Gaining entrance to any one of the four US service academies is extremely difficult. The average combined acceptance rate at the US Military Academy at West Point, US Naval Academy, US Air Force Academy, and US Coast Guard Academy is less than 10 percent.

Despite the rigorous application process and notoriously difficult education there, nearly 42,000 applied to the service academies for the classes of 2023.

“Our nation is fortunate to have so many young people who want to become military officers and serve in the military after completing their bachelor’s degrees,” said Col Stuart B. Helgeson, USMCR (Ret), president of Valley Forge Military Academy & College.

In support of that effort and in collaboration with US Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), VFMAC is hosting a service academy night. Congresswoman Houlahan represents Pennsylvania’s sixth Congressional district.

The event is from 6 to 8:30 PM, Wednesday, September 6, 2023, in Eisenhower Hall on the VFMAC campus.

RSVP to mbarcus@vfmac.edu  

Representatives from the US Military Academy at West Point, the US Naval Academy, the US Air Force Academy, the US Coast Guard Academy, and Valley Forge Military College will welcome Delaware and Chester County high school students to learn about the service academies and VFMC as an additional option to continue their education.

“While many VFMC Cadets are Citizen Leaders and will not serve in the military, the majority are part of the Early Commissioning Program for the US Army and National Guard,” said Robert F. Smith, Ph.D., M.Ed., provost of VFMC. “They will commission here as military officers in two as opposed to four years at the service academies or other traditional ROTC programs.”

Cadets from VFMC have gone on to the service academies after their education here.

“With 89 percent of service academy applicants being denied, VFMC is an excellent option for those who still seek to serve the nation in the military,” said Dr. Smith. “Currently, there are Early Commissioning Program scholarships for those who will become US Army officers, and in fall 2024, VFMC will offer an exclusive scholarship program to 10 qualified individuals who will become commissioned officers in the Pennsylvania National Guard.”

This service academy night is the first of two that will be offered this fall. Another is planned in collaboration with Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), who represents Pennsylvania’s fifth district.

Established in 1928, Valley Forge Military Academy is a private, independent college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7-12.

Established in 1935, Valley Forge Military College, the Military College of Pennsylvania™ is a private two-year college offering AA and ABA degrees.