|
|
BIG EVENTS AHEAD
|
August 17th: District Academy Day
Every August, I’m pleased to put together an informational event to
familiarize 10th District students with the application and
nomination process for the Nation’s five military service academies.
Students in grades eight through twelve are invited to attend. The
event takes place on the beautiful campus of Georgia Military College
in Milledgeville, where representatives from the United States Air
Force, Naval, Military, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine Academies
will discuss their requirements for admittance. Please join us for
this event on August 17th, and click here for
more details!
October 11th: Deadline for Nomination Applications
To request a Military Academy Nomination from my office, students are
required to complete a nomination application, which can be found on
my website at hice.house.gov.
A Congressional nomination does not guarantee an appointment to an
academy but is a required step for consideration. High school seniors
seeking a nomination from my office should submit an application
no later than Friday, October 11th at 5:00 p.m. No
exceptions. For more information, visit my website.
November: Academy Advisory Board Interviews
My Academy Advisory Board reviews applications and recommends the
most qualified candidates for nomination to our Nation’s
distinguished service academies. Applicants are required to complete
an interview with the board in order to complete their nomination
process.
|
|
TYPICAL TASKS
|
When
applying for a service academy nomination, there are important tasks
to complete during a student’s junior and senior years of high
school. The following is a suggested timeline:
Junior Year
• Starting between the months of December and February, inquire
or sign up for a Summer Seminar at your desired academy;
• During the months of February and March, schedule the SAT and/or
ACT Standardized Test to be taken in May and/or June;
• Through April and May, contact the service academy admissions
office for application information. Keep in mind, students may apply
and be nominated to more than one academy. Please go to my website for
an online application to get started; and
• In August, schedule a medical exam with the DoDMERB (Department of
Defense Medical Review Board). After a preliminary screening by the
academy, students will receive information about scheduling an
appointment with the DoDMERB. Schedule the appointment early because
many students will require medical waivers, which can take several
months to complete. All candidates must be found medically qualified
before admittance to an academy.
Senior Year
• In the fall, complete and submit your nomination applications to
all nominating sources. Please note that the application due dates
can vary from office to office and year to year;
• Also in the fall, take the Candidate Fitness Assessment;
• For those selected for a Congressional interview, my office
notifies students regarding the time and place for a personal meeting
with my Academy Review Board. Nominations are announced during the
month of January; and
• In the spring, candidates start to receive letters directly from
the academies notifying them of their admission statuses and offers
of appointment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Throughout the spring and summer, I attended signing
ceremonies for the numerous talented and hardworking students in the
10th District who applied for, were nominated to, and were accepted by
a U.S. Service Academy. There are limited prestigious slots available,
and yet our district is sending an astounding 11 young people to
service academies this year. I simply could not be prouder of each and
every one of them, and I have been honored to be a part of their
journeys in leadership.
In this summer edition of our Service Academy Newsletter, I wanted to
highlight these ceremonies, upcoming important events for those of you
planning on following in their footsteps, and updates on the students
currently enrolled in these academies. To all of you, good luck and
keep at it!
|
COMING SOON: SERVICE ACADEMY DAY
|
The
application and nomination process to a service academy can be long
and confusing, even for the brightest among us. To learn more about
how it works and how best to make your application stand out, join me
for our annual Service Academy Day at Georgia Military College in
Milledgeville. This year’s event will be held on Saturday,
August 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in
the Goldstein Center for the Performing Arts. Students, parents, and
guidance counselors are invited to attend to participate in a
comprehensive information session and receive an overview of the U.S.
Service Academies and the respective admissions processes. Attendees
will also have a chance to meet with officials from the academies and
representatives from my office. Come and learn how students can
receive a world-class education at one of our Nation’s
prestigious service academies. Full details can be
found here.
|
|
SIGNING CEREMONIES
|
|
During
the first half of the year, I was humbled to congratulate 11 students
who sought my nomination and received appointments to our United
States Service Academies: Ashley Clegg of Social Circle (USMA),
David Chapeau of Bogart (USAFA), Jay Hamil of Statham (USNA), Susan
Walker of McDonough (USAFA), Jasmine Brown of McDonough (USNA),
Matthew McMain of Monroe (USNA), Justin Dygert of Evans (USNA),
Garrett Dalley of Dacula (USMA), Gordon Tucker Keadle of Auburn
(USMA), Anna Caldwell of Milledgeville (USAFA), and Liam Hulstine of
Bowdon (USMMA). Their combined awards represent approximately $4
million in academic scholarships, and they are now preparing
to begin their journey in becoming our Nation’s future
military leaders. It was my honor and privilege to attend signing
ceremonies held in their honor, and I wish them all the best.
|
Ashley Clegg from Social Circle will be
attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where she
will compete on West Point’s rifle team.
|
|
Union Grove High School graduate Susan Walker accepted
an appointment offer to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
|
|
Following the Academy tradition of her grandfather (USMA
‘48) and father, LtGen William B. Caldwell, IV, (USMA ‘76),
Anna Caldwell is spreading her wings by attending the
U.S. Air Force Academy.
|
|
|
CADET CORNER: WHERE ARE THEY
NOW?
|
|
Back
in 2016, I was honored to nominate Will Caldwell, who is now
flourishing as a “second Classman,” meaning Will is in his third
year, at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
I recently received this report from his father, LtGen William B.
Caldwell, IV: “This weekend my wife, Stephanie, and I traveled up to
the West Point to pin our son, Will, as he graduated from Airborne
School - pinning the wings my father pinned on me in 1975! Definitely
a special moment, so proud of him!”
When
asked about the challenges he faced while at West Point, Cadet Andrew
Salies, who is about to start his second year at West Point, replied,
“The physical and academic load here at West Point was difficult, and
I could not have gone through had it not been for God’s grace and
mercy. The reason I persevered is simple: I know my purpose in life
is to glorify God and therefore without God I cannot fulfill my
purpose, and it is thanks to God that I am here in the first place…My
piece of advice would be to come in with the mindset to seek to make
those around you better than you are because that is the sign of a
great team. Always look out for each other and putting their interest
before your own, because life is a team sport.”
|
Andrew (left) with his brother Richard
(middle) who graduated from USMA Prep School and father Gilles
(right).
|
|
|
CSI ROTC: A NEW PROGRAM WITH BIG
POSSIBILITIES!
|
|
I’m
also pleased to announce that 10th District student Christopher
Lirette, a graduate of the Marion Military Institute, was offered and
accepted the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Congressional
Scholarship Initiative (ROTC CSI). This scholarship covers full
tuition and fees or $10,000 per year toward room and board at any
college or university served by an Army ROTC program.
Christopher will also receive a yearly book allowance of $1,200 and a
monthly stipend while attending school. After graduation and
commissioning, Christopher will serve an 8-year commitment in Active
status in the Army National Guard or United States Army Reserve. I
couldn’t be prouder of Christopher’s accomplishment and his
dedication to serving our Nation as a commissioned officer in the
greatest military in the world.
|
Chris Lirette receives a Certificate of Special
Congressional Recognition for earning the Army ROTC Congressional
Scholarship.
|
|
|
WORDS OF WISDOM
|
|
After
their signing ceremonies, we interviewed several academy-bound
students about what advice they would give to future applicants.
Here's what they told our office:
"Take all the AP/Dual Enrollment courses, study more time than
you are in class, find your passion, never take no as the final
answer, work out more than anyone else, network and meet as many
people as possible, lean on your teachers and counselors because they
are your power bases and know how to influence others at the college
level. Dream big, remember where you came from, love your family.
Then, go for it!"
- Ashley Clegg (USMA)
"My advice would be to do everything as early as possible! I
started working on nomination stuff at the end of summer when I had
more time. I knew the school year would get hectic so I did as much
as I could in the very beginning. Turn everything in as early as
possible too."
- Anna Caldwell (USAFA)
"I would say to do everything you can to excel in every area,
including academics, athletics, extracurriculars, public service,
etc., and make sure you highlight all of those accomplishments in a
clear but concise way on your application. Also, in your interviews,
just be confident and be yourself."
- Jay Hamil (USNA)
|
|
