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Deerfield student is accepted to West Point

• A Deerfield-Windsor student is accepted at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — Nathan Markette knew in the sixth grade that he wanted to go into the military, his decision sparked by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

About six years later, he was accepted into the nation’s oldest military academy — the U.S. Military Academy.

“In sixth grade, Sept. 11 happened and I knew I wanted to be in the military,” Markette said in a counselor’s office Wednesday at Deerfield- Windsor School. “In ninth grade, Jonathan Siske got into West Point. That interested me a lot, and I looked it up and decided that would be the best place for me if I could get in.”

He was nominated by U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., though he needed a nomination from only one Congress member. In October, Markette received a letter of assurance saying he would be accepted contingent upon his being nominated.

A few days before Christmas 2007, Chambliss called Markette personally to inform him of his acceptance.

“I’ve never had a senator call me before,” he said.

As a 10th-grader, Markette attended an academy day in Atlanta, which he said gave him more information about the school and strengthened his decision to attend. He went on to participate in a Summer Leadership Conference in 2007, during which he got a taste of cadet life.

The 18-year-old described getting up at 5:30 a.m. each day for physical training; breakfast at 7 a.m.; midmorning classes; and then lunch at noon followed by more classes.

Then came a few hours of free time. Dinner was at 6 p.m. and then the “candidates,” as they were called, had activities. The group typically stayed up until midnight before repeating the process the next day, he said.

“It was fun. It was a good experience,” Markette said.

About 800 candidates took part in the seminar, 400 per week for two weeks.

Usually about half of the seminar’s participants are accepted to the academy, he said.

Markette maintained straight-As throughout his four years at Deerfield- Windsor and was also involved with track, football and band.

Having watched him work toward getting accepted to the academy and then seeing that work pay off has made Markette’s mother, Mary Ellen, proud.

“I am very proud of him. It’s been something he’s worked for for several years,” she said. “I support him 100 percent.”

Applicants to West Point must receive a nomination from one of his or her Congressmen. Even if they are nominated, though, they can be denied acceptance to the academy.

Each senator and member of the House is allotted a certain number of cadets for each military academy, for which they get to nominate 10 candidates per opening. If none of the congressman’s nominees is accepted, other Congress members’ nominees can be counted against his or her allotment, said Ashley Nelson, deputy press secretary for Chambliss’ office.

Markette isn’t the first of his family to explore military options. His grandfather served in World War II, his brother has served in the Air Force and he has a cousin who is a general at the Pentagon.

As for a career as a military man, Markette — who is the youngest of three brothers and has a sister — hasn’t decided.

“I’m not sure yet. I’m thinking about it,” he said.

After graduating from West Point, Markette must serve at least five years of active duty, according to the school’s Web site.

During his stay at the academy, Markette will choose a major and go through school just like at a typical university, which he pointed out would be an Ivy League institution if it weren’t military. After graduating, he’ll be commissioned as a second lieutenant, the lowest commissioned officer in the Army.

And while he’s definitely excited, Markette said he wasn’t the only one thrilled about his attending the prestigious academy, to which he will report on June 30.

“My mom is real excited,” he said. “She might be more excited than I am.”

Deerfield Coach Rod Murray, who has worked with Markette as an outside linebacker for the last four years, said he expected Markette to succeed at the military academy “and wherever he ends up.”

“He’s pretty hardworking. His work ethic is second to none,” Murray said about Markette, who started every football game this season. “He’s a team guy, always being a leader verbally, and he leads by example.

“He plays hard and that’s contagious.”

Markette said he had to write about a dozen papers about why he wanted a career as a military officer.

The West Point Web site also states that applicants must be between ages 17 and 23 and “have no legal obligation to support children.”

Isakson said Thursday that Markette’s acceptance to the academy spoke well of the youth.

“He’s a tremendous young man,” the senator said. “He’s the whole package — 4.0 (grade-point average), eighth in his class, Boy Scout. He’s performed at an outstanding level, and that’s what the academy is looking for in our leaders.”

Isakson said his office made 40 recommendations last year for nominees to the nation’s four military academies — 10 to each academy. Of those 40, 36 were accepted to the various academies.

“It’s a great tribute to Nathan and a great credit for what he’s done and achieved in his life,” he said.

About 1,200 new Cadets enter the academy each year on reception day, usually around July 1, according to the West Point Web site.

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