In recognition of Veterans Day 2025, we asked Nicholas Stanton, a recent graduate of MEDEX Northwest Seattle Class 57 and a U.S. Air Force veteran, to share some thoughts on his work as chair of the Washington Academy of PAs (WAPA) Veteran’s Committee.

The Call to Serve

By Nicholas Stanton

Walking into the colossal Capitol building in Washington, D.C. to meet with senators and representatives was an entirely new experience for me, especially considering that the previous decade of my life revolved around responding to natural disasters and jumping out of helicopters in war zones around the world. I had traded in my camouflage for a new suit and a new mission—that of a newly graduated physician assistant (PA) from UW, working to make an impact on a different scale. No longer armed with a rifle and a med kit, but instead a list of bills and laws we wanted passed for the benefit of other Americans.

I joined the Air Force in 2013 to become a Pararescueman, capable of saving lives anywhere or anytime. The legacy of Pararescue spans almost a century. It has recorded thousands of saves around the world and even sacrificed some of its own so that others may live. Its history began in the crucible of war, not long before the PA profession, and both with similar backgrounds. Wanting to continue the path I started over a decade ago, I recently attended and completed the MEDEX Northwest PA program in Seattle. After serving as the student representative to the Washington Academy of PAs (WAPA), I became the chair of the WAPA Veteran’s committee, which I’m currently working to build back up. I was also awarded a trip to attend the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) September 2025 Leadership and Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., funded by donations from generous WAPA members.

While there, I learned from lobbyists and high-ranking leaders of government programs about how best to engage with lawmakers for their backing on our bills. Our goal was twofold: advocating for patients to receive more access to medical care and unifying as one group for one cause. In a way, it felt warmly familiar—like being back in the military. I came to understand more that the same spirit of wanting to aid others exists in the PA community—just as within Pararescue—and that the American spirit is about wanting to help others in the pursuit of happiness and healing, no matter their political beliefs. I came away from D.C. asking myself, in the spirit of JFK, what can I do for my country?

Building a community of PA Veterans with WAPA was the answer. We’re creating a hub for PA Veterans to connect and come together for a variety of reasons ranging from mentoring the newest generation of PA Vets to lobbying for expanded patient care, such as during the upcoming PA Day on the Hill in Olympia on February 13th, 2026. Already, I’ve realized that while graduation may be over, if we want to continue making a difference, the work continues.

So, for me, Veterans Day isn’t only a time to reflect on past service, it’s a reminder that service doesn’t end when the uniform gets hung up. I’ve been welcomed into a new community with the same spirit as Pararescue—one exemplifying that no matter the uniform we wear or the political party we support, we are all united by a belief in a better tomorrow and the willingness to work together for that goal. It is what makes us uniquely American.

If you’re a PA Veteran or know someone who is, please reach out to get involved and help build our legacy. Contact me, Nicholas Stanton, at stantonpj28@gmail.com