My uncle, too he's a captain serving in Kosovo right now. I want to carry on that tradition. With parents in tow, FioRito joined more than 50 other youngsters at the Monroe Middle School yesterday to find out more about getting in to America's military academies. Representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Marine academies answered questions and provided detailed information to the prospective applicants about what they need to do, and what they can expect if they are admitted. They emphasized the importance of getting an early start on the application process, especially securing a nomination by a member of Congress or the vice president.
Nominations are highly competitive.
Nationwide, thousands seek nominations each year, but only a fraction of them actually make it to an academy. Rep. Ben Gilman, one of the event's sponsors, receives 50-100 nomination applications every year. But even though the selection process is tough, potential applicants shouldn't be scared off by it, he said.