Charleston Army National Guard Soldier Accepted to West Point
Story by Army Staff Sgt. Jaime L. Witt, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Related Media
-
Illinois National Guard Capt. Jonathon Monken of Chatham with Joint Forces Headquarters welcomes Pfc. Patrick R. White of Charleston to the West Point family.
-
Pfc. Patrick R. White of Charleston stands in front of fellow Soldiers Dec. 18 during a ceremony recognizing White’s acceptance to the United States Military Academy.
MATTOON, IL (12/20/2011)(readMedia)-- An elite group of young men and women enter the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. every year, determined to become the future leaders of the U.S. Army. An 18-year-old Charleston high school senior will be a part of the next group to join the ranks of the "Long Gray Line."
A ceremony was held Dec. 18 at the Gen. John Phipps Armory in Mattoon for Pfc. Patrick R. White with the Illinois National Guard's Company L , Recruit Sustainment Program Battalion in Mattoon, to recognize his acceptance to U.S. Military Academy at West Point. White is the 13th Illinois Army National Guard Soldier to be accepted to West Point since 2004.
West Point, the oldest military academy in the United States, is located 50 miles north of New York City on the bank of the Hudson River. Admission into the academy is competitive and requires a tedious application process.
White said it took weeks to complete the application and required medical physicals, as well as obtain nominations from a member of Congress or the Department of the Army.
"It's a nuisance, but definitely worth it," White said.
Sgt. 1st Class David Keefer of Charleston, Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer with Company L, RSP Battalion in Mattoon, assisted White with the application process.
Keefer referred to White as a highly motivated individual. While Keefer guided White through the process, he credits White with doing all of the work.
"He's just a mature kid," Keefer said.
White's parents, Mary and David White of Charleston, also praise him for his work toward his West Point acceptance.
"This is something he accomplished on his own," David said. "This proves that dreams can come true."
"Patrick has been his own best motivator," Mary said. "We are so proud. He wants to be part of something bigger. He is so proud of his country."
Patrick said he has wanted to go to West Point since the 5th or 6th grade. He said he heard about the academy from older friends and began researching it. Upon entering high school, he focused on his goal of attending West Point.
Patrick enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in December 2010 after attending a recruiting team-building event in Sullivan. There he met Keefer and told him he was interested in going to West Point. After doing some research, Keefer learned about seats that are available to Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers.
Keefer said acceptance to West Point is a huge deal for an Illinois National Guard Soldier. Every year only 85 of the 1,300 cadetships are offered to National Guard and Reserve Soldiers.
According to the military academy, this year has been one of the strongest years for Guard Soldiers applying to West Point due to several initiatives aimed at increasing the number of Soldiers admitted to the academy.
In recent years, seven ILARNG Soldiers have been accepted and graduated from West Point with another three projected to graduate in 2014. To date, 375 Army National Guard Soldiers have applied to West Point this year.
Capt. Jonathon Monken of Chatham, with the Illinois National Guard's Joint Forces Headquarters in Springfield, aided in welcoming White to the West Point family in front of Soldiers with Company L, RSP Battalion and family members. Monken, who is also the director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, graduated from West Point in 2002.
"It is the greatest reward you could possibly receive," Monken said.
Monken spoke of the caliber of cadets accepted to West Point. He said the candidates are evaluated using a whole-person concept, based on their excellence in three main dimensions – academic, physical and leadership excellence. Monken also said 92 percent of people who apply do not make it.
"This is something I know that Pfc. White is absolutely capable of doing," Monken said.
Brig. Gen. Johnny R. Miller of Tamms, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois National Guard, read Patrick's acceptance letter during the ceremony.
An excerpt of the letter read, "West Point requires cadets with determination, integrity, self-discipline, strength of character, endurance, and a willingness to do hard work."
"I know he'll represent Illinois well," Miller said.
White is excited to begin classes and training at West Point at the end of June 2012, but is also somewhat anxious. White is most nervous about the required engineering classes, but remains positive about the experience.
"It will probably be rough. It's nothing I can't handle," White said.
Upon graduation from West Point, he plans to work in foreign affairs or conflict resolution.
"The Guard has been very good to me," said White. "This wouldn't have happened without the Guard."
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jaime L. Witt, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/ Illinois National Guard Brig. Gen. Johnny R. Miller congratulates David and Mary White, parents of Pfc. Patrick R. White of Charleston with Company L, Recruit Sustainment Program Battalion after presenting him with a coin Dec. 18 in Mantoon to commemorate his recent acceptance to West Point Military Academy.
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jaime L. Witt, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/ Pfc. Patrick R. White of Charleston stands in front of fellow Soldiers of Company L, Recruit Sustainment Program Battalion, Dec. 18 during a ceremony recognizing White's acceptance to the United States Military Academy. White is the 13th Illinois National Guard Soldier since 2004 accepted to West Point.
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jaime L. Witt, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/ Illinois National Guard Capt. Jonathon Monken of Chatham with Joint Forces Headquarters welcomes Pfc. Patrick R. White of Charleston with Company L, Recruit Sustainment Program Battalion to the West Point family. Monken is a graduate of the West Point Class of 2002 and serves as the director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.