Five young men from the South Tampa area are nominated for a coveted spot at a military academy.
By ELISABETH DYER
Published March 12, 2004
SOUTH TAMPA - Growing up in the shadow of MacDill Air Force Base, Kyle Terza saw firsthand the sacrifices of military families and the rewards of serving.
At his neighborhood McDonald's, he ate with customers in fatigues. From his house, he dreamed of flying as he watched planes soar overhead during the annual Air Fest.
It seemed only natural he would take part in ROTC in high school, then join the military.
But unlike many of his ROTC friends who enlist after high school, Terza hopes to get into one of the exclusive military academies in Annapolis or West Point. Every day, he checks his mailbox for the letter that could clinch his future.
Terza, an 18-year-old senior at Robinson High School, is one of five young men from the South Tampa area whom U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, D-Tampa, nominated this year to attend the Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo. The others are Ronnie Bush and Dino Mirabal Jr. of Plant High School; Garrett Myers of Jefferson High School; and Morgan Vollrath, a 2003 Plant grad who is in basic training in Alabama.
"These kids are unbelievable," Davis said. "It's a humbling experience to meet them. They are so talented and focused and ambitious."
While their friends are enjoying their senior year, these young men are hoping to be on their way to becoming officers in the Army, Air Force or Navy. If accepted, they leave in June to start the academies' versions of boot camp. At West Point, it's called Beast Barracks; in Annapolis, Plebe Summer.
"Forget television, leisure time or movies," the Naval Academy's Web site advises. "You will have barely enough hours in the day to finish your assigned plebe tasks."
Despite the rigors of the academies, Davis said he sees many high schoolers drawn by a desire to serve their country, especially after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
For 18-year-old Ronnie Bush, the tragedy defined his career path. Bush has family in New York and knew people in the towers who died.
Now he wants to "do my part" by becoming a lieutenant in the Army.
"Hopefully, by the time I get out, there's still jobs to be done, and I can go over there and help my country," he said.
His mother, Tina Bush, says she is at peace with his decision, even though he might see war. She has confidence in the training program and pride in her son.
"These young kids are willing to sacrifice for the rest of us," she said.
Early last month, Bush received his appointment to report to West Point on June 28. He signed and returned the paperwork right away.
Mirabal, who has known Bush since they played soccer together at age 3, decided on the Naval Academy in eighth grade. Mirabal, 17, hopes to see the world as a surface warfare officer on a ship.
"Ever since I was little, my father impressed on me the importance of military in society," he said. "It's a big honor."
In January, he got his acceptance letter to the Naval Academy in Annapolis.
"All I have left to do is check the box yes and sign my name, send it back," he said. "I've decided in my head, it's just that final push. It's a huge decision, and I want to make sure I'm absolutely sure."
For Myers, 18, flying planes is the attraction. He hopes to get into the Air Force Academy because of his exposure to planes through his father, an electrical engineer for military aircraft. Myers knows the basics and has flown simulators.
He's ready for the challenge.
To apply to a military academy, candidates must be nominated by a congress member, a senator or the vice president. But it's no guarantee of getting in.
West Point receives about 12,000 nominations a year for about 1,200 spots, officials said.
The academies don't charge tuition but cadets, after graduating with a bachelor's degree in science, serve a tour in the military as an officer. In Annapolis, that totals a nine-year commitment.
Every year, Davis holds an Academy Day to bring together interested high school students and military recruiters. In September, the four-hour event at MacDill Air Force Base drew a standing-room-only crowd.
Those who apply for a nomination meet with a committee Davis appoints to handpick about a dozen each year. Success comes from early planning and help from career counselors, he said.
At Plant High, former guidance resource specialist Margaret Gandy said many students consider academies when they begin high school, wooed by the idea of getting a top-notch education at a low cost. She called them "academy hopefuls." But most drop the idea as they see the high standards for acceptance.
Getting in requires exemplary grades, physical stamina and leadership experience.
So far all five South Tampa nominees have met the mark.
The only hurdle left after acceptance is the mental discipline of the academy's first year.
"It's all a game," Terza said. "That's all you have to tell yourself. They just want to mess with you to see how you can handle stress."
Cmdr. Ludwell McKay, Terza's ROTC leader, planted the idea of attending the Naval Academy. After spending a week at a leadership academy two summers ago, Terza vowed to apply.
"We've been grooming him for the academy since then," McKay said last week while on the deck of the destroyer USS Carney docked behind the Florida Aquarium. More than 500 ROTC cadets from area high schools toured the warship, ogling cruise missiles, torpedoes and harpoons. The Carney was in Tampa for a four-day port visit after a deployment as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Ensign Craig Thedwall from Indiana, a recent graduate of the Naval Academy, guided tours. Graduating from the academy takes commitment, he told the cadets, and the discipline can be oppressive.
But the rewards are worth it.
"It's true the academy is tough, but it has to be," said Thedwall, who stands guard on the bridge while at sea. "The purpose of all of the drills, studies and hardships are quite clear."
He remembers the stress of applying to an academy and had this advice to students waiting for acceptance: Work hard and stay focused.
