West Point graduate goes on to med school
Andrew Salomon earns commission as second lieutenant
BY ERIN O. STATTEL
Correspondent

Andrew Salomin

MARLBORO - Andrew Salomon, 22, recently completed his training and undergraduate education at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., graduating as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and is now looking forward to attending medical school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Salomon, a Marlboro High School alum, graduated from West Point last month with many honors and awards, including the Distinguished Cadet Award, a mark of academic excellence. Academics were part of what attracted Salomon to the military academy.

"I like challenges," said Salomon, who majored in chemical engineering. "It is important that I always test myself and at the academy everyone is working hard to achieve something."

Salomon is no stranger to hard work and excellence. While attending Marlboro High School he was a key member of the Mustangs' track and field team, and he graduated in the top percentage of his class, as most West Point applicants do.

"Andrew has always been structured and a good student," said Salomon's mother Gessie, a licensed nurse. "We never had to tell him to do his homework. He always just did what he was told."

"I never doubted this working out for him," said Salomon's father, Hendrick, a local real estate agent.

Salomon's family has a military background on his father's side, serving while living in Haiti.

When asked why he chose being a military doctor over working as a civilian, Salomon cited the prospect of adventure as a motivator.

"It just seems more interesting," he said. "I could be flying in and out of war zones in helicopters or be the only medic on the ground."

Salomon has already started his international experience, visiting Korea for hands-on work training with the army. With last year's overseas experience under his belt, Salomon hopes to conduct his residency in different places.

"I most likely will be placed at Walter Reed (Army Medical Center), but the military has hospitals all over," Salomon explained. "I might be able to go to Hawaii or Germany."

Travel is important to Salomon. He even smiled at the mention of going to Iraq.

"If all of my classmates are being sent over, why wouldn't I want to go?" he said. "I definitely want to go overseas and see the world."

Salomon is evidence of the mission of the U.S. Military Academy. The academy strives to educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of duty, honor and country, and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U.S. Army, according to a press release from West Point.

Leadership was among Salomon's favorite aspects of West Point.

"Becoming a leader was one of the best parts of attending West Point," he said. "As a squad leader I was a role model and had an impact on the way people developed."

Salomon also served as a cadet captain and a battalion commander for his company.

West Point provided Salomon with role models who instilled a deep focus in the second lieutenant.

"The army forces you to live a certain lifestyle," Salomon explained. "You can't just call out sick. The preparation they give you makes you really want to get out there."

Salomon hopes to spread the good word about West Point and encourage others to find their own potential within.

"It's hard work," he said, "but like anything that's hard in life, it's worth fighting for."