Students Interested In Attending US Military Academies

Students Interested In Attending US Military Academies
March 11, 2005

As a Member of the US House of Representatives, I have the privilege of nominating a select number of students from Ohio's Third District for admission to each of the United States military service academies. On Saturday, April 2, my staff and I will conduct a special Military Academy Day for high school juniors, underclassmen, and their families. The program will take place at Springboro High School, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Many of the outstanding students who receive Congressional nominations to one of the five service academies will go on to become our nation's future leaders and heroes. Of the five academies, the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY, is the oldest. Since 1802, West Point has been training cadets to become commissioned officers in the Army. West Point is located about 50 miles north of New York City

The other academies include: The United States Naval Academy, founded in 1845 in Annapolis, MD; The United States Merchant Marine Academy, dedicated in 1943, in Kings Point, NY; the youngest of the academies is the United States Air Force Academy, founded in 1958, and located in Colorado Springs, CO. Although admission to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is made by direct application to the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT., it will be part of our "Academy Day."

During the Academy Day program, I will have the opportunity to speak with students interested in being nominated to US military service academies. Representatives from each of the five academies will be present as well. Each will make a presentation about the programs their academies offer and answer questions. There will also be a short film about each of the academies, showing students and their families what each campus looks like. Current cadets from the various academies will be on hand to answer questions about everyday life on their campuses.

During the program, my staff will be on hand to discuss the qualifications, procedures and special instructions for applying for a Third District Congressional nomination.

In order to be considered for a military academy appointment, a student must be recommended by an authorized nominating source. This could include the Vice President, a Member of the US Senate, or a Member of the US House of Representatives. Receiving a nomination from an authorized source is still only the first step in the process of receiving an offer of an appointment from a US military service academy.

In addition to the nomination, students must qualify academically. Students are also subject to character, leadership, physical fitness, medical fitness, and motivation evaluations. Only after passing each of these evaluations are students offered an appointment to the service academy.

Attending a military service academy follows in the steps of US Presidents including Ulysses Grant, Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter; generals such as Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, and Norman Schwarzkopf; athletes including former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Roger Staubach; and astronauts such as Alan Sheppard and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, just to name a few.

I encourage all students who are considering applying to one of the military academies to join me and my staff at the Military Academy Day. The information is as follows:

Military Academy Day
Saturday April 2, 2005
Springboro High School
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Students considering attending a military service academy are making a decision of proud service and commitment to their country. I look forward to meeting those students and their families at Military Academy Day.

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/columns/3.11.05.shtml