| Big Events Ahead |
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April: Statewide Academy Day
The annual statewide U.S. Military Service Academy Day, hosted by Senator Johnny Isakson, is the largest of its kind in the Nation. During the event, students and their families hear directly from high-ranking representatives from each academy and will have the chance to meet a number of representatives from our service academies. This event takes place at Dobbins Air Reserve Base during the month of April. Please visit https://www.isakson.senate.gov for further information.
August: 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 in August!
October: Deadline for Nomination Applications
I’m proud to nominate highly qualified young people for appointment to our Nation's service academies. To request a Military Academy Nomination from my office, students are required to complete a nomination application, which may 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.
November: Interviews with my Academy Advisory Board
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 finish their nomination process.
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| Typical Tasks |
When applying for a service academy nomination, there are important tasks to complete during a student’s junior and senior year of high school. Target dates to keep in mind include:
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 for the month of 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. Please 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 the academies.
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 status and offers of appointment.
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In the second edition of my Service Academy Newsletter, I want to provide a fuller picture of what it takes not only to be accepted to one of our Nation’s prestigious service academies, but also to thrive once you arrive. This bulletin is filled with advice from those who will be assessing you as candidates, as well as cadets and midshipmen, who are in their first year at their respective academies. It’s my hope that their words of wisdom will give you in-depth insight into this process from start to finish – and a greater understanding of the duties and responsibilities that accompany an appointment to a United States Service Academy.
Our district is home to a bevy of talented young people, and I’m proud to see the dedication, strength, and commitment that these former nominees are putting into practice on a daily basis. As always, my office stands ready and available to help you through this process. If you have any questions or concerns regarding academy nominations, I encourage you to reach out to Carolyn Dallas at Carolyn.Dallas@mail.house.gov or call my Monroe District Office at (770) 207-1776. Good luck!
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Life at the Academy:
Plebe Year |
Midshipman Robert “Bobby” Hatfield from Greensboro is a first-year student at the U.S. Naval Academy. He says, “It seems like yesterday that I was attending my first Academy Day in Milledgeville, but a lot has changed in four years. Plebe summer was hard, and the academic year has been more challenging than I could have imagined. My days begin around 5:30 am and end after midnight. No matter how hard it gets, I am inspired every day and am more certain than ever that I am exactly where God meant for me to be. I cannot begin to express how thankful I am for this opportunity. The opportunities to learn, grow and have amazing experiences here are beyond belief. I was able to attend the Air Force-Navy game in Colorado Springs, and I will never forget marching on the field for my first Army-Navy game in Philadelphia. I have heard incredible speakers, visited Arlington Cemetery, and run on the Mall with my company. I have a really nice sponsor family (native Georgians), who have even taken me fishing on the Chesapeake Bay. The bay is nice, but I think I’ll always favor Lake Oconee.
I am surrounded every day by others from all over the country (and world). We come from different places and backgrounds, and we work hard and support each other toward a common goal of becoming officers and serving our country in just a few short years. There really are not words to describe this place and the people.
Second semester is referred to as 'the dark ages' because I am to expect a lot of cold, dark days until spring. But, I am looking forward to this next challenge and each new adventure. Recently, I was selected for the Trap and Skeet team and am really looking forward to shooting in this great club sport.
I have received so much support from home. Letters and care packages from family and friends have made the hard days better. I have even been visited by former USNA graduates, who have settled in our area of Georgia, and that has been really special. I cannot thank Congressman Hice and your entire staff enough for this opportunity. I understand how special it is to be here and am very proud to represent Georgia in Annapolis.”
Midshipman Hatfield (first row, left) with his 22nd Company in Washington, D.C. |
Midshipman Tyler Davis is a first-year student at the United States Naval Academy. Midshipman Davis, whose hometown is Covington, experienced a full first semester, which included Calculus, Chemistry, Seamanship, U.S. Government, Introduction to Rhetoric, Leadership, Boxing, and Wrestling. For the upcoming spring semester, Midshipman Davis is considering taking Calculus, Chemistry, Cyber Security, Naval History, Rhetoric, and Swimming. He is currently involved with his company’s intramural soccer team.
Tyler Davis and fellow midshipmen at the 2018 Army-Navy Game |
Cadet Andrew Salies from McDonough, GA is a first-year student at West Point. His course load at the Academy included Advanced Physics, French, International Relations, Survival Swimming, Fundamentals of Personal Fitness, Philosophy, Economics, and Fundamentals of Small Units Operations. Cadet Salies participates in intramural soccer, but his favorite extracurricular activities include being part of West Point’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry, attending church, and participating in a Bible study. He says, “I would like to say that I was very honored and grateful when [Congressman Hice] nominated me. My favorite part of my time here so far has been my military training over last summer, where we were given the opportunity to learn and experience some of what the combat arm branches do with their day-to-day lives.”
Andrew and Richard Salies at the Army-Navy Game |
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| Words of Wisdom |
In order to select the best and brightest candidates, I formed an Academy Selection Board with experienced experts to help review applications and interview candidates. Being on the board requires hard work and an objective mind, and I very much appreciate each of them for taking on this responsibility. Although they are from diverse backgrounds and professions, they all share a common vision – that only the most qualified and motivated young people should attend our prestigious academies.
Here’s a few words of wisdom from members of the 2018 U.S. Service Academy Selection Board and a current cadet:
Samir Patel, Captain, United States Army (Reserves)
Samir Patel graduated from West Point in 2008. He served as an Armor officer in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq, he commanded a combat outpost consisting of 25 U.S. Army and 50 Iraqi and Kurdish Soldiers conducting counter-insurgency operations. He’s currently President of the West Point Society of Atlanta and also serves in the U.S. Army Reserves.
As a board member who interviewed my nominees in 2018, Mr. Patel had the following advice for future applicants:
1) Prioritize officership and the Constitution. A student should be led by the desire to wear the uniform and to support and defend the Constitution.
2) Pursue the three main pillars: physical fitness, leadership excellence, and academic achievement. Be superior in all three aspects.
3) Achieve good grades and high test scores. Students should be prepared to take the SAT/ACT as many times as necessary to achieve score above the 80th percentile.
4) Research the academy of your choice. The admissions committee wants to know that a potential cadet understands how the academy works and the important traditions that come along with being a cadet.
Steve Rodenbaugh, Lieutenant Commander, Navy (Ret.)
Steve Rodenbaugh is a retired Naval Aviator with 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy and is currently a pilot for Endeavor Airlines. Among other duties, he has served as a flight instructor for the SH-60B Seahawk, Senior Action Officer at the office of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon, and was most recently the Executive Officer of the Naval Operations Support Center Atlanta in Dobbins ARB in Marietta, Georgia.
“My advice to each applicant would be to make sure that they understand that he or she is not just applying for a free college education at a prestigious institution. Applying to a service academy means that you are literally asking for the opportunity to serve, and a true desire to serve is the only thing that will get them through the challenges that they will face in the selection process and the rigors of being a student at the service academy itself. Anyone who pursues a service academy asking what they will get from the process will be disappointed and will most likely not make it through. Having the right motivation is the only way to get through the program, and that motivation will be tested.”
Cadet Forde Norris
Forde Norris, an Oconee County native, received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2018 and is a current first year student. This past semester, he took Math Modeling, Introduction to Computing, English Composition, Plebe Boxing, Physical Geography, Military Science, and Chemistry for a total of 20 credits. Forde is also part of his company’s Sandhurst team, which is a military competition including a series of tasks from obstacle courses and night land navigation to zodiac water crossing and trauma care under fire. Forde’s team will go on to participate in an international Sandhurst competition later this year. Other extracurricular activities Forde enjoys participating in include the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Young Life.
“For anyone trying to get into a service academy, I would say that it will take a lot of grit and hard work to get into West Point and make it through. But hard work and determination will get you there. Never give up, and keep giving it your full effort. That ability to work hard will pay off while you are a cadet at West Point – and in the Army as an officer – way more than any natural talent ever could.”
Forde Norris with fellow West Point cadets |
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