DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. – Last Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of Dobbins Air Reserve Base hosting the annual Academy Day event at Hangar 5.
The event, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, is the largest of its kind and has been hosted here for more than a decade. Isakson created Academy Day as a one-stop shop where Georgia students can learn more about military service academies as well as the application process.
Throughout the day, nearly one thousand students and family members met with service academy representatives to ask questions about application timelines and the overall process. The representatives also stepped out from behind the tables to talk with families one-on-one to address more specific questions.
Georgia congressional delegation representatives also set up information tables to discuss their role in the application process. Before earning an appointment to a military service academy, potential applicants must receive a congressional nomination.
Representatives from the Civil Air Patrol and ROTC units from regional colleges were also on hand to discuss other military-commissioning opportunities with students and their families.
The open hangar doors led out to the ramp where a variety of aircraft from different services were on display for the future military leaders to explore.
The event’s formal program included academy representatives as well as current cadets and midshipmen from each academy speaking to attendees about life at their respective schools and advising them on tips for building a strong application. Col. Patrick Campbell, 94th Operations Group commander, gave the opening remarks and spoke briefly about his time at the U.S. Air Force Academy. U.S. Sen. David Perdue provided the keynote congressional remarks stressing the role the academies play in developing the next generation of military leaders.
After the event, West Point and the Air Force Academy hosted smaller breakout sessions where future applicants could ask questions in a more intimate setting.