At BSM, we have a few students going into the military after high school. Two of them will attend the United States Military Academy in West Point, and one of them is enlisting in the army. These students are very excited and are proud to serve their country.
The students going to West Point have to leave early this summer in order to be there in time for boot camp/basic training. Basic training starts July 1st and lasts for ten weeks. Field camp lasts three to four weeks, and leader development training lasts two to four weeks. Bootcamp entails long days that are mentally and physically taxing. “My first day is called R-day and it’s July first, and I will begin basic training at West Point… going through all the additional training that regular enlisted soldiers have to go through just like boot camp,” senior Siena Carver said.
Students who commit to West Point Academy have a long-term commitment because they have to serve after college. The requirement for students at West Point is that they serve for five years after they graduate from college. After receiving their four-year undergraduate degree, they will then get stationed somewhere. Students who enlist in the army usually start with a four-year contract, and then if they re-enlist, it is a similar length contract. The process for West Point applicants and army applicants is different. “I have to serve for 5 years after college and once we graduate, we pick where we’re getting stationed,” senior Gus Bell said.
Students who go straight from college to the army have a different process they have to go through. They leave on August 19th and start the 24-week boot camp program. They then do eight weeks of Ranger assessment selection program. Once they finish those two, they do three weeks of Airborne school. There are many steps to become qualified but students are willing to do it in order to be able to fight for their country. All of the students said they have seen themselves being involved in the army since they were younger. “[I am most excited about] being surrounded by a mentally and physically driven group of people, and the leadership and self-improvement that comes along with it,” senior Simon McMahon said.