USAF Recruit’s Journey Of Resilience, Support
by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Skylar Ellis
September 26, 2025

“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 family and Beeman for keeping him focused when the process stretched over a year. His mother reminded him to keep studying, while Beeman walked him through each step and encouraged him not to lose sight of his goals.

“It was a long process,” Ahmed said. “I had to redo the paperwork because it had expired. But once I locked in, I scored very high. I wouldn’t have been here without my mom, dad, Sergeant Beeman, or my tutor Marcus Solomon.”

Beeman said Ahmed’s success showed the value of commitment.

“After two failed tests, he could have walked away,” Beeman said. “When he came back and scored a 97, that was the result of discipline and persistence. As recruiters, our job is to remind future Airmen why they’re here and to keep them motivated through setbacks.”

Ahmed recently took his oath of enlistment during a public ceremony at the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball stadium, Sept. 18, 2025. The event took place as part of the Memorial to Memorial Ride, giving cyclists and volunteers the chance to witness the milestone alongside his family.

“Not everyone gets to do their enlistment in front of family and a crowd,” Ahmed said. “It’s something I’ll always remember. It wasn’t just about filling out forms. Sergeant Beeman guided me through everything, and we built a bond that went beyond paperwork.”

Beeman said watching recruits grow is one of the most rewarding parts of his job.

“I’m proud when they finish basic or tech school and reach back out,” Beeman said. “That’s when you see the full impact. You know they pushed through the hard parts and came out ready for the mission.”

For Ahmed, the next challenge is basic military training. He sees it as another test of perseverance, one he believes he’s ready to face.

“It’s going to be tough in the beginning, but it’s designed to build you up,” Ahmed said. “I’m ready for that.”

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