that we do have a shortage.
And I saw some of the ROTC cadets here today that are studying electrical engineering
and that certainly is an area that the Air Force has been continually short
in accessing into the Air Force.
So, in anything in the science, technology, engineering,
and math domain nationally we are falling behind.
It's great to see young people pursuing the science,
technology, engineering and math degrees.
It takes a desire to be a lifelong learner to be successful.
That you don't shut down when you get your bachelor's degree.
And now I'm, you know, I'm done or, or a master's degree.
Those are really just opportunities to advance how you learn.
But really an attitude of lifelong learning is important.
I think another one is, there are going to be setbacks in whatever it is that you try to do.
Don't be afraid to try something different and, and it may come with some failure.
But you just brush off your knees, you step back up, and you keep going.
But a sense of resilience of trying something new and,
and building upon that as you develop in, in your career whatever that may be.