Tom got the following email from a military officer serving as a professor at one of the service academies:

Sir,
I attended the HASC hearing yesterday for an article I'm writing. I really appreciated that you seemed to be the only voice placing future forces within an appropriate strategic context. I hope you will testify again on the Hill. Your honest, thoughtful assessment to the subcommittee was a refreshing change.

Tom's response

Thanks.

Exactly the sort of encouragement I needed. Felt a bit down afterward, but your feedback is all I need to keep trying.