Washington, D.C. – Students from the Northern Mariana Islands aspiring to attend one of the US service academies now have twice as many slots open to them. President Barack Obama signed the 2010 Defense Authorization Act into law today with a provision allowing the Northern Marianas to have two students at a time at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, and the Military Academy at West Point. The provision was added to the bill by US Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan.
“I am so glad that the very first legislative language that I drafted and has become law means an increase in educational opportunities for students from the Northern Mariana Islands,” said Sablan. “I truly believe that only by investing in education for our people will we ensure our economic and social well-being 30 to 50 years into the future.”
Kilili succeeded in having his amendment added to the Defense Authorization bill during its debate in the House Armed Services Committee in June. And the amendment survived throughout the long legislative process that ended today with the President’s signature.
“I certainly want to thank Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo, who is a member of the Armed Services Committee, and who co-sponsored my amendment, for her generous support,” said Sablan.
“I also want to thank Committee Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri and all of his staff, who assisted me in this effort.”
Sablan traveled with Skelton earlier this month to the Chairman’s hometown of Lexington, Missouri to visit the Wentworth Military Academy there. Skelton is a Wentworth graduate. The school is interested in enrolling students from the Northern Marianas into its 2-year Associate of Arts degree, which can also earn a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
Enactment of the Defense Act today means that Sablan will now have 5 slots to fill at the Service Academies for the term beginning in 2010.
“All the information is available on my web site (http://sablan.house.gov/services/academy-nominations.shtml) for those interested in applying for a congressional nomination to West Point, Annapolis, or Colorado Springs,” Sablan advises.
The deadline to begin the application process is November 25.
Although Section 533 of the Defense Act increases the number of appointments that can be made as a result of a congressional nomination, it is actually possible to have more than two Northern Mariana Islands students at any one of the academies. This is because Northern Mariana Islands students sometimes first attend a one-year preparatory school before entering the academy. And those students are appointed by the Secretary of the respective branch of service, not be a member of Congress.
“We actually have two young men at the Naval Academy prep school now,” explains Kilili, “and one cadet at the Academy. So it’s possible that this time next year we could see 4 of our young people going to school in Annapolis. That would be great!”
Although Sablan and other Members of Congress can make nominations to the Academies, the nominations do not ensure acceptance. It is ultimately up to the Academy admissions offices to decide who, among all the nominees, will have the honor and opportunity of attending.
Qualifications for admission include academic and physical skills, as well as a potential for the leadership required of any military officer.