It took two years of college for Kyle Spratt to realize he might be better suited for a life in the military.
The 2011 Indian Creek High School graduate was 20 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force Academy. Looking back, Spratt, who continues to train to become an Air Force helicopter pilot, is satisfied with the path taken toward personal and professional fulfillment.
“I feel very fortunate that I was able to find a niche where I could go and do what I wanted to do,” said Spratt, 26. “For me, I wanted to make a difference. I feel lucky to be in a small community of people that saves people.”
Spratt spent his freshman and sophomore years at Ball State University, majoring in entrepreneurial management, when temptation to be part of his country’s military eventually led him to enlist.
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He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2017 and was selected for pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas, where he learned fixed wing piloting skills. He would eventually learn to apply what he learned to helicopters, Spratt’s preferred type of aircraft, at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
“It’s definitely not for everyone, and I didn’t think it was for me until I was in college,” Spratt said. “Just as I started at Ball State, Conner Waldkoetter, my best friend since fourth-grade, enlisted in the Air Force. He was telling me about sliding out of the back of helicopters, and that sounded a lot better.”
Spratt’s acceptance to the Air Force Academy was based on a nomination from former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, currently vice president of the United States. At the time, Spratt, needing a congressional recommendation, reached out to Pence, who at the time was a congressman in Spratt’s district.
Once at the Air Force Academy, Spratt’s transition from life as college student to cadet was anything but seamless. A week into training, Spratt’s four-year military commitment felt more like 40.
“I was probably closer than most to quitting at the beginning. It was definitely stressful and just different from what I had been doing,” he said. “I had a phone call with my parents and my wife, who at that time was my girlfriend. They told me I would regret it if I quit.”
Spratt adjusted, became more comfortable with life at the academy and six years later can’t envision a different, more conventional lifestyle.
On May 25, 2017, one day after graduating from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Spratt and his high school sweetheart, Grace Adams, drove to nearby Pike’s Peak to sign the papers necessary to get married.
A formal wedding ceremony was 16 days later in front of family and friends at Mallow Run Winery in Bargersville. Spratt and Adams began dating their senior year at Indian Creek and mostly maintained a long-distance relationship before marrying.
Grace Spratt graduated from Indiana University in 2017 as public health major. She works as a health coach for Noom.com, an online business dedicated to issues such as weight loss and diabetes awareness.
Being part of an online business allows Grace to continue her employment regardless of where her husband is stationed.
The couple currently lives in Enterprise, Alabama. In the fall, the Spratts leave for Albuquerque, New Mexico, so Kyle can continue training at Kirtland Air Force Base for approximately six months.
Then it’s off to Minot, North Dakota, to train at Minot Air Force Base, for what’s expected to be a three- to four-year stay.
Kyle Spratt credits his wife and other members of his family for always believing in him.
“My family has always been very supportive of me,” said Spratt of his parents, Mike and Betsy and twin brothers, Marc and Nathan, 24. “They were maybe a little confused, but they’re happy with how it turned out.”
