About 40 students from across West Virginia gathered Sunday afternoon to learn more about the country’s military academies and keys to being accepted at the highly competitive schools.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., moderated the event with representatives from several U.S. military academies and state universities’ ROTC programs.
Capito explained more and more responsibilities are being placed on the military, requiring strong leadership and intelligence. She said West Virginia students are capable of filling those roles.
Sunday’s event at Woodrow Wilson High School was part of a three-stop information program to drum up interest in the military academies. The two others were in Charleston and Charles Town.
Capito said a few years ago, the West Virginia congressional delegation realized West Virginia students were not filling their allotted number of positions at the military academies. So, they started the recruitment effort.
The military academies “provide a class A-plus education,” she said.
Students from as far as Morgantown and Ripley attended the gathering.
To be accepted into one of the country’s military academies, students must have a recommendation from a member of their state’s congressional delegation. She recommended students interested apply to many of the academies and contact both state senators’ offices and their representatives for a letter of support.
Application deadlines are Oct. 30.