West Point cadets educate local students on academy's challenges, rewards Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 29 2009 05:06 AM By Jackie Stone
Killeen Daily Herald

The name and reputation can be daunting, but for some teenagers living around Fort Hood the challenge of a West Point education is hard to resist.

Every year, current cadets from the area return home to talk to local high school students about the trials and rewards of attending the United States Military Academy West Point.

"I always knew I wanted to be in the Army, but the way I found out about West Point was cadets such as myself coming down and speaking to my JROTC class," said Olivia Fraser, a former Shoemaker High School student and now a second-year cadet at West Point.

The Copperas Cove native spoke to more than 300 JROTC cadets and more students at high schools around Killeen last week in the hopes of turning that inspiration around and for other students looking to aim high in a military career.

"I know a lot of them didn't even know West Point existed – where it was, what it was about – so even having that knowledge is going to give them a notion of what college they want to choose," Fraser said.

High school JROTC instructors and counselors talk with students each year and arrange for those interested in West Point to meet cadets like Fraser and the two others from the area who spent the beginning of Thanksgiving week visiting high schools from Salado to Temple.

William Sievers, a West Point alumunus and recruiter, said getting kids thinking about attending West Point early is important because of the admissions process, which includes a physical test and an appointment from a military or government leader.

"We tell them you should start when you are a freshman or sophomore. Darn sure if you're a junior you'd better think about it. And if you're a senior it's too late," he said.

Leadership opportunity

Harker Heights High School senior Andrea Young, 17, signed up to talk with the cadets who came to visit Harker Heights on Tuesday. She has already begun her application process.

Though Young has never been in JROTC, she realized she wanted to go to West Point after sifting through other schools and realizing none of them offered the kind of leadership opportunities she wanted.

Young said talking to the cadets gave her a better grasp on what it's really like for students.

"You learn a lot more. Usually when you talk to adults, they're like 'Oh it's so great.' But cadets will tell you stuff like 'You're going to hate this,' and they're honest about everything," she said.

Fraser said she was surprised when a JROTC cadet at Shoemaker asked her how often the cadets get to go to the clubs.

"That was the one that made me laugh last night. There's no night life at all," she said.

And even though Fraser said she sometimes misses having a normal college experience, "It's definitely worth it."

Micah Ables, another Copperas Cove native and second-year cadet, said he jumped at the chance to speak to the students because it gave him some extra time at home for the holidays, but also because it gave him another chance to assert the skills he's learning at West Point.

"Your whole experience at West Point is oriented toward learning how to lead and developing people, and this is just another opportunity for that," he said.

"Not only to be able to develop people as candidates to be the best candidate they can be to eventually come to West Point, but it's just a great feeling to be able to help people, answering all their question and set them up for success at West Point."

Finding motivation

On Tuesday, high school students who weren't in JROTC had the opportunity to come out to Harker Heights and take their USMA Physical Aptitude Exam, a requirement to get in to West Point. Ables and Fraser were on hand to give advice and help out.

Young was one of a handful of students who took to the field to test with push-ups, curl-ups, pull- ups, runs and the basketball throw – a one handed toss for length made while kneeling.

"That's something I have never had to do again after this test," Fraser said.

Harker Heights High School JROTC instructor and retired 1st Sgt. George Jones stood over students clocking their results and shouting encouragement.

"Come on. For every two or three more push-ups you give me, it brings you closer to success. You don't want one push-up to keep you from success," Jones told the bowed heads of high school students as they fought to make a few last push-ups.

Jones said last year Harker Heights broke a national record, sending five students to West Point – more than any other school in the country.

Fraser said in her question and answer sessions with students, the majority asked about the rigorous admissions process, rumors they had heard about West Point and what life is like as a cadet.

She said the biggest first step toward getting to West Point is making the decision and finding the motivation to apply and work toward it academically, physically and with leadership in high school.

Once at West Point, she said it's about determination and the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Knowing that there's an end in sight – knowing that your West Point experience is what you make of it," she said. "There are going to be days where you want to go home, you want to see your families, see your friends – but knowing that the major challenges will end is what gets you through every day."

Contact Jackie Stone at jstone@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7474.