Rep. Connolly and PWC Schools to host Military Academy Night May 21

Congressman Gerry Connolly, who represents part of Prince William County, will join with Prince William County Schools May 21 to host a “Military Academy Night” information session from 7 to 9 p.m. for local students interested in attending one of the U.S. Service Academies.  Students and their families can explore the service academy process and learn about scholarship opportunities from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

The event will take place on Monday, May 21 in the Edward Kelly Leadership Building located at 14715 Bristow Road, Manassas, VA 20112.  The program will begin at 7 p.m. and will include presentations from Academy Liaison Officers and ROTC representatives, as well as a detailed explanation of the congressional nomination process.  In addition, the service academies and ROTC programs will have representatives on hand to answer attendees’ individual questions.

“Northern Virginia is home to the nation’s best and brightest students,” said Connolly in a press release.  “This makes for a highly competitive academy nomination process.  I am proud that each year the 11th District of Virginia is recognized for its excellence by the service academies, and is consistently one of the top Congressional Districts to place students,” he was quoted as saying.

Nominations to the service academies are made by the President, Vice President or a Member of Congress, including Congressman Connolly.  There are five service academies:  United States Air Force Academy (USAFA),  United States Naval Academy (USNA), United States Military Academy (USMA), United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), andUnited States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA).  Nominations are required for all but the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, to which appointments are made on the basis of an annual nationwide competition.

Congressman Connolly has a panel of current and former military officers, many of them service academy graduates, who evaluate the qualifications of student applicants seeking appointments to the service academies.  The panel makes the merit-based recommendations to Connolly for appointments.

“These young men and women are answering the call to serve, and I hope that this partnership with Prince William County Schools gives them the information and tools they need to be successful applicants to the service academies,” Connolly said.