Service Academies are known for pushing students to their limits, both academically and physically. Schools like the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland are among the most competitive in the country, and earning an appointment requires far more than good grades. Students must demonstrate leadership, athletic ability, discipline, and a strong mindset before they even arrive on campus.
Recent graduates Marshall Kolb (Class of 2024, Midway High), and Kolton Kanemoto (Class of 2025, Los Banos High) are currently attending service academies and shared insight into what life is really like inside these prestigious institutions.
According to Kolb, standing out as an applicant is essential. He explained that being an “all around person” made the biggest difference for him. “They don’t want someone who only does one thing well,” Kolb said. In addition to strong academics, he participated in multiple sports and leadership programs that helped develop officer qualities. Kolb emphasized that students should avoid blending in and instead find ways to separate themselves from other applicants, noting that “you have to give them a reason to remember you.”…