Returning the salute: Son of Wing member accepted in Air Force Academy Published April 7, 2006 By Staff Sgt. Ebony Nichols 917th Wing Public Affairs Barksdale AFB, La. -- After 17 years of showing repect to his father as any good son should, Eric will finally get that respect in return…in the form of a salute. Eric Poole, son of Master Sgt. Mark Poole, 917th Maintenance Group avionics test station supervisor, will be received into the Air Force Academy June 29. Eric has been planning to apply to the Air Force Academy since the eighth grade. “I want to be a pilot,” he said. “I thought the academy would be a good place to start.” His second choice is to explore the area of Physics. Being accepted to the Air Force Academy, an institution that has graduated more than 35,000 cadets since its inception in 1954, was no easy task. “Eric maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout high school, and got a 29 on his ACT,” said Sergeant Poole. He also had to attain letters of recommendation from several sources to send to his congressman and senators; and answer essay questions from them about why he wanted to attend the academy. He received nominations from all three officials in question. Eric also received a great amount of support and encouragement from his father and grandfather, who were both Airmen. “I just hope he’s able to do what he wants to do, when he gets out (of the academy),” said Sergeant Poole. His advice to Eric, a third-generation Airman, “it’ll be tough the first year, but he just needs to stick with it.” The thing Sergeant Poole said he looks forward to most is, “saluting my son the day he graduates from the Academy.”