Arun Madhavan is only one of the few people from Naperville Central who are trying to pursue an education in the armed forces after high school.

Madhavan is currently going through a long and strenuous application process trying to get into The United States Air Force Academy.

“Well, first I had to send an initial application to the academy itself,” Madhavan said.  “When I did this, Congressman Bill Foster’s review board took notice and sent me an application to receive a nomination from him, as I would need one in order to complete the application to any service academy.”

After completing an application and going through an interview, Madhavan became one of the 17 students from the Illinois 11th Congressional district to have earned a nomination to one or more of the prestigious service academies.

From a very young age, Madhavan has had huge respect for the men and women in the armed forces.  At first he wanted to join the Marines but after receiving good grades throughout high school and a high ACT score, Madhavan decided to use his education and try to become an officer in the Air Force.

“I knew the Air Force would’ve been my second option after the [Marine] Corps, so I did my research and decided that the best way to go about this would be to apply to the Air Force Academy,” Madhavan said.  “Don’t get me wrong though, I still have high respect for the grunts and the Marines, as they are the ones who inspired me to join in the first place.”

Other than serving his country, there were other reasons for why Madhavan decided to join a military academy rather than going to a normal university.  One was that all cadets from service academies are guaranteed a job upon graduation.

Madhavan is well aware that he will be missing the regular college experience by joining The Air Force Academy and will have to make many sacrifices in the following years, but he feels that this is what will set him aside from all of his other classmates at Central.

“While all my friends are partying, I’ll be up until midnight doing homework after hours of athletic practice,” Madhavan said.  “Also, I’ll be taking 18 credit hours every semester while the rest of [my classmates] are only taking 15 or something.”

Although Madhavan has not yet been accepted into the academy, he still plans on joining the military if he is deferred.  He does not plan to take no for an answer.

“If I don’t get accepted, I will be an Air Force officer someday,” Madhavan said.  “Also, let’s hope I do get in, because if I do, my parents can then use the money they saved for my college tuition for my little sister, so that, when she comes of age, she’ll have the money my parents save for her plus mine.  That’s one of the biggest reasons I’m applying.”

Madhavan wants more than anything to be accepted into The United States Air Force Academy, not only for himself but also for his sister and family.  He will receive the final decision sometime in early April.