Pasadena Resident Attends The U.S. Military Academy

A former student of Archbishop Curley High School is attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, commonly known as West Point.

Parker Boomer was inspired to join the military by his family and adult role models, especially his father, Jeff Boomer, and his grandfather, Jerry Castle.

“They both told me their one biggest regret was not joining the military,” Parker Boomer said. “I didn’t want to regret the same thing.”

He decided to attend a military academy after high school and could have stayed local at the U.S. Naval Academy. Instead, he chose to attend the Navy’s biggest rival, West Point.

“I want to get away [from] the culture I knew really well and go into a new atmosphere and meet new people,” Boomer said.

After making the decision to go to West Point, Boomer had to fulfill the application requirements to attend a military academy. One of the major requirements for all military academies is to receive a nomination from someone in Congress, either from the House of Representatives or the Senate. Boomer said he received his former nomination from Congressman Anthony Brown.

Another reason Boomer chose to attend West Point is the opportunities available after he graduates. The Army has 16 branches that he could potentially commission into, while the Navy offers only three options for their academy graduates.

Before his first day of academic classes at West Point, Boomer had to go through a six-week program called cadet basic training, informally known as Beast Barracks.

“Going through Beast helped me grow as a person,” Boomer said. “It was physically and mentally taxing, and gave me a sense of pride and self-confidence that I completed it.”

Cadet basic training (CBT) is an important program for first-year cadets, as it helps them prepare for their experience at West Point, and helps transition the new class from civilian to a military environment, according to West Point’s website. After going through CBT, the new class was officially recognized as first-year cadets, also called Plebes, at the academy.

As he continues his first year at West Point, Boomer said he is excited about the upcoming Army-Navy football game on December 14 in Philadelphia and Plebe-Parent Weekend, which is in March.

Plebe-Parent Weekend is when parents, family, and friends can come and visit West Point and their cadet. They have the opportunity to meet the instructors, and see the living space and other places that are restricted to the public. In addition, Plebes are allowed extended time to be with their family members during this weekend.

“I miss my family and can’t wait to share my experience with them,” Boomer said.

Boomer is deciding between engineering or mathematics as his major at West Point.