West Point Cadet Nolan Wysong held the attention of about a dozen Scouts and their leaders Nov. 20 as he detailed his college career at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY.
West Point Cadet Nolan Wysong held the attention of about a dozen Scouts and their leaders Nov. 20 as he detailed his college career at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.
From repelling out of a Blackhawk helicopter during camp, to being part of the cycling team on its weekend competitions, to marching in front of a full stadium during the annual Army Navy football game, the 19-year-old Wysong painted a picture that appealed to Scout Troop 197, made up of male and female teen and preteens.
“We get to do some pretty cool things,” he said, speaking in the cafeteria of the Burton Congregational Church.
A few of the Scouts at the meeting toured the summer training grounds at West Point and one or two said they are interested in applying to the academy.
The academy offers a wide variety of opportunities for the high school graduates, who are accepted into the cadet program each year, Wysong said during his hour-long presentation.
The freshman class is made up of about 1,200 applicants, but that number shrinks until fewer than 1,000 cadets graduate four years later, he said.
Wysong also described what it takes to qualify for the cadet program, where success there can lead and his reasons for pursuing a military career.
While cadets can join many clubs at the academy, academics are more important and they can be challenging, he said, adding he is taking physics, physics lab, statistics, economics, military science and fulfilling his language requirement by studying Arabic.
“There are an infinite number of clubs from religious to sports and all the clubs have amazing funding,” Wysong said. “There are endless opportunities at West Point. But it comes down to how well you can manage your time.”
The academy is an accredited college with many majors. Wysong said his major is defense and strategic studies, adding 20% to 25% of cadets are women.
Cadets use every chance to keep up with coursework while participating in extracurricular activities, but it means late nights hitting the books and studying in the van while traveling to competitions, such as cycling races, he said.
Efficiency and determination are two skills Wysong mastered in high school. He opted for advanced placement classes, took college courses his junior and senior years, and earned a 4.3 grade point average and a score of 34 on his ACT.
Knowing he wanted to apply to the U.S. Army or Air Force, he qualified for the National Honor Society and ran track and cross country on the Garfield High School varsity team, where he was captain for two years.
“Pick one sport and excel. You need to show you can achieve excellence,” Wysong said.
All that makes a resume look good, but it takes more to get into West Point.
“It’s a pretty long process. You need to get a congressman’s recommendation,” he said, adding he contacted a number of members of U.S. Congress and two — Rep. Dave Joyce and Sen. Rob Portman — obliged.
“Apply to as many sources as possible,” he advised.
In the end, the decision on who will be accepted into the cadet program is subjective.
“There’s no set-in-stone admissions requirement for West Point. They want to see well-rounded people,” Wysong said, adding leadership, sports and volunteering balance the academics.
When asked what tuition costs, the cadet said he doesn’t have to worry on that score.
“I have not paid a single cent. I get paid to go to West Point,” Wysong said. “Everything is covered.”
Cadets live in the barracks, eat at the mess hall and receive stipends for books and other essentials.
By the time a cadet is a senior, he or she can be receiving $600 per month all year around.
During the summers, cadets attend camp, earning awards and “some cool chest candy” while learning skills and tactics they will need in the field and going through basic training, obstacle courses and all.
Wysong said a cadet ranks somewhere between enlisted and officer, but when he graduates, his rank will be second lieutenant and he will be committed to serve a minimum of five years in the army.
As part of a special cadet outreach program, he chose to spend part of Thanksgiving break at home in Mantua speaking to high school groups about his experience and how he has strived toward a military career.
“I don’t really see myself as doing anything else than the army. I wanted to be in the army my whole life,” he said. “I want to challenge myself and be a leader.”
