Sara Compton, Air Force Cadet, Reflects on Patriotic Service of All Veterans
Kara SchofieldFeatured Photo: Sarah Compton in dress uniform with the USAF Academy’s Stillman Field in the background where all 4,000 cadets marched in formation. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Compton.
Sara Compton, a 2022 PISD “Top 10” graduate, Idaho native, and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joined the U.S. Air Force class of 2026 as a cadet this summer and has already learned much about what it means to serve her country.
A typical day for Compton begins at 5:40 a.m. with room tidying, memorization of upcoming Academy events and a news article, minutes and morning formation. That’s all before breakfast. Academic classes last until the march to lunch, after which cadets attend more lectures or begin their studies. Compton also has two hours daily of military training, a combination of physical exercise and military knowledge and history. The evening meal, a shower, and study take her remaining time until she is ready for bed at about 10 p.m. It is not the typical college freshman experience, to be sure.
But Compton has always been up for a challenge. She was accustomed to arising early during high school to attend all four years of the seminary program of the Church of Jesus Christ, a Bible study and gospel instruction class for teenagers that coincides with their local school calendar. The family’s move from Boise, Idaho, to Prosper, Texas in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic did not deter Compton from diving into a new school her junior year—literally. Compton joined the swim team to learn diving techniques, and her mom Rebecca says that even though she was a beginner among her peers, “She didn’t let fear or failure keep her from gaining a new cool skill.”
When Compton wasn’t diving, perfecting her 5’2” high jump, or studying, she was practicing the violin, which she began playing—again, behind her peers initially—while the family lived in Taiwan. Indeed, persistence, time management, and resilience all seem to be a natural part of her life. The weekend after her squadron returned from their Basic Cadet Training, they decided to do an extracurricular sunrise hike above the Academy. A photo documenting their accomplishment is a metaphor for how Compton feels about her future: hopeful.
In her understanding, Compton says, “It’s not enough for just you to succeed. You have to help your teammates as well…. Being a leader of character and a teammate means you don’t leave people behind just because you’re good enough to individually move on.” And how will she apply this knowledge in her years of service in the United States Air Force? “Patriotic sacrifice is very similar. You will be called upon
to sacrifice your time, talents, health and even sometimes your life for your country. To me, service is having the selflessness to be willing to sacrifice to uphold the constitution and protect those you love.”
Compton was drawn to the Academy because of its academic and athletic rigor, honor code, airmanship opportunities and unique programs. Her two veteran grandfathers and an uncle who was himself an Air Force cadet also inspired her through “his example, his expansive command of random facts and cool knowledge, and his fascinating stories of his experiences from all over the world.” Compton says that her heroes, people who have had the greatest impact on her personally, are those who “have the courage to stand up for what is right, even if they are standing alone.”
As Veterans Day approaches, Compton reflects on what service means to her. “[It] means committing one’s time and talents in small, everyday ways such as doing your job well and being kind to others. As an Academy graduate, I will have gained specialized skills to serve and protect others.” She also wants to remember America’s veterans for their sacrifices: “They gave up things they loved so I could grow up
free and safe. I am so grateful for their sacrifice and to those who continue to serve and protect us.”
For a glimpse of life at the Air Force Academy, visit their Flickr photostream here.
This article can also be found at Prosper Press News.
Kara Schofield lives with her husband, nearly grown youngest, and the family doodle in the Prosper Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She can often be found at one keyboard or another: writing, documenting personal and family history, accompanying school choirs, and learning how to play jazz music. Her greatest joys are her four children and their spouses, a sizable extended family, pies, mountains, and Jesus Christ.
