Dobbins hosts 20th Annual Academy Day

By Tech. Sgt. Miles Wilson, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published April 29, 2019

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A United States Military Academy representative talks with a high school student about what it is like to attend a military academy at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. on April 27, 2019. Dobbins hosted the 20th annual Academy Day, where representatives from all the military service academies come to talk with potential attendees, and students come to meet congressional representatives (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miles Wilson).

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A United States Military Academy student talks with a high school student about what it is like to attend a military academy at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. on April 27, 2019. Dobbins hosted the 20th annual Academy Day, where representatives from all the military service academies come to talk with potential attendees, and students come to meet congressional representatives (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miles Wilson).

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Students and their parents tour a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. on April 27, 2019. Students visited Dobbins while attending Academy Day, an annual event where United States service academies and congressional representatives visit so that students can learn about the academies and obtain congressional recommendations (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miles Wilson)

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Members of the Lassiter- Pope- Kell Navy JROTC drill team perform an exhibition routine during Academy Day at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. on April 27, 2019. Academy Day is an annual event hosted at Dobbins that allows students to interact with congressional and U.S. service academy representatives (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miles Wilson).

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U.S. Sen. David Perdue speaks with a media team about Academy Day at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. on April 27, 2019. Academy Day is an annual event hosted at Dobbins that allows students to interact with congressional and U.S. service academy representatives. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miles Wilson)

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Col. Patrick Campbell, 94th Operations Group commander, welcomes nearly one thousand students and parents to Academy Day at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. on April 27, 2019. Academy Day is an annual event hosted at Dobbins that allows students to interact with congressional and U.S. Service Academy representatives. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miles Wilson)

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U.S. Sen. David Perdue speaks to students and parents about the importance of the U.S. military, and the U.S. service academies during Academy Day at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. on April 27, 2019. Academy Day is an annual event hosted at Dobbins that allows students to interact with congressional and U.S. service academy representatives. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miles Wilson)

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Nearly one thousand students and parents listen as U.S. service academy representatives and students talk about life attending a service academy at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. on April 27, 2019. Academy Day is an annual event hosted at Dobbins that allows students to interact with congressional and U.S. service academy representatives. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miles Wilson)

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.