Southwest graduate Caitlin Blevins appointed to West Point
Caitlin Blevins displays her appointment to the United States Military Academy.
April 3, 2019
Lee Stubblefield
Caitlin Blevins is going to West Point. The Southwest grad was initially rejected in her quest to attend the prestigious United States Military Academy, but a year of perseverance and preparation finally paid off.
After receiving her rejection letter from the academy back in May, Blevins decided to attend the Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama, to bolster her resume for another run at the USMA. Marion’s Service Academy Prep Program has a history of great success rates. Founded 175 years ago, Marion was one of the first schools to offer a program specifically designed to prepare students to attend one of the service academies.
Blevins spent this academic year taking courses that model the USMA’s plebe year for first-year students. Those include military science courses, as well as intense physical training in the mornings. She made the dean’s list and received a promotion to Staff Sergeant after her first semester.
Blevins began her second attempt to reach West Point last summer by re-opening her application and beginning the long process all over again: a candidate questionnaire and nominations from home state congressmen and women.
In October, she interviewed with Representative Billy Long’s advisers, and she eventually received nominations from Long and Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill.
It was an uphill battle, but the process never fazed Blevins. A Barry County farm girl, she has spent her life working and preparing for this moment.
“Riding horses in my youth essentially taught me how to set fear aside when doing something I love. A jumpy horse or being bucked off is enough to put the fear of God into a kid, but the point was to get back on, despite the fear. I was afraid to apply to West Point initially, and was even more nervous the second time around after being rejected, but I got back on because it was something I knew I loved and that's why I'm where I am now,” Blevins said.
Blevins points to her country heritage and the accompanying activities as “things that have the same foundation of skills that contributed to my acceptance to the USMA. Most kids from my hometown spent their childhoods just as I did," learning how to be tough. While on the surface it seems like a lesson focused on the matter of physical strength, really it was a matter of being a strong-minded individual. My parents understood and made sure I understood, it takes a strong heart and strong mind to be successful in all aspects of life.”
Hunting, shooting and fishing - ordinary country activities that are too often taken for granted - were instrumental in teaching patience and perspective.
“Really anything outdoors taught me the discipline that has made me successful here at Marion and will continue to contribute to my future successes,” said Blevins. “Those three activities go beyond themselves and have taught me to respect all aspects of life and how to enjoy success but still remain humble. Every fish I lost, shot I missed or unsuccessful hunt taught me to remain patient despite failure. Every success I faced simply taught me how to enjoy the moment, for it was always special, but to remain humble because the work was never done, and I was surely to fail again in the future.
"The best lessons I have ever learned have been during one of these activities. While being familiar with firearms and not being afraid to roll up my sleeves and get dirty will obviously help me with my military career, it was the determination, persistence and patience that these activities taught that got me into the academy of my dreams.”
Blevins also credits her athletic career at Southwest for helping prepare her for the grueling regimen of the academy.
“Participating in sports taught me discipline, mental toughness and really prepared me physically for the academy. I was taught what it meant to be a member of a team, and the selfless service required to have group success. Very few things were harder, mentally, than a Friday night basketball home game. It was there that I learned to focus under pressure, to set the nerves aside and go to work doing what was needed of me,” she said.
Blevins will report to the United State Military Academy at West Point, New York, on July 1.
Lee Stubblefield
Caitlin Blevins is going to West Point. The Southwest grad was initially rejected in her quest to attend the prestigious United States Military Academy, but a year of perseverance and preparation finally paid off.
After receiving her rejection letter from the academy back in May, Blevins decided to attend the Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama, to bolster her resume for another run at the USMA. Marion’s Service Academy Prep Program has a history of great success rates. Founded 175 years ago, Marion was one of the first schools to offer a program specifically designed to prepare students to attend one of the service academies.
Blevins spent this academic year taking courses that model the USMA’s plebe year for first-year students. Those include military science courses, as well as intense physical training in the mornings. She made the dean’s list and received a promotion to Staff Sergeant after her first semester.
Blevins began her second attempt to reach West Point last summer by re-opening her application and beginning the long process all over again: a candidate questionnaire and nominations from home state congressmen and women.
In October, she interviewed with Representative Billy Long’s advisers, and she eventually received nominations from Long and Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill.
It was an uphill battle, but the process never fazed Blevins. A Barry County farm girl, she has spent her life working and preparing for this moment.
“Riding horses in my youth essentially taught me how to set fear aside when doing something I love. A jumpy horse or being bucked off is enough to put the fear of God into a kid, but the point was to get back on, despite the fear. I was afraid to apply to West Point initially, and was even more nervous the second time around after being rejected, but I got back on because it was something I knew I loved and that's why I'm where I am now,” Blevins said.
Blevins points to her country heritage and the accompanying activities as “things that have the same foundation of skills that contributed to my acceptance to the USMA. Most kids from my hometown spent their childhoods just as I did," learning how to be tough. While on the surface it seems like a lesson focused on the matter of physical strength, really it was a matter of being a strong-minded individual. My parents understood and made sure I understood, it takes a strong heart and strong mind to be successful in all aspects of life.”
Hunting, shooting and fishing - ordinary country activities that are too often taken for granted - were instrumental in teaching patience and perspective.
“Really anything outdoors taught me the discipline that has made me successful here at Marion and will continue to contribute to my future successes,” said Blevins. “Those three activities go beyond themselves and have taught me to respect all aspects of life and how to enjoy success but still remain humble. Every fish I lost, shot I missed or unsuccessful hunt taught me to remain patient despite failure. Every success I faced simply taught me how to enjoy the moment, for it was always special, but to remain humble because the work was never done, and I was surely to fail again in the future.
"The best lessons I have ever learned have been during one of these activities. While being familiar with firearms and not being afraid to roll up my sleeves and get dirty will obviously help me with my military career, it was the determination, persistence and patience that these activities taught that got me into the academy of my dreams.”
Blevins also credits her athletic career at Southwest for helping prepare her for the grueling regimen of the academy.
“Participating in sports taught me discipline, mental toughness and really prepared me physically for the academy. I was taught what it meant to be a member of a team, and the selfless service required to have group success. Very few things were harder, mentally, than a Friday night basketball home game. It was there that I learned to focus under pressure, to set the nerves aside and go to work doing what was needed of me,” she said.
Blevins will report to the United State Military Academy at West Point, New York, on July 1.
