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A New Generation of Over-Achievers: Cadets Gone Wild

Witness as a battalion of America’s most ambitious youths embark on a collective journey to the upper echelons of glory—aka, the Service Academies. Their decision-making process? As bewildering as it is awe-inspiring.

Meet Cadet 2nd Lt. Nathan “Triple Threat” Whitworth

Hailing from the Arizona Wing’s Cochise Composite Squadron 107, Whitworth made the scandalous decision to shun four other prestigious service academies, opting instead for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Why, you ask? The allure of collegiate baseball and, of course, becoming a soaring sky pilot. While most would be caught in endless indecision, Whitworth’s early life goal-setting rivals even the most zealous self-help gurus. At the tender age of eight, he had already penciled “service academy” into his life plan.

“I’m just a kid who wants to serve,” Whitworth modestly declared, having received appointments from all five U.S. service academies—a mere bagatelle, really. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) practically molded him into the disciplined wunderkind he is today, responsible for teaching him life lessons such as how to be incredibly impressive.

Minnesota and Missouri: The Twins of the Air Force Academy

Not to be outdone by Whitworth, Minnesota’s Cadet Cheyenne Nyholm and Missouri’s Cadet Maj. Layla Cranston have both decided to grace the U.S. Air Force Academy with their presence. Cranston, joining CAP in pandemic-fueled 2020, managed to nab awards like Missouri Wing Junior Cadet Officer of the Year 2023, leaving mere mortals flabbergasted.

Nyholm, keeping herself busy from hockey to figure skating to aviation, apparently found the Air Force Academy the only place that could handle her wide-ranging interests.

Apex Cadet Squadron: Because Three’s Not a Crowd

The North Carolina Wing’s Apex Cadet Squadron decided the Air Force Academy needed not one, not two but three of its prodigies. Cadet Lt. Col. Allison Witte, Cadet 1st Lt. Collin Bressler, and Cadet Staff Sgt. Brady Stinson are all set to take their talents to the skies.

Witte, a prodigy in both paperwork and piloting, crafted a colorful resume including being a licensed EMT and an Eagle Scout—because why not. Bressler helped revitalize a color guard program in his limited spare time, and Stinson’s resume reads like a checklist of “Impossible To Do Before Age 18.”

An Honorable Mention for the Rest: Because There Are Just So Many!

California made sure not to be left in the dust with cadets like Maj. Brock Buak and Maj. Grace Muresan also snagging multiple academy appointments. Meanwhile, Maine decided to sprinkle a little bit of that academy-acceptance fairy dust on Cadet Lt. Col. Caroline Benson, Cadet 2nd Lt. Riley Record, and Cadet Capt. Felicity Jackson.

So if you’re feeling a bit under-accomplished by reading all this, don’t worry. Somewhere, an eight-year-old may already have surpassed your lifetime achievements.

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