The Class of 2024 is preparing for graduation. While many chose to attend college, a select group of seniors chose to enlist in the military.
Seniors Riley Miller, Cole Brewer, Trevor Hayes, Abraham Jara, and Joely Schaumloffel will be serving in different branches of the military. Three of these seniors chose to enlist in the United States Coast Guard Academy.
Riley Miller sees entering the Coast Guard Academy as a “great opportunity for him to learn, grow, and give back to everyone.” The requirements for entrance into the Coast Guard Academy are also vastly different from the requirements for college. Riley explained, “I had to take a physical fitness test to be accepted into the academy but also my school grades were a big reason why I got in. The fitness test was difficult, but doable.” For Riley, joining the military was a decision that his family greatly influenced. Seeing his grandfather in the Navy was one of the many contributing factors in his enlistment. He ultimately chose the Coast Guard because he “liked being on the water and liked the mission the Coast Guard strives to achieve.” Riley has previously visited the Coast Guard Academy and said, “The environment and people were very nice, and I am excited to embark on this challenging, but rewarding experience.” Good luck, Riley!
Another senior entering the Coast Guard Academy is Joely Schaumloffel. Joely said, “I wanted to give back to my country and challenge myself physically and mentally, so attending one of these institutions seemed like the perfect choice. The rigorous academic programs combined with the demanding physical training provide an unparalleled opportunity for personal growth and service.” The process of applying to obtain membership into the Coast Guard academy can be very rigorous. Joely explained, “I took the physical fitness test, the ACT, and filled out many forms early to receive a congressional nomination. The process was demanding, requiring significant preparation and dedication, but it was necessary to achieve my goal of attending a service academy.” Like Riley, Joely was inspired by a family member to join the military. She said, “My sister is currently at the Naval Academy. Her achievements and the recognition she received motivated me to pursue a similar path and strive for excellence in my own endeavors.” Although Joely was highly influenced by her sister, she attended the AIM (Advanced Immersion and Mentoring) program at the Coast Guard Academy, where she spent a week experiencing what boot camp and military life were like. This experience with the AIM program “further solidified my desire to pursue this challenging and rewarding path,” said Joely. She ultimately hopes to use this experience in her future to attend flight school and fly helicopters for missions within the Coast Guard. She said, “I am so lucky to be combining my passion for aviation with my desire to help others, while having the opportunity to continue playing lacrosse.” Good luck, Joely and “GO BEARS.”
The third Westhampton Beach graduate attending the Coast Guard Academy is Cole Brewer. Since he was a child he has always had the goal of being in the military. Originally he wanted to join the Air Force, but throughout his life this morphed into the goal of joining the Coast Guard. One test Cole had to take was the ASVAB, which is a standardized test in math, science, and language that helps predict what future career you may want to pursue. Although he has one uncle in the Air Force, and another previously in the Army, “They didn’t really influence me. My long time friend Dylan Brown and I always had a vision in the future since we were kids to join a military branch at the same time,” said Cole. Cole also aspired to be a culinary specialist, and was able to find a way to obtain both goals. He said, “Before deciding on the Coast Guard I was going to college to have a culinary arts degree. But I found a middle ground in doing the Coast Guard and being a Culinary Specialist, so I can live out both futures.” Cole will be attending training in New Jersey, and hopes to attend school in San Francisco, California. Best of luck, Cole!
Joely sums up all of the benefits of joining the military by stating,“Attending a service academy offers numerous benefits: free college, great relationships, a place to live, and even getting paid to attend school. These advantages make it an appealing option, providing financial relief, a supportive community, and the opportunity to focus on my studies without worrying about living expenses.” All of these benefits expressed by Joely are what make the military such an appealing option for future graduates.
Best of luck to our future service members in all of their endeavors!
