Air Force Academy seeks recruits from Philadelphia region

Recruiters from one of the U.S. military academies is stopping in Philadelphia as part of a nationwide tour.  

Many high-schoolers are vying to go to West Point or Annapolis, but Col. Carolyn Benyshek said appointments to the Air Force Academy from our region have gone to waste in recent years.

“The way that the law is written, every congressional district, state and territory has the right to be represented at each of our service academies,” she said. “It’s unfortunate, but there is a lot of nominations that go unfilled.”

Benyshek says the Air Force is offering a special preparatory school for those who have met most, but not all, of the requirements.

“Character, leadership, the athletic skills, but maybe a little bit short on the academic side,” she said of the candidates who might be considered for the academy outside Colorado Springs  in Colorado.

The academy will host an informational event at Ben Franklin High School Saturday afternoon from 3 to 6.