Sunset Rotary Club Speech, Carson City Nevada, 7/27/06

To Lead and To Serve:
One civilian’s analysis and critical review of 
US Military recruiting programs for Officer and Enlisted personnel in the 21^st Century

Thank you Mr / Ms Chairperson, for your fine introduction and for the opportunity to be here with you today. I am currently on a 5 club speaking tour here in northern Nevada. I came earlier this week to attend the Nevada Association of Career and Technical Educators Summer Conference held at the Cal- Neva Resort.

I did not have to travel far to be with you today as my youngest son, Scott owns a condominium near the slopes of Heavenly Resort, and he is always encouraging his Mother and I to come and visit this beautiful area. It’s nice to have successful and gracious children.

First, let me say it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to an organization so interested and historically involved with our youth. I thank you for providing organizations, such as mine, the opportunity to tell our story and showcase what others and I believe is our important work on behalf of our children, their future and America.

In addition to your commitment to our youth, I am also personally appreciative as a Polio Survivor, Class of 1953 of your work to eradicate Polio worldwide. I encourage you to keep up the vital work.

Today, I would like to offer some prepared remarks in the following areas: the mission of the Olympic Institute and why I am committed to this mission,  the current state of secondary school College and Career counseling programs, the need for immediate reform of the Congressional Nomination process as well as reforming academy recruiting programs, an overview of both Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting problems, and a discussion of Olympic Institute programs and services that are addressing these issues.  And finally, how might you help.    

OLYMPIC INSTITUTE MISSION

The Olympic Institute for Leadership Development is a privately held educational organization whose mission is to help prepare America's next generation of leaders and captains of industry. The Institute specializes in assisting young men and women and their families who wish to attend federal service academies, college ROTC programs, military junior college, military prep schools and state maritime academies.

When I started working on behalf of my son, I knew virtually nothing about the process and what I learned, I learned from trial and error and by getting through the process.  I found that it can be a daunting task. The system offered very little information, encouragement and assistance, or at least very little in a timely manner.

Scott accepted his appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy and did exceptionally well majoring in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation, and rose to the top leadership ranks of the Academy.  In addition to a Bachelor of Science, Scott also graduated with a Coast Guard Unlimited Tonnage Third Mates license.

For the last four years he has worked as a Merchant Ship Officer for Maersk Line Limited, navigating ships around the world and delivering cargo for the US Army. A Merchant Marine Academy graduate who chooses to sail on their Coast Guard license upon graduation can expect to earn a six figure salary.

I saw the great educational and career opportunities that were being made available to Scott at the Merchant Marine Academy. I never thought that this endeavor after four years of unpaid volunteer service would become a new vocation and passion inspired by my son, but it did and I am forever grateful.

CRISIS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL COUNSELING

Bill Gates believes that “America’s high schools are obsolete”. He also believes that we must concentrate on the NEW 3R’s, Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. I could not agree more.

Today’s high school counselors, on average, are responsible for 500 students. They in essence have become “Crisis Counselors” tasked with dealing with the social problems of their students, truancy, drugs, alcohol and pregnancy as well as domestic problems at home. Most high school counselors very much want to have more time to assist their students with college and career counseling, but there is simply not enough time in the day.

With budget and program cuts, staff reductions and the mandates of the No Child Left Behind law “average and above average” students are being left to fend for themselves in our country’s high schools.

In 2004, the Portland Oregonian newspaper series, “Fixing High Schools” reported “students could go almost an entire four years without forming a single meaningful relationship with an adult.” The challenge of the Olympic Institute was to find its voice and then inspire young people to find theirs. By “voice” I mean talent, passion, need and conscience as outlined by Stephen R. Covey in his book, the 8^th Habit. In short, making a difference in the life of a child.

NEED FOR REFORM – NOMINATION PROCESS

Using government statistic’s for the Class of 2007 there were 37,569 applications for the Army, Navy and Air Force academies. Only 3,844 were admitted- a 90% overall failure rate.

These percentages are touted by the military academies as it is with Ivy League schools to highlight their exclusivity factor. The most important percentage however, is the nearly 25-33% of each class that drop out. Considering that these accepted students are the top 10% of nearly 38,000 applicants, it’s quite possible that many of the accepted applicants are not well prepared if 25-33% drop out. These figures reflect poorly on the overall academy admissions process.  Are we truly getting the “Best and the Brightest?”

Here is the case for an immediate reform of the Congressional Nomination process. Of the 16,954 candidates nominated for the class of 2007 at the Army, Navy and Air Force academies, only 7,058 were academically and physically qualified, which means that 59% of the candidates nominated by members of Congress were not qualified. This is a waste of government resources, our tax dollars and more importantly it is a disservice to our young people.

When Congress developed the Congressional Nomination process it was their intent that all qualified young men and women from all walks of life have “equal access” to the federal service academies.

After nine years in this business I am not at all convinced that this is the case. Through the Olympic Institute we are helping to “level the playing field” with those seeking admission that have the “pull” or those who “know the ropes”.

If you still believe that only “our best and brightest” are being admitted to our federal service academies I encourage you to read the book Annapolis Autumn written by Bruce Fleming, professor of English at the Naval Academy for two decades. Fleming who served on the Academy Admissions Committee points out, among other things, that clearly 50% of all midshipmen did not meet nor have to meet the academies academic standards.

For Officer Select Programs, real change begins with an overhaul of the Congressional Nomination process. The system as it stands today discriminates against qualified applicants who must unfairly compete with candidates who often are not either medically or academically qualified to

accept a Congressional Nomination or Appointment. Once the Nomination has been made to an “unqualified” candidate it has already potentially eliminated from consideration, other “qualified” candidates.

Real change extends to the academy admissions offices and at the academy gates with new recruiting strategies and programs. Military recruiting for the 21^st Century requires genuine cooperation among all military branches and our educational system and by working together and earlier with prospects.

A more comprehensive and unified recruiting strategy is required. The academies do a poor job of recruiting by sending out limited amounts of materials to high school counselors and by relying on candidates to figure out the system simply by reading their catalog. In addition, academy admissions representatives do not make personal contact with candidates until their senior year, if even then.

OFFICER / ENLISTED RECRUITING PROBLEMS

I believe that our country is being poorly served by a military establishment whose recruiting efforts for Enlisted and Officer Ranks is broken and will not serve our country well as we approach our fight against worldwide terrorism in the 21^st Century. Many in the military establishment are unwilling to think outside the box. They accept as gospel, the seven deadliest words in the English language, “we’ve never done it that way before.” That is simply not good enough.

Although I have primarily concentrated my efforts on officer recruiting in the last decade, in the last few years I  have been contacted by concerned parents whose children, unbeknownst to them, were talking with enlisted recruiters and making decisions to join without consulting them. In addition, I realized that there were significant recruiting related problems occurring as a result of the declining public support of the war in Iraq.

In research and published reports I saw some startling disclosures. As many as 18% of Army recruits are failing to meet academic standards, i.e. they were not at least a high school graduate and they had below standard military aptitude test scores upon enlistment. In addition, many failed to meet Army physical fitness requirements. Prior to the First Gulf War this number was closer to 9%.

One in every eleven soldiers who had been deployed to Iraq in a 2004 study by military doctors had experienced some form of “mental health issue.” This could include ADD/ADHD, depression, bi-polar, suicidal tendencies and post traumatic stress disorder.

It is important to note here that virtually none of the above, no high school diploma, poor test scores, lack of physical fitness and mental health issues would qualify to enter an Officer Select program and I do not believe that enlisted qualifications should be any different.

The underlying reason for these statistic’s and events is the unrelenting pressure on recruiters from their superiors to meet their “quota.” High school administrators and teachers have complained to me about recruiters who are virtually “embedded” in their schools and activities. The Army Recruiters handbook even speaks to the concept of “School Ownership.” Attending athletic events, eating lunch in the cafeteria several times each month, delivering donuts to the faculty room once each month and cultivating coaches, librarians, administrative staff and teachers. All of this comes to us courtesy of the No Child Left Behind law.

The unpopularity of the war in Iraq has resulted in a “breach of trust” between the federal government and the Mom’s and Dad’s of our country that I believe will take 25- 30 years to repair. In the meantime, it will, in my professional opinion, become increasingly more difficult to raise a standing Army of the quality and the quantity that we will require to fight the long war on terrorism.

Perhaps more importantly is the deep disservice that is being done to our young men and women who know the military has been the traditional road to the “middle class.” Under these circumstances the poor and the disadvantaged have used the military to build skills, self esteem and earn money for college. They simply will miss this opportunity and our country will be less for that.

All of the problems I have enumerated on above will directly affect the young men and women that the Olympic Institute has and will encourage to become officers and thus the cause of great concern to me.

OILD PROGRAMS / SERVICES TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS

The programs and services of the Olympic Institute encourage academic preparation and academic excellence. We promote math, science and engineering as college majors.

We specialize in assisting young men and women who have either been told that they “may not be good enough to get in” or may think quietly to themselves that “they could never get into one of those schools” or who may need to find an alternative route (prep school) to ultimately reach their goal successfully.

Our College Prep Services Program and Service Academy Prep Program beginning for those entering 9^th grade are virtually not available anywhere else. In essence, we “qualify and prepare the interested” and most importantly make competitive, young men and women for Officer Select Programs.

At the Olympic Institute we do not glorify the “bang, bang” of the military. We emphasize educational opportunities and career options and we promote public service in short, Leadership for a Lifetime. We encourage youngsters to be part of something bigger than themselves. We encourage them to understand that they can be competitive for these programs. We especially stress this to youngsters from rural communities where we find some of our best candidates.

To maximize the chances of success, candidates need to prepare early on, ideally starting in the 9^th or 10^th grade. Our educational counselors handcraft strategies specifically tailored to their education and career goals and provide hands-on counseling, guidance and mentoring early in the high school educational process. Services include advice and counseling on goal setting, course selection and schedules, honors and advanced placement classes, athletics and extracurricular activities.

Our counselors monitor standardized testing, evaluate progress reports and report cards and provide ongoing encouragement and motivation. Our counselors help the candidate identify and select the military program of choice, and assist with all program inquires, and the complicated academy application forms and processes.

The Institute ensures that the candidate is fully qualified and that their application is complete and superior to others.

The Olympic Institute simply has found a niche and we are successfully filling it. Prior to contracting a client, we qualify them both academically and medically. We will not take money from a client that we know is not qualified. We do not turn away qualified candidates based on their ability to pay. We do not give away our program, but we do work to meet the financial needs of all who contact us.

Some of you may be asking yourself, why would a parent want to contract with the Olympic Institute for educational counseling services that a high school counselor should or could provide at no charge? That is a good question. The answer lies first of all in that we provide the timely encouragement, and hands on guidance, counseling and mentoring programs all designed to produce success.

Getting into a service academy takes more than a congressional nomination. Securing the nomination is only one step in a complicated and competitive process.

Some say our program is too expensive. Currently our average cost of service is $3,500.00 for our two- year Academy Selection Program. It is literally a one time fee for a lifetime of service.

I believe that any reasonable cost benefit analysis will clearly show that our services provide a really, really good return on investment. Especially when you consider that federal service academy educations are valued at $275,000-$400,000 with a lifetime of opportunity assured to its graduates.

Yes, candidates can do this all for themselves. We can all do our own taxes too, so why then do so many of us  hire bookkeepers, accountants, CPA’s, tax consultants, private companies like H&R Block, Turbo Tax and others? 

We believe it is because the government system is always changing, it is complicated, daunting and often intimidating and we want to pay only our obligated amount of tax without running afoul of the authorities. In short, in order to gain an advantage and the maximum personal benefits we look to the professionals. The same rationale and logic exists when we want our children to enjoy the advantages and personal benefits of a successful application to a federal service academy.

By and large over the years we have worked primarily with “average middle class” kids. From time to time we have been approached by “high profile, well connected elected public officials” to assist their children. When this happens as it did again recently, we were reminded that these families understand that it is not just the “process” that is important here, but more what I like to call our “secret sauce” that makes this come together so well.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

What you can do? Talk with young people, especially women and minorities and when you find an interest, direct them to our website www.olympicinstitute.com. 

We have established a Virtual Guide for military educations and careers on our site that is very comprehensive.

We have also set up a Virtual Q & A Help desk that can be accessed toll free. Also encourage your local high school to make these resources readily available to their students. Share the Institute’s resources with contacts you make in your Rotary Club sponsored youth programs.

In addition, we are offering our successful programs and services (College Counseling) to American business and industry as an integral part of their employee benefits program. We are prepared to present brown bag lunch presentations as well as our popular To Lead and To Serve Informational Seminars to employee groups.

If you are a business owner, manager or HR staff person I welcome your inquiries. Your support can mean more “success stories” and fewer youngsters becoming “statistics”. like the 90% who were rejected by the academies or the 59% who were nominated by Members of Congress and who were not “qualified.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this (morning, afternoon or evening). Hopefully with an overview of our work, an understanding of the lack of secondary school College and Counseling programs, our institute programs and services, your awareness of Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting problems, the need to reform the Congressional Nomination process, changes in the academy recruiting programs and finally ideas on what you can do, you will now have a better appreciation of the enormity of the problem we all face.

Finally, the Olympic Institute believes that the future of our country is in peril if we are not able to convince the best and the brightest of our young men and women to answer the call to public service.

Thank you for listening today, we live in challenging and tumultuous times. May God continue to bless us all and God bless America.

If time permits, I would be happy to take any questions.

Back to top

Tahoe-Douglas Rotary Club Speech, 7/28/06

To Lead and To Serve:
One civilian’s analysis and critical review of 
US Military recruiting programs for Officer and Enlisted personnel in the 21^st Century
 

Thank you Mr/Ms Chairperson, for your fine introduction and for the opportunity to be here with you today. I am currently on a 5 club speaking tour here in northern Nevada. I came earlier this week to attend the Nevada Association of Career and Technical Educators Summer Conference held at the Cal- Neva Resort.

I did not have to travel far to be with you today as my youngest son, Scott owns a condominium near the slopes of Heavenly Resort, and he is always encouraging his Mother and I to come and visit this beautiful area. It’s nice to have successful and gracious children.

First, let me say it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to an organization so interested and historically involved with our youth. I thank you for providing organizations, such as mine, the opportunity to tell our story and showcase what others and I believe is our important work on behalf of our children, their future and America.

In addition to your commitment to our youth, I am also personally appreciative as a Polio Survivor, Class of 1953 of your work to eradicate Polio worldwide. I encourage you to keep up the vital work

Today, I would like to offer some prepared remarks in the following areas: the mission of the Olympic Institute and why I am committed to this mission,  the current state of secondary school College and Career counseling programs, the need for immediate reform of the Congressional Nomination process as well as reforming academy recruiting programs, an overview of both Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting problems, and a discussion of Olympic Institute programs and services that are addressing these issues.  And finally, how might you help.    

OLYMPIC INSTITUTE MISSION

I consider myself to be a social entrepreneur and I got my start in this work as a neophyte parent with an aspiring candidate who wanted to attend one of the five Federal Service Academies in 1998. I have worked for nearly a decade with over 50 aspiring candidates and recently put the finishing touches on my ninth academy class.

When I started working on behalf of my son, I knew virtually nothing about the process and what I learned, I learned from trial and error and by getting through the process.  I found that it can be a daunting task. The system offered very little information, encouragement and assistance, or at least very little in a timely manner.Scott accepted his appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy and did exceptionally well majoring in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation, and rose to the top leadership ranks of the Academy.  In addition to a Bachelor of Science, Scott also graduated with a Coast Guard Unlimited Tonnage Third Mates license.

For the last four years he has worked as a Merchant Ship Officer for Maersk Line Limited, navigating ships around the world and delivering cargo for the US Army. A Merchant Marine Academy graduate who chooses to sail on their Coast Guard license upon graduation can expect to earn a six figure salary.

I saw the great educational and career opportunities that were being made available to Scott at the Merchant Marine Academy. I never thought that this endeavor after four years of unpaid volunteer service would become a new vocation and passion inspired by my son, but it did and I am forever grateful 

CRISIS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL COUNSELING

Bill Gates believes that “America’s high schools are obsolete”. He also believes that we must concentrate on the NEW 3R’s, Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. I could not agree more.

high school counselors very much want to have more time to assist their students with college and career counseling, but there is simply not enough time in the day.

With budget and program cuts, staff reductions and the mandates of the No Child Left Behind law “average and above average” students are being left to fend for themselves in our country’s high schools.

THE NEED FOR REFORM OF THE CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATION PROCESS

It is important to understand that a student must first obtain a Congressional Nomination prior to applying to one of the five Federal Service Academies.  Close to 17,000 candidates were nominated by members of Congress for the class of 2007 at the Army, Navy and Air Force academies.  Nearly 60% were NOT academically, medically, and physically qualified.  This is a waste of government resources, our tax dollars and more importantly it is a disservice to our young people.

When Congress developed the Congressional Nomination process it was their intent that all qualified young men and women from all walks of life have “equal access” to the Federal Service Academies.

If you still believe that only “our best and brightest” are being admitted to our federal service academies I encourage you to read the book Annapolis Autumn written by Bruce Fleming, professor of English at the Naval Academy for two decades. Fleming who served on the Academy Admissions Committee points out, among other things, that clearly 50% of all midshipmen did not meet nor have to meet the academies academic standards.

A more comprehensive and unified recruiting strategy is required. The academies do a poor job of recruiting by sending out limited amounts of materials to high school counselors and by relying on candidates to figure out the system simply by reading their catalog. In addition, academy admissions representatives do not make personal contact with candidates until their senior year, if even then.

OFFICER / ENLISTED RECRUITING PROBLEMS

Although I have primarily concentrated my efforts on officer recruiting in the last decade, in the last few years I  have been contacted by concerned parents whose children, unbeknownst to them, were talking with enlisted recruiters and making decisions to join without consulting them. In addition, I realized that there were significant recruiting related problems occurring as a result of the declining public support of the war in Iraq.

In research and published reports I saw some startling disclosures. As many as 18% of Army recruits are failing to meet academic standards, i.e. they were not at least a high school graduate and they had below standard military aptitude test scores upon enlistment. In addition, many failed to meet Army physical fitness requirements. Prior to the First Gulf War this number was closer to 5%.

The Department of Defense recently released statistics stating that 72% of our country’s youth between the ages of 17-24 are unfit for military service, i.e., they are physically, mentally, academically, or legally not eligible.  These statistics provide a glimpse of the unrelenting pressure on recruiters to meet their “quota” from a shrinking pool of qualified people. 

The unpopularity of the war in Iraq has resulted in a “breach of trust” between the federal government and the Mom’s and Dad’s of our country that I believe will take 25- 30 years to repair. In the meantime, it will, in my professional opinion, become increasingly more difficult to raise a standing Army of the quality and the quantity that we will require to fight the long war on terrorism.

Perhaps more importantly is the deep disservice that is being done to our young men and women who know the military has been the traditional road to the “middle class.” Under these circumstances the poor and the disadvantaged have used the military to build skills, self esteem and earn money for college. They simply will miss this opportunity and our country will be less for that.

OILD PROGRAMS / SERVICES TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS

The programs and services of the Olympic Institute encourage academic preparation and academic excellence. We promote math, science and engineering as college majors.

We specialize in assisting young men and women who have either been told that they “may not be good enough to get in” or may think quietly to themselves that “they could never get into one of those schools” or who may need to find an alternative route (prep school) to ultimately reach their goal successfully.

Our College Prep Services Program and Service Academy Prep Program beginning for those entering 9^th grade are virtually not available anywhere else.

At the Olympic Institute we do not glorify the “bang, bang” of the military. We emphasize educational opportunities and career options and we promote public service in short, Leadership for a Lifetime. We encourage youngsters to be part of something bigger than themselves. We encourage them to understand that they can be competitive for these programs. We especially stress this to youngsters from rural communities where we find some of our best candidates.

To maximize the chances of success, candidates need to prepare early on, ideally starting in the 9^th or 10^th grade. Our educational counselors handcraft strategies specifically tailored to their education and career goals and provide hands-on counseling, guidance and mentoring early in the high school educational process. Services include advice and counseling on goal setting, course selection and schedules, honors and advanced placement classes, athletics and extracurricular activities.

Our counselors monitor standardized testing, evaluate progress reports and report cards and provide ongoing encouragement and motivation. Our counselors help the candidate identify and select the military program of choice, and assist with all program inquires, and the complicated academy application forms and processes.

The Institute ensures that the candidate is fully qualified and that their application is complete and superior to others.

The Olympic Institute simply has found a niche and we are successfully filling it. Prior to contracting a client, we qualify them both academically and medically. We will not take money from a client that we know is not qualified. We do not turn away qualified candidates based on their ability to pay. We do not give away our program, but we do work to meet the financial needs of all who contact us.

Some of you may be asking yourself, why would a parent want to contract with the Olympic Institute for educational counseling services that a high school counselor should or could provide at no charge? That is a good question. The answer lies first of all in that we provide the timely encouragement, and hands on guidance, counseling and mentoring programs all designed to produce success.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

What you can do? Talk with young people, especially women and minorities and when you find an interest, direct them to our website www.olympicinstitute.com. 

We have established a Virtual Guide for military educations and careers on our site that is very comprehensive.

Share the Institute’s resources with contacts you make in your Rotary Club sponsored youth programs.

In addition, we are offering our successful programs and services (College Counseling) to American business and industry as an integral part of their employee benefits program. We are prepared to present brown bag lunch presentations as well as our popular To Lead and To Serve Informational Seminars to employee groups.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this (morning, afternoon or evening). Hopefully with an overview of our work, an understanding of the lack of secondary school College and Counseling programs, our institute programs and services, your awareness of Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting problems, the need to reform the Congressional Nomination process, changes in the academy recruiting programs and finally ideas on what you can do, you will now have a better appreciation of the enormity of the problem we all face.

The Olympic Institute believes that the future of our country is in peril if we are not able to convince the best and the brightest of our young men and women to answer the call to public service.

Thank you for listening today, we live in challenging and tumultuous times. May God continue to bless us all and God bless America.

If time permits, I would be happy to take any questions.

Back to top

Incline Village Nevada Rotary Club Speech, 7/31/06

To Lead and To Serve:
One civilian’s analysis and critical review of 
US Military recruiting programs for Officer and Enlisted personnel in the 21^st Century

Chet Curtis
Program Chair
Incline Village Rotary Club
Incline Village NV
July 31, 2006

Thank you Mr/Ms Chairperson, for your fine introduction and for the opportunity to be here with you today. I am currently on a 5 club speaking tour here in northern Nevada. I came earlier this week to attend the Nevada Association of Career and Technical Educators Summer Conference held at the Cal- Neva Resort.

I did not have to travel far to be with you today as my youngest son, Scott owns a condominium near the slopes of Heavenly Resort, and he is always encouraging his Mother and I to come and visit this beautiful area. It’s nice to have successful and gracious children.

First, let me say it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to an organization so interested and historically involved with our youth. I thank you for providing organizations, such as mine, the opportunity to tell our story and showcase what others and I believe is our important work on behalf of our children, their future and America.

In addition to your commitment to our youth, I am also personally appreciative as a Polio Survivor, Class of 1953 of your work to eradicate Polio worldwide. I encourage you to keep up the vital work.

Today, I would like to offer some prepared remarks in the following areas: the mission of the Olympic Institute and why I am committed to this mission, the current state of secondary school College and Career counseling programs, the need for immediate reform of the Congressional Nomination process, an overview of both Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting problems, and a discussion of Olympic Institute programs and services that are addressing these issues.  And finally, how might you help.    

THE MISSION OF THE OLYMPIC INSTITUTE

Our mission is to help prepare America's next generation of leaders and captains of industry. The Institute specializes in helping young people pursue careers of military or public service by obtaining Federal Service Academy appointments, or ROTC Scholarships to many public and private universities and colleges around the country.  I have worked for nearly a decade with over 50 aspiring candidates and recently put the finishing touches on my ninth academy class.

I consider myself to be a social entrepreneur and I got my start in this work as a neophyte parent with an aspiring candidate who wanted to attend one of the five Federal Service Academies in 1998.  When I started working on behalf of my son, I knew virtually nothing about the process and what I learned, I learned from trial and error and by getting through the process.  I found that it can be a daunting task. The system offered very little information, encouragement and assistance, or at least very little in a timely manner.

Scott accepted an appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy and did exceptionally well majoring in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation and rose to the top leadership ranks of the Academy.  In addition to a Bachelor of Science, Scott also graduated with a Coast Guard -Unlimited Tonnage Third Mates license.

For the last four years he has worked as a Merchant Ship Officer for Maersk Line Limited, navigating ships around the world and delivering cargo for the US Army. A Merchant Marine Academy graduate who chooses to sail on their Coast Guard license upon graduation can expect to earn a six figure salary.

I saw the great educational and career opportunities that were being made available to Scott at the Merchant Marine Academy. I never thought that this endeavor after four years of unpaid volunteer service would become a new vocation and passion inspired by my son, but it did and I am forever grateful.

THE CRISIS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL COUNSELING

Bill Gates believes that “America’s high schools are obsolete”. He also believes that we must concentrate on the NEW 3R’s, Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. I could not agree more.

Today’s high school counselors, on average, are responsible for 500 students. They in essence have become “Crisis Counselors” tasked with dealing with the social problems of their students, truancy, drugs, alcohol and pregnancy as well as domestic problems at home. Most high school counselors very much want to have more time to assist their students with college and career counseling, but there is simply not enough time in the day.

With budget and program cuts, staff reductions and the mandates of the No Child Left Behind law “average and above average” students are being left to fend for themselves in our country’s high schools.

THE NEED FOR REFORM OF THE CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATION PROCESS

It is important to understand that a student must first obtain a Congressional Nomination prior to applying to one of the five Federal Service Academies.  Close to 17,000 candidates were nominated by members of Congress for the class of 2007 at the Army, Navy and Air Force academies.  Nearly 60% were NOT academically, medically, and physically qualified to accept an appointment.  This is a waste of government resources, our tax dollars and more importantly it is a disservice to our young people.

When Congress developed the Congressional Nomination process it was their intent that all qualified young men and women from all walks of life have “equal access” to the Federal Service Academies.

The Nomination system, as it stands today, discriminates against qualified applicants who are medically, physically, and academically qualified to accept both the Congressional Nomination AND Appointment. Once a Nomination has been made to an “unqualified” candidate it has already potentially eliminated from consideration, a “qualified” candidate.

If you still believe that only “our best and brightest” are being admitted to our federal service academies I encourage you to read the book Annapolis Autumn written by Bruce Fleming, professor of English at the Naval Academy for two decades. Fleming who served on the Academy Admissions Committee points out, among other things, that clearly 50% of all midshipmen did not meet nor have to meet the academies academic standards.

A more comprehensive and unified recruiting strategy is required. The academies do a poor job of recruiting by sending out limited amounts of materials to high school counselors and by relying on candidates to figure out the system simply by reading their catalog. In addition, academy admissions representatives do not make personal contact with candidates until their senior year, if even then.

OFFICER / ENLISTED RECRUITING PROBLEMS

I believe that our country is being poorly served by a military establishment whose recruiting efforts for Enlisted and Officer Ranks is broken and will not serve our country well as we approach our fight against worldwide terrorism in the 21^st Century.

In research and published reports I saw some startling disclosures. Prior to the first Gulf War, 9% of Army recruits failed to meet academic standards, i.e. they were not at least a high school graduate and they had below standard military aptitude test scores upon enlistment.  Currently, that percentage has doubled to 18% of Army recruits.  In addition, many failed to meet Army physical fitness requirements.

The Department of Defense recently released statistics stating that 72% of our country’s youth between the ages of 17-24 are unfit for military service, i.e., they are physically, mentally, academically, or legally not eligible.  These statistics provide a glimpse of the unrelenting pressure on recruiters to meet their “quota” from a shrinking pool of qualified young people. 

The unpopularity of the war in Iraq has resulted in a “breach of trust” between the federal government and the Mom’s and Dad’s of our country that I believe will take 25- 30 years to repair. In the meantime, it will, in my professional opinion, become increasingly more difficult to raise a standing Army of the quality and the quantity that we will require to fight the long war on terrorism.

Perhaps more importantly is the deep disservice that is being done to our young men and women who know the military has been the traditional road to the “middle class.” Under these circumstances the poor and the disadvantaged have used the military to build skills, self esteem and earn money for college. They simply will miss this opportunity and our country will be less for that.

OILD PROGRAMS / SERVICES TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS

The programs and services of the Olympic Institute encourage academic preparation and academic excellence. We promote math, science and engineering as college majors.

We specialize in assisting young men and women who have either been told that they “may not be good enough to get in” or may think that “they could never get into one of those schools.” We specialize in assisting those who may need to find an alternative route, such as a prep school, to ultimately reach their goal successfully.

At the Olympic Institute we do not glorify the “bang, bang” of the military. We emphasize educational opportunities and career options and we promote public service in short, Leadership for a Lifetime. We encourage youngsters to be part of something bigger than themselves. We encourage them to understand that they can be competitive for these programs. We especially stress this to youngsters from rural communities where we have found some of our best candidates.

To maximize the chances of success, candidates need to prepare early on, ideally starting in the 9^th or 10^th grade. Our educational counselors handcraft strategies specifically tailored to their education and career goals and provide hands-on counseling, guidance and mentoring early in the high school educational process. Services include advice and counseling on goal setting, course selection and schedules, honors and advanced placement classes, athletics and extracurricular activities.

Our counselors monitor standardized testing, evaluate progress reports and report cards and provide ongoing encouragement and motivation. Our counselors help the candidate identify and select the military program of choice, and assist with all program inquires, and the complicated academy application forms and processes.

The Institute ensures that the candidate is fully qualified and that their application is complete and superior to others.

The Olympic Institute simply has found a niche and we are successfully filling it. Prior to contracting a client, we qualify them both academically and medically. We will not contract with a client that we know is not qualified. We do not turn away qualified candidates based on their ability to pay for our services and we work to meet the financial needs of all who contact us.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

What you can do? Talk with young people, especially women and minorities and when you find an interest, direct them to our website www.olympicinstitute.com. 

The Olympic Institute has set up a Question & Answer Help Desk with a toll free phone number.  Encourage your local high school to make these resources readily available to their students. Share the Institute’s resources with contacts you make in your Rotary Club sponsored youth programs.

In addition, we are offering our successful programs and services (College Counseling) to American business and industry as an integral part of their employee benefits program. We are prepared to present brown bag lunch presentations as well as our popular To Lead and To Serve Informational Seminars to employee groups.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this (morning, afternoon or evening).

By understanding the lack of effective secondary school College Counseling programs; realizing the Congressional Nomination system to the Academies needs immediate reform, and becoming aware of the challenges of Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting, hopefully you will now have a better appreciation of the enormity of the problem we all face and how the Mission and services of the Olympic Institute will continue to address these issues. 

The Olympic Institute believes that the future of our country is in peril if we are not able to convince the best and the brightest of our young men and women to answer the call to public service.

Thank you for listening today, we live in challenging and tumultuous times. May God continue to bless us all and God bless America.

If time permits, I would be happy to take any questions.

Back to top

Carson City Noon Rotary Club Speech, Nevada, 8/1/06

To Lead and To Serve:
One civilian’s analysis and critical review of 
US Military recruiting programs for Officer and Enlisted personnel in the 21^st Century

"Brian, thank you for taking the time to speak at our club. With regard to feedback, for the most part it was favorable. I think you touched on a sore spot with regard to the NJROTC program. I heard a few of the folks comment on the fact that we had a very successful program at Carson High School. I feel like the program was informative and as always, someone should be able to use the information to good use. Thanks again and good luck with your program."

Bret Andreas
Club President
Carson City Noon Rotary Club
Carson City, NV
 

Thank you Mr/Ms Chairperson, for your fine introduction and for the opportunity to be here with you today. I am currently on a 5 club speaking tour here in northern Nevada. I came earlier this week to attend the Nevada Association of Career and Technical Educators Summer Conference held at the Cal- Neva Resort.

I did not have to travel far to be with you today as my youngest son, Scott owns a condominium near the slopes of Heavenly Resort, and he is always encouraging his Mother and I to come and visit this beautiful area. It’s nice to have successful and gracious children.

First, let me say it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to an organization so interested and historically involved with our youth. I thank you for providing organizations, such as mine, the opportunity to tell our story and showcase what others and I believe is our important work on behalf of our children, their future and America.

In addition to your commitment to our youth, I am also personally appreciative as a Polio Survivor, Class of 1953 of your work to eradicate Polio worldwide. I encourage you to keep up the vital work.

Today, I would like to offer some prepared remarks in the following areas: the mission of the Olympic Institute and why I am committed to this mission, the current state of secondary school College and Career counseling programs, the need for immediate reform of the Congressional Nomination process, an overview of both Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting problems, and a discussion of Olympic Institute programs and services that are addressing these issues.  And finally, how might you help.    

THE MISSION OF THE OLYMPIC INSTITUTE

Our mission is to help prepare America's next generation of leaders and captains of industry. The Institute specializes in helping young people pursue careers of military or public service by obtaining Federal Service Academy appointments, or ROTC Scholarships to many public and private universities and colleges around the country.  I have worked for nearly a decade with over 50 aspiring candidates and recently put the finishing touches on my ninth academy class.

I consider myself to be a social entrepreneur and I got my start in this work as a neophyte parent with an aspiring candidate who wanted to attend one of the five Federal Service Academies in 1998.  When I started working on behalf of my son, I knew virtually nothing about the process and what I learned, I learned from trial and error and by getting through the process.  I found that it can be a daunting task. The system offered very little information, encouragement and assistance, or at least very little in a timely manner.

Scott accepted an appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy and did exceptionally well majoring in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation and rose to the top leadership ranks of the Academy.  In addition to a Bachelor of Science, Scott also graduated with a Coast Guard -Unlimited Tonnage Third Mates license.

For the last four years he has worked as a Merchant Ship Officer for Maersk Line Limited, navigating ships around the world and delivering cargo for the US Army. A Merchant Marine Academy graduate who chooses to sail on their Coast Guard license upon graduation can expect to earn a six figure salary.

I saw the great educational and career opportunities that were being made available to Scott at the Merchant Marine Academy. I never thought that this endeavor after four years of unpaid volunteer service would become a new vocation and passion inspired by my son, but it did and I am forever grateful.

THE CRISIS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL COUNSELING

Bill Gates believes that “America’s high schools are obsolete”. He also believes that we must concentrate on the NEW 3R’s, Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. I could not agree more.

Today’s high school counselors, on average, are responsible for 500 students. They in essence have become “Crisis Counselors” tasked with dealing with the social problems of their students, truancy, drugs, alcohol and pregnancy as well as domestic problems at home. Most high school counselors very much want to have more time to assist their students with college and career counseling, but there is simply not enough time in the day.

With budget and program cuts, staff reductions and the mandates of the No Child Left Behind law “average and above average” students are being left to fend for themselves in our country’s high schools.

THE NEED FOR REFORM OF THE CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATION PROCESS

It is important to understand that a student must first obtain a Congressional Nomination prior to applying to one of the five Federal Service Academies.  Close to 17,000 candidates were nominated by members of Congress for the class of 2007 at the Army, Navy and Air Force academies.  Nearly 60% were NOT academically, medically, and physically qualified to accept an appointment.  This is a waste of government resources, our tax dollars and more importantly it is a disservice to our young people.

When Congress developed the Congressional Nomination process it was their intent that all qualified young men and women from all walks of life have “equal access” to the Federal Service Academies.

The Nomination system, as it stands today, discriminates against qualified applicants who are medically, physically, and academically qualified to accept both the Congressional Nomination AND Appointment. Once a Nomination has been made to an “unqualified” candidate it has already potentially eliminated from consideration, a “qualified” candidate.

If you still believe that only “our best and brightest” are being admitted to our federal service academies I encourage you to read the book Annapolis Autumn written by Bruce Fleming, professor of English at the Naval Academy for two decades. Fleming who served on the Academy Admissions Committee points out, among other things, that clearly 50% of all midshipmen did not meet nor have to meet the academies academic standards.

A more comprehensive and unified recruiting strategy is required. The academies do a poor job of recruiting by sending out limited amounts of materials to high school counselors and by relying on candidates to figure out the system simply by reading their catalog. In addition, academy admissions representatives do not make personal contact with candidates until their senior year, if even then.

OFFICER / ENLISTED RECRUITING PROBLEMS

I believe that our country is being poorly served by a military establishment whose recruiting efforts for Enlisted and Officer Ranks is broken and will not serve our country well as we approach our fight against worldwide terrorism in the 21^st Century.

In research and published reports I saw some startling disclosures. Prior to the first Gulf War, 9% of Army recruits failed to meet academic standards, i.e. they were not at least a high school graduate and they had below standard military aptitude test scores upon enlistment.  Currently, that percentage has doubled to 18% of Army recruits.  In addition, many failed to meet Army physical fitness requirements.

The Department of Defense recently released statistics stating that 72% of our country’s youth between the ages of 17-24 are unfit for military service, i.e., they are physically, mentally, academically, or legally not eligible.  These statistics provide a glimpse of the unrelenting pressure on recruiters to meet their “quota” from a shrinking pool of qualified young people. 

The unpopularity of the war in Iraq has resulted in a “breach of trust” between the federal government and the Mom’s and Dad’s of our country that I believe will take 25- 30 years to repair. In the meantime, it will, in my professional opinion, become increasingly more difficult to raise a standing Army of the quality and the quantity that we will require to fight the long war on terrorism.

Perhaps more importantly is the deep disservice that is being done to our young men and women who know the military has been the traditional road to the “middle class.” Under these circumstances the poor and the disadvantaged have used the military to build skills, self esteem and earn money for college. They simply will miss this opportunity and our country will be less for that.

OILD PROGRAMS / SERVICES TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS

The programs and services of the Olympic Institute encourage academic preparation and academic excellence. We promote math, science and engineering as college majors.

We specialize in assisting young men and women who have either been told that they “may not be good enough to get in” or may think that “they could never get into one of those schools.” We specialize in assisting those who may need to find an alternative route, such as a prep school, to ultimately reach their goal successfully.

At the Olympic Institute we do not glorify the “bang, bang” of the military. We emphasize educational opportunities and career options and we promote public service in short, Leadership for a Lifetime. We encourage youngsters to be part of something bigger than themselves. We encourage them to understand that they can be competitive for these programs. We especially stress this to youngsters from rural communities where we have found some of our best candidates.

To maximize the chances of success, candidates need to prepare early on, ideally starting in the 9^th or 10^th grade. Our educational counselors handcraft strategies specifically tailored to their education and career goals and provide hands-on counseling, guidance and mentoring early in the high school educational process. Services include advice and counseling on goal setting, course selection and schedules, honors and advanced placement classes, athletics and extracurricular activities.

Our counselors monitor standardized testing, evaluate progress reports and report cards and provide ongoing encouragement and motivation. Our counselors help the candidate identify and select the military program of choice, and assist with all program inquires, and the complicated academy application forms and processes.

The Institute ensures that the candidate is fully qualified and that their application is complete and superior to others.

The Olympic Institute simply has found a niche and we are successfully filling it. Prior to contracting a client, we qualify them both academically and medically. We will not contract with a client that we know is not qualified. We do not turn away qualified candidates based on their ability to pay for our services and we work to meet the financial needs of all who contact us.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

What you can do? Talk with young people, especially women and minorities and when you find an interest, direct them to our website www.olympicinstitute.com. 

The Olympic Institute has set up a Question & Answer Help Desk with a toll free phone number.  Encourage your local high school to make these resources readily available to their students. Share the Institute’s resources with contacts you make in your Rotary Club sponsored youth programs.

In addition, we are offering our successful programs and services (College Counseling) to American business and industry as an integral part of their employee benefits program. We are prepared to present brown bag lunch presentations as well as our popular To Lead and To Serve Informational Seminars to employee groups.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this (morning, afternoon or evening).

By understanding the lack of effective secondary school College Counseling programs; realizing the Congressional Nomination system to the Academies needs immediate reform, and becoming aware of the challenges of Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting, hopefully you will now have a better appreciation of the enormity of the problem we all face and how the Mission and services of the Olympic Institute will continue to address these issues. 

The Olympic Institute believes that the future of our country is in peril if we are not able to convince the best and the brightest of our young men and women to answer the call to public service.

Thank you for listening today, we live in challenging and tumultuous times. May God continue to bless us all and God bless America.

If time permits, I would be happy to take any questions.

Back to top

Reno Centennial Sunset Rotary Club Speech, Nevada, 8/1/06

To Lead and To Serve:
One civilian’s analysis and critical review of 
US Military recruiting programs for Officer and Enlisted personnel in the 21^st Century
 

Thank you Mr/Ms Chairperson, for your fine introduction and for the opportunity to be here with you today. I am currently on a 5 club speaking tour here in northern Nevada. I came earlier this week to attend the Nevada Association of Career and Technical Educators Summer Conference held at the Cal- Neva Resort.

I did not have to travel far to be with you today as my youngest son, Scott owns a condominium near the slopes of Heavenly Resort, and he is always encouraging his Mother and I to come and visit this beautiful area. It’s nice to have successful and gracious children.

First, let me say it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to an organization so interested and historically involved with our youth. I thank you for providing organizations, such as mine, the opportunity to tell our story and showcase what others and I believe is our important work on behalf of our children, their future and America.

In addition to your commitment to our youth, I am also personally appreciative as a Polio Survivor, Class of 1953 of your work to eradicate Polio worldwide. I encourage you to keep up the vital work.

Today, I would like to offer some prepared remarks in the following areas: the mission of the Olympic Institute and why I am committed to this mission, the current state of secondary school College and Career counseling programs, the need for immediate reform of the Congressional Nomination process, an overview of both Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting problems, and a discussion of Olympic Institute programs and services that are addressing these issues.  And finally, how might you help.    

THE MISSION OF THE OLYMPIC INSTITUTE

Our mission is to help prepare America's next generation of leaders and captains of industry. The Institute specializes in helping young people pursue careers of military or public service by obtaining Federal Service Academy appointments, or ROTC Scholarships to many public and private universities and colleges around the country.  I have worked for nearly a decade with over 50 aspiring candidates and recently put the finishing touches on my ninth academy class.

I consider myself to be a social entrepreneur and I got my start in this work as a neophyte parent with an aspiring candidate who wanted to attend one of the five Federal Service Academies in 1998.  When I started working on behalf of my son, I knew virtually nothing about the process and what I learned, I learned from trial and error and by getting through the process.  I found that it can be a daunting task. The system offered very little information, encouragement and assistance, or at least very little in a timely manner.

Scott accepted an appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy and did exceptionally well majoring in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation and rose to the top leadership ranks of the Academy.  In addition to a Bachelor of Science, Scott also graduated with a Coast Guard -Unlimited Tonnage Third Mates license.

For the last four years he has worked as a Merchant Ship Officer for Maersk Line Limited, navigating ships around the world and delivering cargo for the US Army. A Merchant Marine Academy graduate who chooses to sail on their Coast Guard license upon graduation can expect to earn a six figure salary.

I saw the great educational and career opportunities that were being made available to Scott at the Merchant Marine Academy. I never thought that this endeavor after four years of unpaid volunteer service would become a new vocation and passion inspired by my son, but it did and I am forever grateful.

THE CRISIS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL COUNSELING

Bill Gates believes that “America’s high schools are obsolete”. He also believes that we must concentrate on the NEW 3R’s, Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. I could not agree more.

Today’s high school counselors, on average, are responsible for 500 students. They in essence have become “Crisis Counselors” tasked with dealing with the social problems of their students, truancy, drugs, alcohol and pregnancy as well as domestic problems at home. Most high school counselors very much want to have more time to assist their students with college and career counseling, but there is simply not enough time in the day.

With budget and program cuts, staff reductions and the mandates of the No Child Left Behind law “average and above average” students are being left to fend for themselves in our country’s high schools.

THE NEED FOR REFORM OF THE CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATION PROCESS

It is important to understand that a student must first obtain a Congressional Nomination prior to applying to one of the five Federal Service Academies.  Close to 17,000 candidates were nominated by members of Congress for the class of 2007 at the Army, Navy and Air Force academies.  Nearly 60% were NOT academically, medically, and physically qualified to accept an appointment.  This is a waste of government resources, our tax dollars and more importantly it is a disservice to our young people.

When Congress developed the Congressional Nomination process it was their intent that all qualified young men and women from all walks of life have “equal access” to the Federal Service Academies.

The Nomination system, as it stands today, discriminates against qualified applicants who are medically, physically, and academically qualified to accept both the Congressional Nomination AND Appointment. Once a Nomination has been made to an “unqualified” candidate it has already potentially eliminated from consideration, a “qualified” candidate.

If you still believe that only “our best and brightest” are being admitted to our federal service academies I encourage you to read the book Annapolis Autumn written by Bruce Fleming, professor of English at the Naval Academy for two decades. Fleming who served on the Academy Admissions Committee points out, among other things, that clearly 50% of all midshipmen did not meet nor have to meet the academies academic standards.

A more comprehensive and unified recruiting strategy is required. The academies do a poor job of recruiting by sending out limited amounts of materials to high school counselors and by relying on candidates to figure out the system simply by reading their catalog. In addition, academy admissions representatives do not make personal contact with candidates until their senior year, if even then.

OFFICER / ENLISTED RECRUITING PROBLEMS

I believe that our country is being poorly served by a military establishment whose recruiting efforts for Enlisted and Officer Ranks is broken and will not serve our country well as we approach our fight against worldwide terrorism in the 21^st Century.

In research and published reports I saw some startling disclosures. Prior to the first Gulf War, 9% of Army recruits failed to meet academic standards, i.e. they were not at least a high school graduate and they had below standard military aptitude test scores upon enlistment.  Currently, that percentage has doubled to 18% of Army recruits.  In addition, many failed to meet Army physical fitness requirements.

The Department of Defense recently released statistics stating that 72% of our country’s youth between the ages of 17-24 are unfit for military service, i.e., they are physically, mentally, academically, or legally not eligible.  These statistics provide a glimpse of the unrelenting pressure on recruiters to meet their “quota” from a shrinking pool of qualified young people. 

The unpopularity of the war in Iraq has resulted in a “breach of trust” between the federal government and the Mom’s and Dad’s of our country that I believe will take 25- 30 years to repair. In the meantime, it will, in my professional opinion, become increasingly more difficult to raise a standing Army of the quality and the quantity that we will require to fight the long war on terrorism.

Perhaps more importantly is the deep disservice that is being done to our young men and women who know the military has been the traditional road to the “middle class.” Under these circumstances the poor and the disadvantaged have used the military to build skills, self esteem and earn money for college. They simply will miss this opportunity and our country will be less for that.

OILD PROGRAMS / SERVICES TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS

The programs and services of the Olympic Institute encourage academic preparation and academic excellence. We promote math, science and engineering as college majors.

We specialize in assisting young men and women who have either been told that they “may not be good enough to get in” or may think that “they could never get into one of those schools.” We specialize in assisting those who may need to find an alternative route, such as a prep school, to ultimately reach their goal successfully.

At the Olympic Institute we do not glorify the “bang, bang” of the military. We emphasize educational opportunities and career options and we promote public service in short, Leadership for a Lifetime. We encourage youngsters to be part of something bigger than themselves. We encourage them to understand that they can be competitive for these programs. We especially stress this to youngsters from rural communities where we have found some of our best candidates.

To maximize the chances of success, candidates need to prepare early on, ideally starting in the 9^th or 10^th grade. Our educational counselors handcraft strategies specifically tailored to their education and career goals and provide hands-on counseling, guidance and mentoring early in the high school educational process. Services include advice and counseling on goal setting, course selection and schedules, honors and advanced placement classes, athletics and extracurricular activities.

Our counselors monitor standardized testing, evaluate progress reports and report cards and provide ongoing encouragement and motivation. Our counselors help the candidate identify and select the military program of choice, and assist with all program inquires, and the complicated academy application forms and processes.

The Institute ensures that the candidate is fully qualified and that their application is complete and superior to others.

The Olympic Institute simply has found a niche and we are successfully filling it. Prior to contracting a client, we qualify them both academically and medically. We will not contract with a client that we know is not qualified. We do not turn away qualified candidates based on their ability to pay for our services and we work to meet the financial needs of all who contact us.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

What you can do? Talk with young people, especially women and minorities and when you find an interest, direct them to our website www.olympicinstitute.com. 

The Olympic Institute has set up a Question & Answer Help Desk with a toll free phone number.  Encourage your local high school to make these resources readily available to their students. Share the Institute’s resources with contacts you make in your Rotary Club sponsored youth programs.

In addition, we are offering our successful programs and services (College Counseling) to American business and industry as an integral part of their employee benefits program. We are prepared to present brown bag lunch presentations as well as our popular To Lead and To Serve Informational Seminars to employee groups.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this (morning, afternoon or evening).

By understanding the lack of effective secondary school College Counseling programs; realizing the Congressional Nomination system to the Academies needs immediate reform, and becoming aware of the challenges of Enlisted and Officer Select recruiting, hopefully you will now have a better appreciation of the enormity of the problem we all face and how the Mission and services of the Olympic Institute will continue to address these issues. 

The Olympic Institute believes that the future of our country is in peril if we are not able to convince the best and the brightest of our young men and women to answer the call to public service.

Thank you for listening today, we live in challenging and tumultuous times. May God continue to bless us all and God bless America.

If time permits, I would be happy to take any questions.

Back to top