Rick and Sandy Kolano were absolutely shocked when their son Bryon came home in 10th grade and told them he wanted to go to West Point.
‘We looked at him like ‘what??? said Sandy. ‘We couldn’t believe that was what he wanted to do, there was no one in our family who was currently active in the military, and we had no idea where that came from.?
However, getting into the United States Military Academy involves more than just filling out an application. Students must get a recommendation from a U.S. senator or representative.
‘Without the nomination, you’re not going to go any further. You need that for even the academies to consider you,? said Sandy. ‘Most kids fill out a college application, which is one or two pages, with maybe a couple essays. Bryon must have written 15 essays and the application took days to fill out.?
Bryon received a nomination from Congressman Dale Kildee. About 13,000 men and women apply to West Point, 3,500 get a nomination, and 1,200 get in, she noted.
‘They (West Point) want three things, academics, leadership, and physical ability,? said Sandy. ‘They’re making these men and women officers, so they want them to be well rounded.?
In February 2003, Bryon got his ‘appointment,? or acceptance, to West Point. Two weeks after Bryon’s graduation from Clarkston High School, he was off to New York for basic training.
‘We had no contact with him, we were allowed to write letters, but they were really cutting the apron strings,? Sandy said. ‘There was no e-mail, no phone, no anything because they wanted to see if the kids could make it without their parents.?
After academy training started in September, Bryon majored in Economics. At West Point, students have seven classes a semester, four academic and three military. If they are not on a sports team, they are required to play intramurals, said Sandy.
First-year students have no privileges, and are only allowed to leave at holidays.
‘As a senior, you are called a ‘firsty.? Privileges include leaving campus to go to town, going away for the night then back the next day or just passes to leave to go home,? she said. ‘They train during the summers, so they never come home like a normal college kid.?
Since receiving his Bachelor’s degree, he was assigned to 3 Battalion, 4 Aviation Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas, where his wife resides. Bryon was deployed to Iraq on June 17, where he will serve 15 months.
‘When he first started going there (to West Point), the moment I dreaded then, has occurred now. I knew when he went there that this day was coming, he was going to Iraq and now he’s there,? said Sandy. ‘You were kind of hoping, as the years went on, maybe the war would be over and our troops wouldn’t be there, but realistically, I really thought he would go.?
However, they are able to communicate by phone and e-mail.
‘Bryon tries to call at least once a week,? she said. ‘Every time you’re on your e-mail, you’re looking for a message.?
As a 2nd lieutenant intelligence officer for the aviation brigade, Bryon is in somewhat a ‘safe zone,? noted Sandy.
‘Fortunately for me, he’s not in the infantry, he’s not being shot at, he’s not out in the heat all day long,? said Sandy. ‘Where he’s at, there is air conditioning, he’s in a building and in that sense, that is a relief for me.?
However, she still worries because Bryon is in Iraq. She understands he is doing his job, but wants nothing more than him to return home.
‘There are a bunch of other things, but that’s the main thing,? she said. ‘It would be great if they all came home.?
In high school, Bryon ran track, was in National Honors Society and stage crew for musicals, and started a Military History Club
‘So he did show an interest,? she said. ‘Both of his grandfathers were in the military as well.?
Bryon has a younger brother, Brad, who is studying psychology as a junior at the University of Michigan.
Prior to going to West Point, Bryon was accepted to Purdue University where he was going to join the Reserve Officers? Training Corps program.
Despite the fear of her son being in the military and at war, Sandy said she is proud of the young man Bryon has become and all of his accomplishments.
‘Just watching all those men and women graduate and just knowing all they went through to get to that point and also to know what they were going on to do, I’m proud they graduated from such a great academy, but proud because they’re going to serve their country,? she said.
‘I love this country. I think the United States is the greatest country in the world. For him to serve our country, how can you not be proud??