Dear student, 

   I look forward to hopefully meeting you during the upcoming series of West Point / ROTC presentations. I just wanted to add a personal note sharing some thoughts and advice with you, based on my experience as a recent West Point graduate and newly commissioned Army Officer. As I look back on my cadet experience, I know going to West Point was the right choice for me, and I’m thankful for the opportunity. Thanks to the Academy, I got a great liberal arts education on a full scholarship, made true friends from all walks of life, grew stronger, became a more independent, caring, disciplined person, learned about life and leadership from great mentors, and best of all – I’ve now graduated into a career as a US Army Officer, a profession all about leadership and service.  

My West Point Experience
   A quick summary of my West Point experience: On the academic side – the rigorous course load focused both on humanities and sciences, plus military classes. I majored in Leadership and tracked in Civil Engineering, graduating with a Bachelor of Science, and I had unique learning experiences along the way, like my corporate internship at Walmart to study business leadership. As for fitness and athletics, I took classes as wide-ranging as gymnastics, combatives, and water rescue, plus ran on the Marathon Team, and I served as a Physical Development Officer, overseeing the physical fitness of about 140 cadets. (Much of the Academy is cadet-run, with officer oversight; we learn leadership through experience, being entrusted with real-world responsibilities.) Most military training goes on during the summer; I learned basic soldier skills in Cadet Basic Training my freshman summer, then in my junior year became the teacher, serving as a Basic Training squad leader for eleven new cadets. I also took part in Big Brothers, as well as Officer’s Christian Fellowship. With schoolwork and everything, I kept nice and busy. 

My Future as an Army Officer
   Looking ahead, I’ll spend the fall and winter in Missouri training as an Engineer Officer, then will be stationed in Fort Lewis (Washington State) and given command of an Army Engineer platoon – about thirty soldiers plus a few million dollars of military equipment. When overseas, our job will involve construction and security operations, helping safeguard both fellow servicemen and the local population. Meanwhile, I have friends and classmates who will serve as leaders in Aviation, Infantry, Medical Service, Military Police, Armor, Intelligence, Logistics, and more. We’ll all serve minimum five years active duty – then some may stay for their full career, others may head off and pursue other interests, but I know that everything West Point and the Army teaches us about leadership, service, and character will stay with us for life.  

Charting Your Own Course
   In some ways, I think my story provides a good snapshot of the West Point experience, but then again each cadet truly has their own story to tell. My teammates Paul and Michelle, for instance, might highlight their semester traveling through China and France, or my roommate Nate might note his summer internship at the National Security Agency. With dozens of majors and upwards of a hundred clubs and sports teams, cadets can truly take ownership of their experience, blaze their own path, and pursue whatever passions and interests they choose. There’s just one common thread, one united sense of purpose, linking our experiences together – the desire to improve ourselves, lead others and serve our country. I am truly grateful to be a part of such a time-honored yet cutting edge profession, and if it sounds like something you want to be a part of, I’ll encourage you to find out more about West Point and also ROTC, two great paths to becoming an Army leader. Certainly it’s a challenging journey, but it’s absolutely worth it – if your heart is in it. 

Exploring these Opportunities
   So now is the time for you to explore your many college options and career aspirations. Understand the paths available to you, learn all you can, and finally pick the path that’s right for you. It’s your decision – take charge! So think you might be interested in West Point or ROTC, but not yet sure if it’s really for you? Perfect – that’s why we’re hosting presentations this August throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey! It will be an excellent opportunity for us to meet you and share more information to help you decide whether West Point or ROTC is right for you. We’ll also share our advice on applying – how to best prepare yourself and become competitive for admission. 

   The program (see schedule of events, top-left part of this webpage) will include videos and a briefing about ROTC opportunities and the West Point experience, detailed instructions on completing the application, and an informal question & answer period.  At the conclusion of the session you will have an opportunity to talk individually with me, ROTC officers and cadets, and active duty soldiers stationed in the local area. 

   Whatever path you choose, I wish you the very best and hope you achieve all your goals and dreams for the future. Enjoy high school, make the most of your college experience, and finally, find a career that’s not just your job but your calling. You have a lot to look forward to, so stay motivated and never give up!

Go Army!

All the best,

Spencer Garrison
2nd Lieutenant, US Army