by Ellen Cameron
Staff Writer

“Aim high,” the Air Force says.

“We’re looking for a few good men,” the Marines say.

This year, it seems a few good men from Coppell High School are aiming high.

Seniors Chip Zurita, Seth Rodgers and Ryan Ische will join United States Military Service Academies in the fall, with Zurita and Rodgers setting out for the Air Force Academy in Colorado and Ische going to the Merchant Marine Academy in New York.

Though attending the academies is free financially, these seniors are required to serve five years of active service and three years in the reserves.

“Some people think it’ll be tough,” Rodgers said. “But I already know I’ll have a job for eight years in something I like, and I’ll get to travel.”

Another benefit of service is not just guaranteed future employment, but also the flexibility of that employment. Rodgers is contemplating the possibility of being an Air Force pilot with a business degree, while the field is wide open for Ische.

“[I decided on Merchant Marines because] I wasn’t sure I wanted to go ahead and stay with military and with the other ones, I was going to end up in that specific branch and have to go into reserve afterwards,” Ische said. “With Merchant Marines, I get to pick which one, and it seemed like there are more options afterwards.”

Yet, the decision, like any college decision, is an important one which has not been taken lightly by this group of seniors.

“I chose the Air Force Academy because since I’ve done the rocketry class here, and really enjoyed it, so I’ll be trained to lead my country with a degree in astronomical or aeronautical engineering,” Zurita said. “The best part of engineering in the high school has been the rocket launches—they’re a blast.”

Zurita also has a personal connection with the service –part of an army family, he was born on a U.S. base in Belgium.

“My dad’s been able to answer all my questions about the service and academies,” Zurita said. “I talk to him about the benefits and pros and cons of my options, and I really look up to him; he was involved in NATO and SHAPE and got me into it.”

However, getting into academies was no easy feat, even with Zurita’s parentage; applicants to the all U.S. service academies undergo a rigorous application process in which they fill out a paper application much like college applications, complete a physical test and petition for Congressional recommendation from a Senator or House Representative.

Ultimately, these three seniors are moving on to a very special post-high school experience.

“A big part of me always wanted to be in the military,” Rodgers said. “It’s academically challenging, but it’s more than studying; I knew people in the air force, and they were really well-rounded, really interesting people. When I visited the academy I just got a sense of fulfillment, like I was taking the next step in my life.”

Seniors Chip Zurita and Seth Rodgers perform a military salute. Photo graphic by Ellen Cameron