2010-2011 News and Photos
VADM Mike Miller, USNA Superintendent visits COL David R. Gray, President, VFMA&C; USNA Prepsters, and VFMA&C Administrators
CAPT Ed Wallace, USN and RADM Tom Lynch, USN visit USNA Prepsters
Valley Forge Military College was honored to host the visit of Captain Ed Wallace, Executive Director of the USNA Foundation, and Rear Admiral Tom Lynch, The Foundation Chairman.
The purpose of their visit was to recognize the eight USNA Preparatory cadets. Captain Wallace spoke with the cadets and their parents concerning their preparatory year here at Valley Forge Military College and how to take advantage of this opportunity. Rear Admiral Lynch addressed the cadets and congratulated them on their decision to attend USNA and the need to develop strong leadership.
After the luncheon, both Captain Wallace and Rear Admiral Lynch acknowledged the cadets and awarded them a USNA pin.
We look forward to hosting Captain Wallace again this year when the cadets complete their year and receive their appointments.
Brig. Gen. Cubero and Lt. Gen. Kelly visit with USAFA Prepsters
Air Force Brig. Gen. Cubero and Lt. Gen. Kelly of The Falcon Foundation recently visited Valley Forge Military College. The Falcon Foundation provides scholarships to students preparing for attendance at the US Air Force Academy and Valley Forge is one of five élite preparatory schools they have chosen for the students.
“Valley Forge has enjoyed a superior relationship with the Falcon Foundation since LTC Don Ferry USAFR (Ret.) approached the college more than 20 years ago,” said LtCol John C Church, Jr., USMCR, VFMC President. “Most recently the leadership and friendship of BGEN Randy Cubero USAF (Ret.) has allowed for a candid exchange between USAFA and VFMC. This transparent communication is what allows VF to know what USAFA needs and we have worked diligently to provide Colorado Springs well prepared young men and women of character. The most recent reports from the Falcon Foundation which highlight VF’s success are not a surprise. Our college faculty and staff are wholly committed to the Falcon Prepsters. We will miss BGEN Cubero and thank him for his support. We welcome LTGEN Kelley and are confident we will work just has well with him going forward.”
The foundation recently completed a study into the comparative success of their students at the Air Force Academy. The in depth study looked at academic, athletic, and leadership aspects of cadet performance. The results of the study clearly showed that cadets who had prepped at Valley Forge Military College were not only better prepared than cadets who had prepped at other schools but were also higher ranked than students who had been accepted directly into the Academy.
Visit from RADM Dean Lee, USCG
RADM Dean Lee, USCG spent several hours on campus on Sep 30. He had an informal meeting over box lunches with 25 cadets, discussing leadership issues and answering questions about a career in the Coast Guard. RADM Lee is the commander of the 5th Coast Guard District in Portsmouth, VA. He has responsibility for all Coast Guard Operations from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. He visited Valley Forge as a guest of Captain Hale and is hopeful of returning for a more formal presentation in the future.
2009-2010 News and Photos
March 5, 2010: COL John Calabro, USA (ret) visited with the AOG Prepsters to present them with their one year scholarships with their family and friends present.
2009-2010 Service Academy Prepsters
2009-2010 Women Prepsters
2009-2010 USAFA Prepsters
2009-2010 USMA Prepsters
2009-2010 USNA Prepsters
2009-2010 USCGA & USMMA Prepsters
LtCol John Church, USMC and CDR Joe Donnelly, USN visit the US Merchant Marine Academy
LtCol Church and CDR Donnelly recently toured the United States Merchant Marine Academy to continue strengthening the close relationship between Valley Forge and King's Point, for LtCol Church to speak to a group of future Marine officers about small unit leadership, and for CDR Donnelly to better understand the unique opportunities USMMA provides young people. The photo shows them with former VF cadets Phillip Criswell (left) and Howard Showalter (right). Phillip graduated from VFMC and then gained an appointment to USMMA, while Howard earned an appointment while attending VFMA. Both were participants in the VFMA&C Service Academy Prep (SAP) Program. The USMMA staff, faculty, and Marines were extremely accommodating and helpful.
On the same day LT Tyrone Broxton USMMS, Diversity Recruitment Specialist, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Admissions was at VFMA&C where he addressed nearly 75 VFMA&C cadets who were interested in learning more about USMMA. For more information about the VFMC SAP program go to www.vfmac.edu/SAP.html. For more information about the USMMA visit www.usmma.edu.
11/20/2009: CDR Barton and CAPT Carlson met with the Valley Forge Military College Prepsters, and Valley Forge Military Academy Service Academy prospects, about the many opportunities available at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
10/02/2009: BG Ruben Cubero met with the Valley Forge Military College Falcon Foundation Scholarship cadets who were formally presented with their one-year scholarship to cover the cost of their Prepster year at VFMC.
10/02/2009: Candita Curcio, 2008-09 VFMC Air Force Academy Prepster, returned to speak about her experiences while attending VFMC and now at the United States Air Force Academy, with the women enrolled in the 2009-10 Service Academy Prep Program at VFMC.
9/19/2009: Lt. Col. Rick Merrell and Col. Harris Brooks, Philadelphia area Admissions Liaison Officers for the Air Force, visited Valley Forge Military Academy & College to talk with prospective Falcons about the Falcon Foundation Scholarship Program, and CPT Brennan McGeorge spoke on the values of attending the Prepster year at Valley Forge Military College.
9/18/2009: CAPT Wallace USN (Ret.) visited with the VF Foundation Prepsters along with Lt. Jeannine Benjamin, USN, a Diversity Counselor to the VF Foundation Prepsters as well as Rear Admiral Tom Lynch USN (Ret.), and Byron Marchant, Class of 1978, President and CEO of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation.
9/10/2009: Sergeant Major of the Army, Kenneth O. Preston, meets with the West Point Prepsters prior to presenting SPC Paul William Anderson, PAARNG with the Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf Scholarship.
8/31/09: Below is a photo of the 2008-2009 VFMC AOG Cadets on A Day (Acceptance Day, August 15), when they were formally accepted intro the Corps of Cadets at the U.S.M.A. at West Point, having survived six weeks of Cadet Basic Training (Beast Barracks). Several of them have validated their "Plebe" year classes and several are taking sophomore-level courses as a result of the fine foundation they received at VFMC. This photo was taken on the “South Dock” at West Point along the Hudson River, where the five Valley Forge AOG families gathered for a tailgate after the formal ceremonies on West Point's “Plain.”
8/18/2009: 2008-2009 VFMC Merchant Marine Academy Prepsters, P/C Samuel H. Showalter and P/C Philip W. Criswell, III, enjoying Plebe training for their first year at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
2008-2009 News and Photos
3/27/2009: Lt. Col. Rick Merrill USAR (Ret.) joined us for our fourth “Air Force Friday.” It was a successful luncheon as we had 14 VMFA cadets and 10 VFMC (Falcons & AF ROTC) cadets attend his presentation on the USAFA/USAF ROTC and becoming an Electronics Warfare Officer on Surveillance Aircraft.
3/20/2009: COL Harris Brooks and Lt. Col. Vinnie DeGiovanni, USAR Ret., joined us for our third “Air Force Friday.” It was a successful luncheon as we had 12 VMFA cadets and 10 VFMC (Falcons & AF ROTC) cadets attend his presentation on the USAFA and becoming a Heavy Tanker Pilot (KC-135).
3/13/2009: COL Harris Brooks and MAJ Dan Fehl, C-17 Pilot, USAR Res., joined us for our second “Air Force Friday” on March 13. It was a successful luncheon as we had 14 VMFA cadets and 11 VFMC (Falcons & AF ROTC) cadets attend his presentation on the USAFA and becoming a Heavy Transport Pilot (C-17).
3/6/2009: Col Paul Comtois (left), COL Andrew Ryder PAANG (Ret.) (right back row) and Col Harris Brooks (right) speak to USAFA and VFMA Cadets
2/26/2009: COL Deborah McDonald visits with USMA Prepsters at Valley Forge
COL Deb McDonald, Director of Admissions, USMA, visited with the five VFMC U.S. Military Academy Prepsters, Col. Doyle and CAPT Hale on February 26, 2009. She also took the time to speak with two College female cadets about their experiences at the college, as well as to congratulate Cadet Spencer Rome, Valley Forge Military Academy, on his nomination to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
2/2009: VFMA&C congratulates cadets who were recently received their appointment to the Service Academies
Cadet Andrew Calloway received his appointment to the USAFA Class of 2013.
Cadet Peter Forde received his appointment to the USAFA Class of 2013.
Cadet Collin Hills received his appointment to the USAFA Class of 2013.
Cadet Jordan Staff received his appointment to the USAFA Class of 2013.
Cadet Kyle Wilde received his appointment to the USMA Class of 2013.
Cadet Matthew Feiring received his appointment to the USMA Class of 2013.
2009 Service Academy Prepsters - Valley Forge Military College
1/2009: VFMA&C congratulates cadets who were nominated to the Service Academies
Cadet Schuyler VanBuren received his appointment to the USMA on January 28, 2009. He mailed in official response of acceptance the next day. He is our first prepster (from USMA,USNA & USAFA) to receive an appointment.
Cadet Kyle A. Wilde has received a congressional nomination to US Military Academy from Representative Ted Poe (R) from Texas Congressional District 02.
Cadet Matthew R. Feiring has received a congressional nomination to US Military Academy from Representative Rush Holt (D), 12th District of New Jersey.
Cadet Schuyler P. VanBuren has received a congressional nomination to US Military Academy from Representative John Hall, 19th District of NY.
Cadet Nicholas K. Poremski has received a nomination to the US Naval Academy from MD Senator Mikulski, Democrat and nomination from Congressman Ruppersberger, 2nd District, MD, Democrat.
Cadet Anthony D'Errico has received a nomination to the US Air Force Academy from Rep Jim Saxton, New Jersey, 3rd District Republican.
Cadet Andrew M. Calloway has received a nomination to the US Air Force Academy from Rep Lloyd Doggett 25th District of Texas, Democrat.
Cadet Andrew J. Svecz has received a nomination to the US Air Force Academy from Congressman Steny Hoyer, a democratic representative from Maryland's 5th district.
Cadet Kenneth V. Ross has received a nomination to the US Air Force Academy from former Senator Joe Biden and Senator Thomas R. Carper from Delaware as well as a Presidential Nomination.
Cadet Theodore W. Kruczek has received a nomination to the US Air Force Academy from Congressman Joe Donnelly - Indiana District 2.
Cadet Jordan M. Staff has received a Congressional nomination to the US Air Force Academy from Honorable Greg Walden, Republican from District 2, Oregon.
Cadet Samuel H. Showalter has received a congressional nomination to the US Air Force Academy from Representative Connie Mack from Florida.
Cadet Collin Hills received a nomination from for USAFA Representative John F. Tierney, 6th District, Massachusetts.
Cadet Anthony Derrico received a nomination for USAFA from Congressman Jim Saxton, New Jersey, 3rd District Republican.
Cadet Candita Curcio, our first female VF Falcon, has received two nominations for USAFA from Senator Robert Menendez and Representative Rush Holt from New Jersey.
Cadet Robert Hansen received his appointment to the USMA. Congratulations Robert Hansen USMA Class of 2013.
Cadet Jurgen Baumgarten received my nominations from Congressman Bruce Braley District 1. IA as well as Sen. Charles Grassley and Sen. Tom Harkin.
1/2009: CAPT Wallace visits with USNA Prepsters at Valley Forge
CAPT Wallace visited with the two VFMC Naval Academy Prepsters, President McGeorge and CAPT Hale on January 20, 2009. Together they watched the inauguration of President Obama, and CAPT Wallace had the opportunity to talk with the Prepsters about their experiences, so far, at VFMC. CAPT Wallace presented each of the Prepsters with a Naval Academy pin to wear on their school uniforms. To finalize the day, CAPT Wallace and COL Michael Krause, Dean of the College, spoke briefly about the future of the college and the Prepsters at VFMC.
11/2008: BG Ruben Cubero visits with VFMC Falcon Foundation Scholars
BG Ruben A. Cubero, USAF, met with the Valley Forge Military College Falcon Foundation Scholarship cadets who were formally presented with their one-year scholarship to cover the cost of their Prepster year at VFMC.
Proud families and faculty members were on hand to witness this honorable presentation. BG Cubero noted to the Prepsters that each scholarship presented was sponsored by a corporation or person, and was made available in honor of a particular current or former Air Force or Army Air Guard member, civilian, or in rare cases a cadet. BG Cubero presented each Falcon Scholar with their personal scholarship, and the story about the person it honors. The Prepsters were told by BG Cubero to consider this person their mentor and guide while they continue your journey at the United States Air Force Academy, and beyond.
10/2008: Admiral Gary Roughead, USN & Naval Academy Prepsters
Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, pictured with the two US Naval Academy Prepsters at Valley Forge Military College after he received the Distinguished "Bob Hope Five Star Award for Distinguished Service to America."
10/2008: COL Dan Lentz, VFMA&C Commandant of Cadets visits with Falcon Foundation
Valley Forge Military Academy & College Commandant of Cadets, COL Daniel Lentz, had the opportunity to meet with BG Ruben A. Cubero, USAF, and former Falcon Foundation Scholarship cadets who attended Valley Forge Military College for their Prepster year.