14
people
Go West, Young Man words Dwain Hebda IMAGEs courtesy Kris and Lisa Bailey
Ashton Bailey
There are few institutions
in the history of the United
States that better exemplify the very definition of honor,
probably the best job for my skillset. I wanted to be the best officer that I could be and that meant West Point.”
tradition and rigor than the U.S. service academies. And among these, the oldest and most hallowed is the U.S.
Ashton comes from an overachieving household, one that
Military Academy at West Point.
knows the meaning of academic excellence as part of a life goal. Both of his parents, Kris and Lisa Bailey, have successful
It’s just the kind of place by which Ashton Bailey wants to
careers in health care – Kris as a certified registered nurse
be measured.
anesthetist and an entrepreneur and Lisa as an instructor in the University of Arkansas Fort Smith nursing program.
“Back in junior high, when everybody was deciding their careers, I think I was about eighth grade when I took a hard
His genes notwithstanding, Ashton knew from a tender
look at it,” he says. “I’ve always felt like I don’t want to
age the rise and fall of his chosen path would come down
sit behind a desk, I want to be a leader. I looked into some
to his own initiative and achievement. Everything he did
leadership roles and I decided that being an army officer is
from the fateful day he decided to become a West Point cadet was directed toward that goal.
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