Hopewell, NJ resident Ben Markulec is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at the Virginia Military Institute. While at Hopewell Valley Central High School in NJ, Ben Markulec completed the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) summer program in 2017 at the USCG Academy.

AIM is a summer program that runs for one week and is limited to high school students entering their senior year. Students are exposed to life at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the program is considered the most realist summer orientation program among the service academies. There are six non-stop days of activities that push the participants to their limits and see first hand if the academy life is what they want from college.

Students experience leadership development, physical training, and military discipline. A day begins at 6:00 a.m. with reveille, exercise, classes, and other activities until lights out at 10:00 p.m. A typical week includes a ship or aircraft tour, exploring a ship simulator, shooting range practice, sailing, and an indoctrination test. For further information about AIM, visit www.uscga.edu/aim/.