Soon to be a second generation attendee of West Point, senior Shannon Rogers will train to become a military officer on the same campus as her father. Shortly after graduation, Shannon will move to New York to begin her studies and training.
During her decision making process, Shannon compared Ivy League schools to U.S. Military Academies.
“The students at West Point were not only more mature,” Shannon said. “But I could feel that they all lived with a purpose.”
Capt. Bob Rogers, Shannon’s father, said he is not just excited that Shannon will be attending his alma mater, but that he feels very proud of Shannon for choosing to serve her country and further her education.
“She chose the highest and the toughest calling,” Capt. Rogers said. “A career of service to our country.”
During the school year, the Academies function like other academic campuses. The only main difference is that at West Point there are regiment routines as well as studying for general classes. Since it is required that each graduate at West Point either majors or minors in some form of engineering, Shannon said she plans on studying International Relations and is thinking about also studying environmental sciences related engineering.
When the school is not in session, training is full swing.
Shannon will report to West Point on July 2. She will sign a contract and go through an initiation ceremony and then will begin six weeks of basic training. After graduation every Cadet becomes a Second Lieutenant and then enters for five years of active duty. Shannon said she believes that West Point will train her to fulfill her future responsibilities.
“There’s going to be a lot of running, a lot of pushups,” Shannon said. “You’re only allowed to say four different phrases such as ‘yes sir, no sir, I do not understand sir,’ stuff like that.”
Even with the support from her father, Shannon’s mother is still a little uneasy, mainly because Shannon would be stationed in Afghanistan after graduation from West Point because the country is still in war time.
“My mom is really worried,” Shannon said. “But when she visited the campus, she knew that it was the place for me to go and that even if we are in war time, that it is a place that women can prosper. I think she’s all for it now.”
Even though Shannon did not participate in ROTC, she said she believes that her leadership role as a captain on the swim team has helped make her qualified for West Point.
Capt. Rogers said he hopes that West Point will help Shannon grow as a person and a leader with integrity.
“One of life’s greatest challenges for a leader is to speak truthfully and to do the right thing at all times,” Capt. Rogers said. “No matter what the circumstances.”
With graduation less than four months away, Shannon said she is preparing physically and mentally for the tests she has ahead of her. However, her parents have a different idea of how Shannon can prepare.
One of Capt. Rogers’ fondest memories from West Point was a training exercise he said he will never forget: parachute training. He said there is nothing like the feeling of jumping out of airplane. However, before Shannon has the opportunity to create her own memories at West Point, she is focusing on creating last memories in Texas.
