Have you ever considered taking that leap of faith to make your hobby a full-time career? For the majority of us, those pipe dreams never quite come to fruition.

But for Sam Eckholm, that leap of faith has led to the beginning of an incredible journey.

Sam started his first successful career as an Air Force Officer, graduating from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in 2018.

His second and current career, as an Aerospace and Defense Content Creator, was sparked from his unique talent as a visual storyteller, a need in the military recruiting space, and a lot of hard work.

Now, just two years after finishing his military commitment, Sam is a highly recognized and influential face in the military education, entertainment and recruiting world.

Let’s take it back to where it all started – as a USAFA Cadet.

What led to you attending the United States Air Force Academy?

Sam: My dad graduated in 1989 and my Uncle graduated in 1993. Military service was just in my blood. Even though I learned about USAFA through them, I really just wanted to do something different from all of my friends in high school. I became obsessed with the Academy. I watched all of the videos I could find, which in the early 2000s there weren’t many, and tried to make myself the best candidate to apply.

My first two years at the Academy were a total shock to the system. It was a bit different than how my dad had described it to me, but I knew I was committed and going to persevere. Once I opened my mind up, my whole experience changed. The friends I met and the opportunities I had, like being a Cadet Squadron Commander, made my Academy experience so worth it.

You commissioned as a Public Affairs Officer (PAO), tell us more about that journey.

Sam: Honestly, I thought I was going to be a pilot and follow the family trend, but I was also open to other career paths. I felt I may be better serving in a role where I could use my personality, talk with others, and share my love for the Air Force.

Once I was commissioned as a PAO, my first assignment was Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. I was the only one from the Academy PCSing there and I didn’t know anyone. During a morning PT session running around the track, I heard an F-22 Raptor flying overhead. I stopped and watched as it performed a demo team practice—I was amazed. I immediately turned to my boss and asked how I could be a part of that.

Fast forward a few months and I was able to spend two years with the F-22 demo team. I traveled all around the world, met thousands of people, ran [the demo team’s] social media channels, and became a trusted photographer and videographer for them. I had always done photography and film as a hobby in high school, but this truly sparked something in me that I wanted to do full time.

What led to documentary style filming full-time?

Sam: After my Langley assignment I went to Scott Air Force Base to do typical PAO duties. In the little free time I had, I was making videos. I put out videos I wished I had earlier when applying to the Academy and learning about the Air Force.

I began building a following of people interested in the military. From the Top 10 Reasons to Join the Air Force to the very first video I made of flying in a T-38, I realized I was onto something.

People began reaching out, I started making videos on the side for the Navy in Norfolk, a C-130 video… I was met with a fork in the road: Did I continue my Air Force service or did I serve in a different way, as a civilian making videos?

I realized that my greatest asset to the Air Force would be serving in a role that allowed me to use my talents to inspire the next generation of Airmen. I separated at the end of my 5-year Academy commitment and began chasing this dream with everything I had.

What’s been the hardest part of the journey?

Sam: Leaving anything that’s structured and full-time is hard. I gave up a lot of benefits, but I knew I had to take a chance if this was going to work.

The hardest part was assembling everything in place. Now that I have a team of 4-people, it’s not just supporting myself anymore, it’s about the team. When you do this as a job versus for fun, it’s different. There’s a business to run, a website to manage, different projects, like the course that I launched on getting into the Academy, and lots of parts you don’t realize until you do it. This has been 100 times harder than my military job because of how much I have to do to keep going.