For two Henry County students, becoming a member of the military has been a lifelong dream.

  Now, these students are seeing their dreams become a reality.

  Margaret Curran and Grace Clutter, students at Community Christian School in Stockbridge, have been accepted into military academies and military academy programs.

  Curran was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy.

  Clutter has been accepted into the U.S. Air Force Preparatory Program, a year long program following high school where she will get acclimated to life at the academy before going into the academy itself.

  The process to apply to a military academy is not an easy venture. Both students had to first apply to a variety of outlets to receive a single nomination that is needed to apply to a military academy. Then, the students had to apply to the academies themselves.

  “We both had to apply to our two senators, Senator David Perdue and Senator Johnny Isaacson, our own representatives, Congressman Jody Hice or Congressman David Scott, and our Vice President, Mike Pence. So, we applied to four nomination outlets,” said Curran.

  A long process of writing essays, submitting forms, passing a medical exam and conducting interviews, the students found the process to be much different than the application process for college.

  “About 50 to 60 hours were spent on interviews and essays. We also had to train for our Candidate Physical Exam. For a whole month before I went [to the U.S. Air Force Academy Summer Program], I ran through every activity each night,” said Clutter. There are six activities to complete for two minutes each and then a mile run. I did push-ups, sit-ups, basketball throws, pull-ups, flexed arm hangs, a shuttle run and the mile run.”

  The application process that began in June of last year for both students has only recently resulted in a nomination and acceptance into the academies.

  Curran says that applying to military academies was an easy decision, as she was seeking an academic and physically challenging institution.

  “The academies have always been where I wanted to be. I’ve always wanted to serve in the military and just give back to the country we live in. I’ve also always valued really good education and the academy is the best of both worlds,” said Curran. “You get a really good education and then get to go serve your country, which I think is a really good opportunity.

  Each student has individual motivations for applying, but both have leaned on their families legacy of service to prepare themselves for their upcoming venture.

  Curran’s parents are both civilian employees of the government. She relied on her parent’s knowledge to prepare herself for the experience of serving in the military.

  “Both my parents work for the Army. Both of them have been Army, so that’s all I’ve known,” said Curran. “When I first mentioned in the 8th grade that I wanted to go to an academy, my parents said, ‘That’s great, but this is what it means to serve in the military.’ It definitely helped me gain an understanding of what I am signing up for and the commitment I am going to make.”

  A member of a family that has seen multiple members enlist in various branches of the military, Clutter said that she wanted to carry on her family’s legacy with her service in the military.

  “I’ve always had military influence in my life. My dad and my grandfather and, I actually have three cousins in the service right now, and I have just always known that’s what I wanted to do,” said Clutter. “I saw [the academy] as a very good opportunity to serve my country and to become a strong officer and prove that women can do things like that. I’ve always known that I am meant to do this. I want to do what my dad did and I want to serve my country.”

  Both students are the first members of their families to be accepted into a military academy. Curran and Clutter say that their families are “very excited” and “very supportive” of their decisions.

  The students are now looking forward to graduating from high school but also attending their first day at their respective academies and beginning a new chapter of their lives.

  “I’m excited to start over. I’ve been here for so long. It’s an opportunity for me to get to go out and explore, do something new, be challenged, work hard and prove that I can do it on my own, but I am nervous,” said Clutter. “Leaving everything behind, that part is a little nerve wracking and scary but, otherwise, excitement is all I can really see.”

  In regards to their high school career, Curran and Clutter say that attending a private school has placed them in the right mindset and will help them acclimate to life at the academies.

  “The rules and the honor code, I don’t think will be that hard to adjust to because we have that here,” said Curran.

  “We are used to the uniforms and having to upkeep ourselves,” agreed Clutter.

  Both Curran and Clutter credit Community Christian School for their academic and extracurricular programs that prepared them for their future in military academies, but also hope to leave a legacy for students that they will soon leave behind.

  “The school has definitely given us both opportunities that have helped us. I always tell people to use the resources available to you,” said Curran. “Take those opportunities, get involved, be leaders in all your different clubs, your sports. You have so much that you can be involved in, get out and do it.”

  They would also like to thank the many individuals that spent long hours with them over the summer, the recommendation letters and those that ultimately provided the nomination needed to apply to the academies.

  “I just want to thank everyone that helped me through, all of our teachers, coaches, definitely the senators and representatives that gave us a chance to interview with them,” said Curran.

  “Because without the nomination and their help, we couldn’t have gotten this far at all,” said Clutter.

  Curran had a tough choice between the U.S. Air Force Academy or the U.S. Military Academy, but, after much consideration, decided that the U.S. Military Academy would become her future home. Curran plans to go into her freshman year with an open mind, but is leaning toward pursuing a Political Science degree.

  Clutter plans to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, pending a response from the U.S. Naval Academy. If Clutter attends the U.S. Air Force Academy, she would like to pursue a degree in Behavioral Sciences. If she is accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy, she hopes to pursue a degree in Meteorology and Oceanography.

  Community Christian School has seen but one previous student attend a military academy. Marcell Gleaton of the Class of 2017, currently attends the U.S. Naval Academy and plays football on their Navy Midshipmen team.

  Following their graduation this May, both Clutter and Curran plan to spend time with family and friends before their mandated report dates in June or July to their respective locations.