Erath's Ryan Allen graduates from U.S. Air Force Academy

Ryan Allen of Erath was one of 840 cadets who graduated from the Air Force Academy recently.
The ceremony was held at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co.
Twenty members of Ryan’s family and friends attended the swearing-in and graduation ceremonies, including Robert Viator, who administered his swearing in as Second Lieutenant.
His mother and father, Nina and Kendall Allen, were on hand to cheer on their son.
“As parents, anytime any of your kids succeed at goals they set out for themselves, it is a humbling satisfaction,” said Nina.
“To realize that Ryan, at such a young age was willing to make the sacrifices needed to make his dreams come true, is very rewarding. To attend a graduation ceremony of this magnitude, embedded with so much tradition, and where the finale included a 30 minute performance from the Air Force Thunderbirds was truly a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ bone chilling and tear filled event.”
Upon the completion of graduation ceremonies, all graduates were given a 60-day leave.
Ryan took advantage of this opportunity to travel abroad with many of his new found friends.
Afterwards, he will report to Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas for a two year pilot training program. His dream is still to be a pilot.
When asked what his preference would be as far as which aircraft, he’s always responded, “ The faster the better!”
His mom responded, “That makes me a little nervous! But I wouldn’t want anyone else out there protecting my freedom.”
When his pilot training is complete, he will be committed to ten more years in the Air Force.
Just less than 79 percent of those graduates are men and just more than 21 percent are women.
The average cumulative GPA for the Academy’s Class of 2015 is 2.98.
One-hundred and thirty cadets were Eagle Scouts, 119 were Boy Scouts and 38 were Girl Scouts.
The graduating class contains three sets of twins, three third-child graduates and 48 second-child graduates.
Sixty graduates were second-generation graduates and eight have both parents having attended the Academy.
“As a family, we are all very proud and supportive and believe that his commitment to the military, along with every man and woman who accepts this service, in any branch, is very commendable,” she said.