Hill visits midshipmen at U.S. Naval Academy

Lawmaker praises Arkansan cadets

 U.S. Rep. French Hill greets Jacob Rowell, an Episcopal Collegiate School graduate, during a visit Thursday to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
U.S. Rep. French Hill greets Jacob Rowell, an Episcopal Collegiate School graduate, during a visit Thursday to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A short walk from the tomb of American maritime hero John Paul Jones, more than two dozen U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen from Arkansas gathered Thursday evening to eat pizza and hear praise from one of their home state's elected officials, 2nd District U.S. Rep. French Hill.

Hill, accompanied by former U.S. Navy Secretary William Ball, made the 30-mile journey from Capitol Hill to Annapolis and the training ground for some of the nation's greatest naval leaders.

To gain admission to the Naval Academy, West Point in New York, or the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., men and women must receive a nomination from a high-ranking government official, typically their home-state congressman or U.S. senator.

But most of the midshipmen never get an on-campus visit like Hill's, school officials said.

It's a trip Hill said he was eager to make.

"I just wanted to salute these young people, a few of whom I've watched grow up, so it's particularly touching to me to see them now at their new home in the academy," the first-term Republican from Little Rock said.

Thirty-eight of the school's roughly 4,400 students are from Arkansas. Arkansas has 3 million people, less than 1 percent of the nation's population of 320 million.

Twenty-five percent of the midshipmen are women. But 12 of the 38 students from Arkansas -- 31.6 percent -- are women.

Vice Admiral Walter E. "Ted" Carter Jr., the school's superintendent, said Arkansas produces some exemplary sailors.

The competition is fierce. About 17,000 people apply for the 1,100 slots that come open each year.

Eighty-seven percent of the applicants who are granted admission end up enrolling.

USA Today and a number of other major newspapers have listed this as the No. 5 most selective school to get into in the country," Carter said. "We typically are in the traffic with Harvard, Stanford, Princeton and Yale."

At Annapolis, freshmen are called plebes, sophomores are youngsters, juniors are second class and seniors are firsties.

The midshipmen wear uniforms with their last name and initials -- no first names -- printed in gold over one of the pockets.

They are greeted by "Reveille" at 6:30 a.m. and by taps at midnight. More than two hours of each day is devoted to athletics.

The core curriculum is challenging -- chemistry, calculus, physics and electrical engineering -- plus courses that would be atypical elsewhere: ship propulsion, navigation, swimming and seamanship.

Of the 38 Arkansans studying here, 27 gathered to meet with Hill.

He praised them for their service, adding, "You're going to be the best-trained, best-prepared naval officers in American history."

Afterward, students talked about their academy experiences.

Jonathan Conner, a Harrison High School graduate, said the school is demanding.

"It's a challenge. It makes you proud to be here every day, but it's not impossible by any means," the 21-year-old firstie said.

"It prepares you well for ... whatever you're going to do."

Eduardo Follett, a 2015 Searcy High School graduate, said he's glad he enrolled.

"I've always wanted to be a military officer and this was the best route for it, definitely," the 19-year-old plebe said.

"I think that this is probably the best way to improve yourself as a person overall, and that's all I want to do."

Ashley Eves, 23, said she was glad for the opportunity to visit with Hill.

"This is the first time I remember a congressman from Arkansas coming," the firstie from Bentonville said.

"I really appreciate it because these are the people who nominate us, who help make it possible, and it's nice to see them still involved and wanting to see how we're doing," she said.

Metro on 02/08/2016

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