MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito has reupped her annual Academy Days.
The days, which began this weekend, are for students interested in learning more about an appointment to one of the nation’s military service academies or applying for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships.
Capito said each year she helps qualified students learn more and begin to prepare for the opportunity. The sessions allow students and families to meet academy students and graduates, ask questions, and learn about what to expect.
“It’s my honor always to nominate students to those slots,” Capito said last week on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “Not everybody gets in; we know that, but we want to make our students have the best information.”
Appointment to a service academy provides educational benefits of up to $400,000. Capito said serving in the military also provides travel and cultural opportunities few other careers can match.
“Students who are interested in serving their country, getting the best education for free, and also enjoying the ability to network the rest of their lives with some of the best echelon of students from across the country.”
Students and families will be able to talk to people with experience from places like West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
“It’s for students to be able to meet and hear from current students at one of the academies, to be able to talk to some of the graduates from one of the academies, and for the parents to hear from some of the other parents of students,” Capito said.
Students will also be able to practice portions of the entry process to better understand the requirements and the need for preparation.
“We’ll have mock interviews, and students will have the opportunity to do a practice interview because that is part of the process,” Capito said. “It’s more of an informational event, and students from the 9th grade on are invited to come.”
Because not every student will qualify for one of the service academies, Capito said there will be a representative from the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
“We always have a representative from usually WVU Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) that comes in to talk about the obligations, responsibilities, and also the great exposure to travel, explore the military, and become an officer when you graduate,” Capito said.
