“Voice to the Nation: Zealously protect your right to serve in the armed forces, for without them there will be no other rights to protect.”
– John F. Kennedy
On the path he has dreamed of since eighth grade, Xander Bolner will soon face the “Beast”.
As he begins basic cadet training, otherwise known as “Beast,” at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Bolner will join an elite group comprising the Class of 2026.
On the west bank of the Hudson River, 50 miles north of New York City, West Point is one of America’s oldest service academies training cadets for commissioning into the U.S. military.
Of the approximately 13,000 to 15,000 applicants each year, only about 1,200 are accepted.
Bolner said he was thrilled to be one of them.
“Since I was a young child, I knew I wanted to be in the military, but also get an education,” he said.
Exposed to military service most of his life, Bolner said he is continuing in his parents’ footsteps as he begins training this summer.
Bolner’s mother, Kristi Kelly-Bolner, served two years in the Navy and holds the rank of Petty Officer Third Class (E-4).
Her father, Christopher Bolner, retired from the Army as a Sergeant First Class (E-7) with 15 years of service.
A wounded warrior, he served in the Special Forces as a Tabbed Ranger, deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and earned the Star of bronze and other honours.
Spending the first few years of his life in Kentucky, Bolner and his parents and sister, Kya, moved to Kingfisher when he was in third grade to be near his mother’s family while his father was deployed. he declared.
The lengthy process of applying for entry to West Point includes providing high school transcripts, college entrance exam results, medical examination, physical fitness assessment, written applicant statement, appointment letters and an interview.
Unique to service academies, each nominee must receive a nomination, either congressional or service-related, to be considered for acceptance.
Bolner’s candidacy included both nominations – one from Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas (District 3) and another in conjunction with his father’s military service.
In his declaration of candidacy, Bolner said that when he first started wanting to attend a service academy, specifically West Point, his father had returned after being wounded in action in Afghanistan.
“I want to attend the service academy because I want to be of service to my country, even if it means giving life and blood, because the most important sacrifice you can make to your country is that of death it -even,” he said.
A 2022 graduate of Kingfisher High School, Bolner has been involved in acting and a variety of sports including basketball, wrestling, cross country and track, but said he particularly developed a love for football and was captain of the team.
Bolner traveled to Spain and England as a member of an International Football League team and was invited to travel to Australia with the athletics team, but the pandemic intervened in this adventure, did he declare.
Also experienced in leadership roles, Bolner said he attended the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Cadet Lawman Academy and was a boys’ state delegate.
“Quiet until it warms up,” KHS English and drama teacher TJ Harris said of Bolner.
“Xander readily contributes to class discussions and works well with others.
“He is good at quickly evaluating and solving problems and equations, enjoys challenging work, and strives to be stronger, smarter, and better at whatever physical or mental task he sets his sights on.”
Accepted to play on the West Point football team and possibly the track and field team, Bolner plans to pursue a life sciences/premedicine degree at West Point, with the ultimate goal of becoming a veterinarian specializing in neurosurgery.
Upon completion of his education and military training, Bolner would earn a bachelor’s degree and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army.
Bolner identified his mother and his girlfriend as his biggest supporters.
“They’ve always been there for me and I know my parents are proud…and probably a little scared.”
Excited to start, Bolner said he feels ready, but “probably won’t” and knows there will be ups and downs.
“My interest in the academy is that I don’t just get a good education,” he added. “But I can serve my country to the best of my ability by being an officer graduating from one of the most outstanding schools on the planet.”
