Serving among America’s bravest and finest individuals in the military is a great honor. While most American soldiers will come via conventional means, a select few will enter the military upon graduating from a branch academy. Forty-one Iowa high school students are now one step closer, including two from the Raccoon Valley Radio listening area, after receiving a nomination from U.S. Senator Joni Ernst.

Stuart’s Ian Kennedy was nominated for the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and Carli Hansen of Adel was nominated for the United States Military Academy at West Point. Applicants were required to be unmarried, Iowa residents, and U.S. citizens between 17-23-years-old as of July 1st. Applicants were also required to directly apply to any or all academies they were interested in.

Senator Ernst served in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Iowa Army National Guard. Before reaching the Senate, Ernst retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Guard after 23 years of service.