Did you know there are more planes in the ocean than submarines in the air? I am Nicodemus Leaver, known as Midshipman Second Class Leaver in the Navy. Being in NROTC, I make friends that are either studying in college or training in the Navy. The most common questions I get from both are “What do you study,” and “Where do you want to work,” the answers are I studying Aerospace Engineering, and I want to be a submariner. Then every single time, they look at me with confusion saying “what do they have in common?” and then make a Top Gun reference because the Navy has planes, if I’m studying Aerospace Engineering, why not fly? This is my point. Why not fly? I chose Aerospace Engineering because of my idea to make submarines fly as well as challenge myself to see how to make things fly safer. Why not fly? I asked myself this reading about submarines back in high school. To make this fantasy a reality, I have to learn how to make things fly, dive, and do the missions that the Navy needs. I’ve always wanted to serve in the Navy since my uncle came home from Iraq, and being in the Navy will help me learn about their missions. However, the other two issues I was not entirely sure about solving. After thinking about it, making something dive is a lot easier than making it fly, so I ended up choosing Aerospace Engineering. This way I can make sure I know how to make it fly and how water makes it not fly. I chose to be a submariner because I enjoy being on a submarine and the community around it. However, it does also help tremendously as I know how submarines work and their capabilities. In a short time, I will answer the question “why not fly?” The United States is the most dominant air power in the world and the proof is that both of the World’s most powerful air forces belong to the US: the Air Force and Navy. However, just because we are the best does not mean we can’t be better. I want to make aircraft stronger, faster, and most importantly: safer. I’m always hearing stories of crashes with different aircraft, and I want to change that. We are in a time of peace, I don’t want more people to lose their lives for operating something they were told to. If I were to lose my life serving my country, I want to go defending not from an error in the equipment and I do not want anyone else to lose their life like this too. Therefore, this is why I do not fly. I am an Aerospace Engineer to make a submarine fly and make aircraft safer to fly.