Boot camp bound

By Nancy Banister for The Three Rivers Edition - 05/02/2006

Walk into the Sheridan High School office in the early morning and you could be greeted by a future United States Air Force Academy cadet. Sheridan senior, Tyler Beal, has been accepted into USAFA and will report for boot camp on June 29.

Beal said it is a lifelong dream of his that is coming true.

“I have wanted to fly planes since I was in the second grade,” he said. “This is something I have always wanted to do. “ Even though Beal will be graduating valedictorian for the class of 2006 from Sheridan High School, his appointment was based on more than just his high academic scores. While maintaining his grade point average, he also participated in sports, was a part of the high school band, a member of Ruby Valley Future Farmers of America, student council member and a National Honor Society member.

He also participated in the Academic Olympics, became an Eagle Scout at age 15, and is a member of his local church’s youth group.

Beal said his busy life didn’t go unnoticed by the Air Force.

“The academy wants to see how a student can maintain a high standard of excellence with organization and time management skills, “ he said.

The application process took more than a year to complete.

“I started the application process online by filling out a letter of intent at the beginning of my junior year through their Web site,” he said.

He then had to compile a lot of personal information, take a physical test, a medical exam, take both the ACT and SAT and acquire a congressional nomination from Conrad Burns.

According to the USAFA web site, the criteria it looks for in cadets have to do with the whole student. The academic and extracurricular composite makes up 80 percent of the acceptance qualifications.

The academy is free to the student, but could add up to $35,500 a year. All they require is that the cadet serves in the Air Force after graduation.

“Once out of the academy, I will have a Bachelor of Science degree, and will serve for six years, “ said Beal. “I hope to be a stealth boomer pilot. “ The community couldn’t be prouder.

“I think this is a great opportunity for Tyler,” said Jory Thompson, principal of Sheridan High. “He is basically furthering his education for free and is doing something he has always wanted to do.” Another student from Sheridan, Calder Kaatz from the class of 2005, has been appointed to the United States Merchant Marine Academy this summer. The U.S. Marine Corps was his original goal, but he has since changed course.

“I had never even heard about the Merchant Marines until my teacher, Kipp Lewis, told me about it,” Kaatz said.

Always military orientated, Kaatz would have joined the ROTC program, but being a military reservist was never really his goal. He wanted a college education with more emphasis on military experience.

The USMMA not only will prepare the students for military service, but also give them the education they want. About 90 percent of port authority workers are graduates from the USMMA. Kaatz found out about the academy at the beginning of his senior year, but was still able to finish the application process in time to be appointed right after graduation. Kaatz needed a high scholastic score, physical ability, and a congressional nomination to get an appointment. He actually was appointed last year, but broke his wrist and missed the deadline.

According to the USMMA Web site, A U.S. Merchant Marine becomes vital to national security as a “fourth arm of defense. “ Merchant ships bear the brunt of delivering military supplies overseas to our forces and allies.

The USMMA is a smaller school and not that well known, but it had everything Kaatz wanted.

“This way, I get the military experience along with an education,” said Kaatz. “I will even play on their football team. “