Cassidy Hosts Service Academy Day in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - On Saturday, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) spoke at Service Academy Day in Baton Rouge, which featured presentations from all five of America's Service Academies for students interested in becoming commissioned officers in the United States Armed Forces. Cassidy hosted the event along with the offices of U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) and five of Louisiana's six U.S. Representatives.

"There are talented young men and women here today who could choose to do anything, but want to serve our country," said Dr. Cassidy. "It's incredibly impressive and it's in part thanks to their parents, who invest and instill their values in their children. Some of them will join the long line of officers who graduate from our Service Academies, to defend our nation."

Over 100 students from at least 40 different high schools attended Service Academy Day with their parents. Representatives from the U.S. Military (West Point), Naval, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine Academies talked about how students can gain admittance, thrive and graduate as officers from their Academies. There were also presenters from ROTC units attached to Louisiana State University and Southern University, which also offer programs to help college students become military officers.

Finally, students were told how they can be nominated by their U.S. Representative or one of their U.S. Senators to a Service Academy. Four of the Service Academies require that students be nominated before they are considered for admittance, and most nominations come from Members of Congress. Staff were on hand for Senators Cassidy and Kennedy, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04), and Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA-06), Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Julia Letlow (R-LA-05) and Troy Carter (D-LA-02).

Afterwards, students and parents were able to visit with representatives of the Service Academies, ROTC units, and Members of Congress to get their questions answered. Also on hand was Colonel Charlton Meginley, USAF (Ret.), the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

"We are grateful for the young men and women who want to serve our nation in uniform, and for those who will be accepted into the Service Academies, our national security will one day lie squarely in their hands," said Secretary Meginley."It cannot be emphasized enough the impact these future leaders will have, not only in the military, but in American society. And when their time in the service has concluded, we will support them when they return home. We are proud of that mission and we thank Senator Cassidy and the Members of Congress who support Service Academy Day and our own mission to serve those who served."

The final Service Academy Day of 2024 will take place on September 28 at Mandeville High School. The offices of Senators Cassidy and Kennedy and Representatives Carter and Steve Scalise (R-LA-01) will host the event. Representatives from all five Service Academies and ROTC units attached to Tulane University will be on hand, as well as staff for the Members of Congress hosting the event. For more information, please see the attached flyer. Students and parents are encouraged to RSVP via one of the email addresses on the flyer.

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