[Cleburne]

That's pretty cool- a Sudanese Muslim PhD student in economics from an academic family- not the sort of background one would expect to find!

About three years ago, Ayman Taha told his father, "Dad, I have been going to school since I was 5 years old. I want to take a break."

The father said he suggested that his son "try something in the World Bank . . . or Merrill Lynch." But one day, "out of the blue," his son told him that he had signed the papers that would take him into the Special Forces.

[LZ_Bayonet]

"But one day, "out of the blue," his son told him that he had signed the papers..."

The best way to do it. Totally avoided involving family members in the process of thinking it through and/or making the decision, thus sparing them possible additional anguish. Smart, and thoughtful guy.