More than 60 young Kansans try for a recommendation to the nation's elite military academies

J.J. Evans' family has a long history of serving in the military. Evans attended the annual Service Academy Selection event put on by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran on Saturday at the Cosmosphere. He, like the 65 other young people who came to the event, wants to attend one of the U.S. military service academies.

Evans wants to become a pilot for the Navy. His dream is to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. This Hutchinson High School student was in the minority at Saturday's event. The majority of the applicants want to head to Colorado Springs and attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. 

"One of the most enjoyable opportunities I have as a United States senator is helping young men and women fulfill their dreams," Moran said. "It's one of my favorite days in my year in which I get to visit with these young men and women and get inspired."

Who are the students?

The students and recent high school graduates come from across Kansas. Many have wanted to join the military since birth, some are living overseas with their military families and others simply want to serve their country. Each student must have good grades and test scores. They also must exemplify strong character and be able to pass a physical exam. 

Like many of the competitors on Saturday, the Air Force is Christopher Burroughs and Kyson Evans' first choice. Burroughs, who attends Hayden High School in Topeka, wants to become a pilot.

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"I want to serve my country," Burroughs said. "Basically, all the men on my dad's side have been in the military."

As for Kyson Evans, who attends Seaman High School in Topeka, he wants to not only attend the U.S. Air Force Academy but play soccer for the school. This centerback has several cousins, as well as great-grandparents who are in the military.

"The interest for the air force comes from my dad who used to fly a helicopter for the Topeka police force before that disbanded," he said. "His flying interest was instilled in me."

Becoming a part of the military medical field is Moira Galvez's dream. Galvez, the eldest of six siblings, attends Central High School in Salina, and, like many others at the event, wants to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. But she said she would be just as happy at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Why Sen. Jerry Moran is passionate about this day

Along with serving on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Health, the Education Labor and Pensions Committee, and the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation and Space and Science, Sen. Moran's father served the U.S. during World War II.

Each year, Moran puts together a group of professionals to pick who he should nominate for the military academies. He nominates both a first choice and alternate for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. As for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he can nominate 10. 

"We put together a committee of Kansans, a few educators, a few people who went to the academies, a few parents of students at the Academy now, folks involved in the military to help me interview so that we make certain that the merits are paid attention to and that the students that are best prepared and most capable are the ones that I nominate," Moran said.

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bob Brock of Topeka, views his job on the board as an honor. 

"This is our (board members) favorite day of the year because we get to meet some of the best and brightest kids," Brock said. "We're routinely inspired to a higher level of performance ourselves by meeting these kids."

Brock, who served in the U.S. Air Force, works as director of aviation at the Kansas Department of Transportation, said Sen. Moran takes a personal interest to make sure candidates from across the state apply.

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"It's unusual for a state senator to take this personal interest," he said. "Sen. Moran's leadership is inspirational."

Some of the other 21 board members include Jacob Wood, the city manager of Salina who is a major in the U.S. Army Reserves; Jason Pomeroy, a farmer in Hesston who is a Bronze Star of Valor recipient and a U.S. military academy graduate; Martin Miller, the manager of the Great Bend Airport and a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, and Marri Krupco of Blue Mound, the commander of the Kansas American Legion.

"There's lots of things we could be concerned about sometimes discouraged about in this country," Moran said, "but these young men and women remind me that the United States of America has a bright future because of young men and women who certainly are disciplined and committed, but (also) care about the country and are willing to serve."