A cyclist smiles while preparing to continue the Memorial to Memorial Ride from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, to Washington, D.C., Sept. 21, 2025. Morale and camaraderie remained high throughout the four-day ride, reinforcing the event’s focus on connection and resilience. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Skylar Ellis)
“Failure is not an option,” Muhammad Ahmed said, recalling the words of his Aunt Maria. The phrase carried him through setbacks on the path to becoming an Airman.
Ahmed, a recruit in the delayed entry program, struggled with the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery twice before passing on his third attempt. That persistence, he said, was fueled by family and his recruiter, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Anthony Beeman, 317th Recruiting Squadron enlisted accessions recruiter.
“I did feel like giving up,” Ahmed said. “But I remembered why I wanted to start. Seeing service members I stay in touch with motivated me to push harder and be there one day.”
Ahmed, who plans to enter the cybersecurity field, credited his...
