Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, Sept. 20, 2019

United States service academies: A college option

by Alisha Semchuck
staff writer
College bound? Why not consider
applying for admission into a United
States service academy run by the Air
Force, Army, Navy, Merchant Marine
or Coast Guard? These military acad-
emies offer a competitive and superior
education. Students can serve this nation
while working toward a career path for
their future.
More than 75 college-bound students,
some accompanied by their parents, at-
tended a Military Academies Informa-
tion Session Sept. 14 in the Performing
Arts Theatre at Antelope Valley Col-
lege, an event sponsored by Congress-
woman Katie Hill, D-Calif.
Hill sits on the House Armed Service
Committee among others, including the Photograph by Lisa Kinison
House, Science, Space and Technology High school students and their parents learn more about service academy opportunities during a presentation at Antelope Valley College Sept. 14, sponsored
Committee. by Rep. Katie Hill, D-Calif.
Representatives from the United
States Military Academy; United States ite on the ACT/SAT’s, which students works hard to get in as many students finest human beings you will meet.” team than the military academies.”
Naval Academy; United States Air should start taking in their junior year in as we can.” Yeam said the Merchant Marine does His first time of jumping from a plane
Force Academy; United States Coast high school. Academies like composites Waugh said he chose the Service not function in the same manner as a with a parachute was terrifying. But, he
Guard Academy, and the United States close to 29-30 on the ACT’s and from Academy instead of a traditional college typical branch of the military. “We’re did it. There was no backing out. He
Merchant Marine Academy spoke with 560–600 or more on the SAT’s. Stu- after spending a night at West Point. “I different. We’re with the Department overcame that fear.
prospective students and parents about dents must have a thorough understand- was a basketball player. I wasn’t a par- of Defense.” He offered advice to other young peo-
life in a military framework. ing of algebra and they must maintain tier in high school. I worked hard.” What do the students learn? “You can ple contemplating applying for a United
Kelsey O’Hara, Programs and Re- a challenging core curriculum in high When he spent the night at West fix any boat, in any ocean, anywhere in States service academy. “To make your-
search director for Hill, served as em- school. Point, he was impressed with the level the world.” At any given time, 250 stu- self better, remember why you’re there.
cee for the formal program, which Leadership counts for 20 percent of of commitment he saw from the stu- dents from that academy are out at sea.
kicked off with a video that described the score. They can gain that through dents. They earn $1,200 a month for that. You’re not there for yourself. You’re
the “Five-Pointed Star.” Points on that participation on a high school athletic “The way I look at business is every- “Who do you think drives the boats there for the people next to you.”
star stand for United States service acad- team such as football, baseball, bas- thing I learned at the academy and in the for the Navy? The Merchant Marines,” Ellie Kay, an Air Force Academy
emies. Although each branch of service ketball and track. Being team captain military,” Waugh said. Yeam said. He recommended applying Admissions Liaison Office and parent
has its own identity and its own func- scores extra points. Participation in Andrew Barry, a research pilot for to the Merchant Marine Academy “at of academy students, focused on the
tion, the video narrator said a common Scouts also adds points. The final 20 NASA at Air Force Plant 42 in Palm- least as your backup. You will visit, on parent/child relationship.
thread runs between them — “to be percent is a composite of the fitness as- dale, graduated from the Naval Acad- average, 20 different countries.” “When our kids are little, we have
challenged at the highest levels.” sessment, an interview with Academy emy in 1994. “Why I went to the acad- Cindy Jones Wade is an Academy to ‘helicopter.’” She and her husband,
The various branches have more Liaison Officers, and a personal essay. emy? I wanted to be a leader.” Admissions Partner for the U.S. Coast Bob “K-Bob” Kay, a retired Air Force
in common than most people realize. Proper grammar, punctuation and com- Barry came from a family of World Guard Academy. She’s also a pub- lieutenant colonel and an Admissions
“Each academy is rated as a top under- munication skills factor into that score. War II veterans. From them he learned lic high school teacher, a career she’s Liaison Officer, have seven children.
graduate college.” Because standards O’Hara said the deadline to get ap- what it meant to be in the service. At the worked at for the past 28 years. Her Thinking back to when they were little,
are set so high, cadets not only excel plications into Hill’s Simi Valley Dis- Academy, he majored in oceanography. daughter joined the Coast Guard.
while at the academies, but they excel trict Office is Oct. 22. Applicants need In the Navy, he was an aviator. “She liked the humanitarian mis- she said, “I saved their lives on many
after graduation and possibly make a ca- to include a Letter of Recommendation “If you guys are up for the chal- sion,” Wade said of her daughter. They occasions. As they get older, the he-
reer of the military. Students enrolled in and their SAT scores. lenge,” Barry said, “America is count- helped residents of the Bahamas in the licopter has to fly further and further
any of the academies learn to be leaders “This is a competitive process,” ing on you.” aftermath of Hurricane Dorian and they away.”
in the service and that leadership quality O’Hara emphasized. “A nomination Kevin Yeam, an attorney, never went also responded for a rescue mission to Students should not apply to a Unit-
continues in civilian life. doesn’t guarantee you go to an acad- to a Service Academy. He earned a de- the Santa Cruz Island boat fire disaster, ed States service academy because
They learn to rely on each other “to emy. An appointment guarantees your where more than 30 people died. their parents want them to. The other
get the job done. These are the young go to an academy.” gree at the University of Southern Cali- Everyone can apply. Last year the side of that equation is if they want to
fornia then studied law at Pepperdine
men and women we turn to for our na- academy accepted 284 students, includ- join an academy, parents in opposition
tional defense.” Gregory Waugh, the Admissions University. But, he serves as a Volun- ing some from international territories. shouldn’t stop them.
In each of the academies the cadets Field Force Representative for Cali- teer Field Representative for the United For those not accepted into the acad- “When they apply to an academy,
must be athletically inclined. Each fornia’s 25th Congressional District at States Merchant Marine Academy. His emy on their first try, Wade said, a prep it has to be their decision,” she said.
academy has a similar code of conduct West Point, said Hill “has the ability daughter attends that academy. school provides an awesome opportu- “When they put on that uniform, they
based on honor, morals and ethics. Ly- to submit 10 nominations. Our district Merchant Marines are “some of the nity. It gives students a year to prepare
ing, cheating and stealing are taboo. for an academy. will be our heroes. You will be the he-
The education and training they receive There are more women in the Coast roes at home. You’re supporting their
inspires them to become adults of solid Guard than in any of the other Service dream. That’s an heroic thing.”
character. They give selflessly, regard- Academies, she noted. “I really am grateful for you taking
ing the well-being of the nation and of Jennifer Riedel graduated from the the time,” Hill told the crowd in atten-
others before thinking about themselves. Air Force Academy. “I was not vision- dance at the event. “This district sends
While in the academies they have a qualified to be a pilot. If you’re not more academy nominations than most
wide range of fields they can choose going to be a pilot, there are so many districts.”
from as their major, whether in engi- other opportunities.” She became an Hill noted that her family has a long
neering, the sciences, humanities, phi- engineer in the Air Force, and worked military history, dating back to the Rev-
losophy, economics and even music. as a research scientist. Now she’s a vet- olutionary War. Her brother is currently
“They stand out as leaders, rather erinarian. a sailor. She said U.S. service members
than followers,” the narrator said. “They Riedel described her time in the do much more than people realize —
serve our nation in times of peace as academy as a “huge learning process” they fulfill the roles of diplomat and
well as times of conflict.” for a young woman from a small town
Students seeking an appointment to in Michigan. protector of this nation’s allies.
a United States Service Academy must Caden Kulp is a second-class cadet in For more information on the nomina-
meet certain requirements, O’Hara told Photograph by Lisa Kinison the Air Force Academy. Why did he de- tion process for residents of Rep. Katie
the crowd. Academics accounts for 60 Rep. Katie Hill (right), D-Calif., discusses service academy opportunities at a cide on the academy? All through high Hill’s congressional district, visit https://
percent of their admissions score. The forum she sponsored at Antelope Valley College Sept. 14. school he was involved in sports. “I love katiehill.house.gov/services/military-
academies look for a strong compos- being part of a team. There’s no better academy-nominations.

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