1/26/2010 12:28:00 PM SGHS alumnus speaks to students about being a West Point cadet
Spring Grove High School 2007 graduate, Joe Dokken is currently a cadet at West Point Academy. He spoke to a select group of students at Spring Grove High School about attending the United States Military Academy West Point.
Meeting world leaders, princesses, actors, traveling the world to foreign lands, playing laser tag with multi-million dollar vehicles. Where would someone go in order to be able to do all of this? At the United States Military Academy West Point.
Spring Grove High School 2007 graduate, Joe Dokken, recently spoke to a select group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors at SGHS.
Dokken is currently in his junior year at West Point and is studying Arabic and International Relations as a double major.
The presentation he gave was officially called an Admissions Information Meeting. He was there to talk to the students about what West Point is and how they could become cadets there if they were interested.
"West Point is the premier institution for leadership development for all over the world," he said. "West Point is proud to say that much of the history we teach was made by the people we taught."
Looking at the statistics of graduates, this statement holds true. Six heads of state including two United States presidents graduated from West Point. Sixteen ambassadors, 18 astronauts, and famous coaches such as Vince Lombardi, Bill Parcels, and Bobby Knight all are West Point graduates.
When Dokken graduates, he will be a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army and will be in charge of leading about 40 people. In a few weeks he will be headed to Egypt to spend a semester abroad. He has already traveled to Dubai, Bahrain, and Qatar .
It is not a quick or easy process to become a cadet at West Point. Dokken began the application process to West Point during his sophomore year at SGHS.
For West Point to even consider someone as a potential candidate, that person must receive a nomination from a U.S. Representative, a U.S. Senator, or the President of the United States. Dokken received his nomination from U.S. Representative Gil Gutknecht.
"About 4,000 get a nomination and only 1,300 get in," Dokken said. "And of that group, only 900 graduate. About 50 cadets quit the very first day [upon beginning at West Point], it is a crazy day. I remember that day like it was yesterday; we had 90 seconds to say goodbye to our moms. There is a lot of stress in the freshman year."
A typical day at West Point begins at 6 a.m. Breakfast is at 7 a.m. with classes from 7:30 a.m. to noon and again from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. is physical activity. Two hours of physical activity is required every day. Rest of the evening is reserved for studying.
"It is harder to stay in West Point than to get into West Point," Dokken commented. "They are weeding people out that aren't leaders. We are training to be leaders in war because we are in war.
"Much of the planning for the war has come from West Point. We are constantly reminded that we are at war. Announcements are made when a West Point graduate has died at war; you realize how very real the war is when you are there [at West Point]."
Each graduate of West Point has a five-year commitment to the Army. Dokken thinks that he may stay in the Army for eight to 10 years post graduation instead of just the required five.
"I am having an awesome time at West Point. It is incredible the type of people I've been able to meet and the caliber of our instructors, one of my instructors was an ambassador. I can't believe how much access we have to world leaders," he remarked with a smile.
"We have fun, too. Now that I'm a junior, I have more privileges and have been able to go to New York City on weekends. It's a great place."
Dokken encouraged the students listening that if they were interested in attending West Point to study hard and to be leaders in whatever activities they are in.
He reminded them that if they do decide to apply to "do it for yourself and not for others. Even if your grandpa went there or your parents want you to go there, do it only if you want to be there because it is tough enough and will be even tougher if your heart is not in it."
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Article comment by:
Allison Taravella
You may wish to check your facts. Vince Lombardi, Bill Parcels, and Bobby Knight all coached at West Point, however, not a single one of them is a graduate. You may have been thinking of Mike Krzyzewski, who is in fact a graduate. Thank you to Cadet Dokken for serving his country!
