Sen. Daines nominates local students for military academies

U.S. Senator Steve Daines on Tuesday nominated 19 Montana students who are applying for enrollment into U.S. military academies, including two from the Flathead Valley.

Daines nominated Kalispell student Luke Leech for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Columbia Falls student Nicholas Dills for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy.

“One of my greatest honors as Montana’s U. S. Senator is to nominate committed Montana students to compete for an appointment to one of our nation’s military academies. Their commitment to serving our nation is a reflection of Montana’s rich legacy of service. I wish them the best as they continue in this extremely competitive process,” Daines said in a press release.

A congressional nomination is a critical step in the process for Montanans seeking admission to one of the nation’s four military academies: the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs (USAF), the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (USMA), the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis (USNA) or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA).

Students interested in applying to a U.S. military academy submitted an extensive application that documents their academic, civic and athletic abilities, as well as their commitment to military service. An academy selection board assembled by Daines reviewed the applications and conducted interviews of the applicants.