Text by ANYA MONDRAGON and SADIE IBBOTSON-BROWN
Art by CHARLOTTE IBBOTSON-BROWN
NAVIGATING to the navy
TWO STUDENTS’ PATHS TO MILITARY SCHOOL
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a medical exam, pass an intensive physical academies provide many benefits that tratest and conduct a lengthy interview with a ditional colleges do not. selection panel. “For [the] Naval Academy, it is free According to Paly senior and United tuition, and they pay for things like your States Naval Academy recruit Anthony Ha, board, your uniforms, food … literally evthese interviews require significant prepara- erything,” Bernas says. tion. Bernas recommends that interested “It’s a pretty competitive process,” Ha students do plenty of research about what says. “During the interviews, there were studying at the service academy entails, esaround five people asking me questions and pecially concerning its rigid structure. examining my record. It was really tough.” “You have to realize … you’re gonna Aspiring military academy students have to be really disciplined in terms of must also pass a strenuous physical fitness your time management,” Bernas says. “You test to be considered have to decide if you for admission. The test I spent a lot of time can really live in that is divided into six segvery structured kind ments — a basketball searching for a career of school, because throw, a shuttle run, a that I’d be proud of ... [at] most colleges, mile run, sit-ups, pushyou have so much the military really res- freedom.” ups and pull-ups. Though the mili- onated with me.” Ha hopes that tary pathway was not future Paly graduates — ANTHONY HA, senior consider the Naval originally in the cards for Ha, he was inspired Academy as a potento explore other options after watching a tial pathway and educate themselves about Road to admission family friend graduate from the U.S. Naval its many benefits. However, Ha advises The stakes were high for Bernas to Academy. prospective students to also be cognizant of receive Congresswoman Eshoo’s endorse“Conforming to this [Silicon Valley] all that the military school and mandated ment; military academies in the United culture, attending cookie cutter schools service entails. States require stuand wading into “There are a lot of great things about dents to earn a rec- It’s definitely going to a tech start-up it, but you do not go to the school just ommendation from never appealed to for the benefits,” Ha says. “You go to the either a member help me develop in terms me,” Ha says. “I school because you want to be an officer in of Congress or the of my character and dispent a lot of time the Navy, or because you want to be a pilot. vice president of the searching for a You have to really center your desire around United States to ap- sipline. They develop you career that I’d be that.” ply. proud of and that as a leader.” Applying to I would want to After the academy — ANDREW BERNAS, senior work hard in, and military school also Initially, Bernas was inspired to apply requires a certain I discovered that to military school because of the many caamount of foresight. Along with the recom- the military really resonated with me.” reer options available after the program. mendation from a congressperson, appliAlong with the opportunity to serve Bernas recalls that when he was in sevcants must attend summer programs, pass the country in the armed forces, military enth grade, he had the opportunity to visS THE LAST BELL OF THE school day rang, Palo Alto High School senior Andrew Bernas anxiously checked his phone, noticing he had multiple missed calls from an unidentified number. When this mysterious caller rang him again, Bernas recalls answering, unsure of who to expect on the other end of the line. To his surprise, the voice that greeted him belonged to none other than California Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. Bernas was thrilled, knowing that there could only be one reason for this call: his acceptance to the United States Naval Academy. Although most high school students work towards the traditional college experience, Bernas is one of relatively few who will enter the armed forces. Going into the military is an alternative for students looking for an uncommon post-high school plan, but potential recruits like Bernas face many challenges unique to the extensive military application process.
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32 JUNE 2021
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