CN SALUTES NEW WEST POINT CADETTE BRENNAN OLSEN

I am proud to salute my nephew Brennan Olsen who was accepted into West Point. Olsen is an example of what can be achieved when you set the bar high. Olsen's story is an inspiration to young people everywhere as he embarks on his journey, making the transition from ideal candidate to promising lieutenant.

Why Did You Choose WEST POINT?
I chose West Point because it is an amazing opportunity to give back to our country, to serve, lead, and see the world. I also knew it was one of the premiere schools in the U.S. which added to my interest even more, along with the military aspect. West Point will be a great place for me to develop my skills to become a leader of character, a scholar, and a man of integrity.

What Did It Take To Get Into WEST POINT?
I have been preparing for West Point pretty much all my life. As a young boy I had a knack for finding the military booths at the fairs and rodeos. I had always wanted to serve and was fascinated with the U.S. military. Throughout my whole school career I strived for the best grades I could get, which happened to be all A’s, a 4.0 GPA. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I learned of West Point, and luckily I already had the mind set to strive for the best and had the grades and sports already, I just had to keep them up. In preparing for West Point and just enjoying high school, I participated in numerous sports such as football, cross-country, track, and wrestling, some even as team captain. In school I kept my GPA at a 4.0 and aspired for the harder classes such as AP, or advanced placement, and honors classes such as physics or medical opportunities. Preparing for the SAT and ACT and performing well on those was an important part of the process in obtaining admission, as those scores will have quite a bit of influence. Aside from sports and school, it was important to get involved in the community. Things such as painting the community center with my church, participating in beach clean-up, blood drives, and assisting with the Colton Mat Club were some of the community service opportunities I took part in. All these three things come together to complete the ideal profile of a West Point candidate. In the sense of recommendations, it is a long process. Numerous letters of recommendation are needed from teachers to be sent to the state’s senators and one’s own representative as well as the vice president, along with information about one’s self and a letter requesting nomination.

What Were Some Of The Challenges You Faced Along The Way?
Along the way I faced a few challenges, such as difficult classes, the ACT and SAT, my own personal injuries in sports, and an overwhelming amount of paperwork. I would say the best way to avoid these challenges, or at least reduce the difficulty of these challenges, would be to study and exercise. For the tests study in advance and for the physical test, practice. The basketball throw in the CFA, candidate fitness assessment, was possibly the most difficult portion of the test. I also struggled with my pull-ups.

What Will Your MOS (Military Operations Specialty)  and Rank Be?
My MOS has not been chosen yet, as we as a class progress through the academy we will put in a ranked system. When the end of our schooling career comes to an end we will be able to choose our MOS depending on class rank. I myself want to operate an apache or black hawk helicopter. At graduation my rank will be Second Lieutenant.

How Long Will You Serve In The Army After WEST POINT?
After West Point is a required five years active duty and three years reserve.

What Prompted You To Serve?
For me, serving is something I have wanted to do since I was quite young. As a young boy I was fascinated by the history of World War II and all things military. I have always felt that serving through the military would allow me to give back to my country, to protect the ones I love, and provide others with the opportunity to have a great life.

What Advice Do You Have For Someone Considering To Serve?
For someone who is considering serving, I would tell them to do it if that’s what their heart is telling them. You can’t serve because someone else wants you to or doesn’t want you to; it has to be all your decision. Only you can decide for yourself what is right. If you do choose to serve, give it your all, put yourself completely, into everything; academics, sports, and community. Never give up and you will get to where you want to be.


THANK YOU BRENNAN OLSEN FOR CHOOSING TO SERVE!