Local student fulfilling military dream

For years, sixth-grade Libby Elementary teacher Shannon Ostrowski has tucked away students’ writings and assignments she thinks might be interesting to pull out in the future to share with them. One such assignment is dated Nov. 7, 2008.

That year Ostrowski had a student who constantly told her he was going to the United States Naval Academy. To get the young boy acquainted with what it takes to get into the academy she had him write a one-page paper explaining the requirements to attend the school with admission rates on par with Ivy League schools.

Written in cursive with a fighter-jet drawn on the bottom of the page, the student outlines the grades, community service, and extra-curricular activities necessary to be considered for the academy.

After getting his principal nomination to the Naval Academy from Senator Steve Daines, Ostrowski’s student who wrote the letter mentioned above, Andrew Obst, is almost guaranteed his appointment into the academy. However, Obst will get his official appointment to the Academy at Flathead High’s commencement on June 5 when an officer will personally present it to him.

Obst said it was always a dream, albeit a superficial one for many years, to attend the academy. He remembers the assignment Ostrowski gave him in sixth grade. “It got me looking into it, it got me on track. But then the ideals of the academy aligned with my dreams as I got older,” Obst said.

Integrity was the most important ideal that resonated with Obst. “Places like West Point and the Naval Academy are more than just places where students are educated, they teach you to be a leader. They teach skills we’re going to need more and more in our communities,” Obst said.

Even though Obst moved to Kalispell with his father, Jon Obst, in seventh grade, they both consider Libby their extended home. The father and son remain active with the David Thompson Search and Rescue, where Jon was president at one point.

The work Andrew Obst put in with search and rescue made him a desirable candidate for any of the military academies. He received nominations to the Naval Academy, West Point and the Merchant Marines.

David Thompson Mountain Unit leader Terry Crooks said Andrew Obst excelled in swift water rescue. “In swift water rescue you’ve got to be around people you trust and are highly competent. You could always count on Andrew,” Crooks said, “He’s a great guy who’s clear-minded and focused. He’s not reckless, but he’s never intimidated.”

Crooks said it’s a tribute to Andrew Obst and his family that he is willing to give his talents to our country.

Jon Obst said it was neat to see his son get locked in on his goal to get into the academy, staying with it all the way through. “I’m just proud of him for sticking with it, he works really hard,” he said. Andrew Obst’s decision to get everything in order for the academy started his junior year. “That’s when you have to start submitting your paperwork and getting in your application,” Jon Obst said.

During his formative years in Libby, Andrew Obst could sense the community support for the military. That influence, along with encouragement from local residents Ron Webb and Terry Holthouse, gave Andrew an awareness of how the military could be a promising career path.

Ostrowski remembers Andrew Obst as a headstrong sixth-grader. “Not bad stubborn, but when he stuck his head to something, he saw it through,” she said. “He was also very polite, a yes ma’am and no ma’am student.”

After moving to Kalispell, Andrew would take time to visit Ostrowski when he came to town to compete in track or other activities. He said his teachers from Libby would also follow up on his progress growing up in Kalispell. “It’s a motivational force, they’re still in your corner and when you say your going to do well you’ve got to prove it,” he said.

By his junior year it became apparent Andrew Obst would have to drop one of the sports he loved so he could prepare for his college entrance examinations and maintain a 3.8 grade-point average. So he cleared wrestling from his plate.

Helping to get Andrew up to par on his math skills for the tests was Flathead High School math teacher Ken Veasey. Veasey spent lunches and time after school tutoring Andrew. By being allowed to take the tests several times and keeping the highest results, Andrew achieved high enough scores to become eligible for admission into the academy.

Another necessity is to receive a nomination from a United States senator. Andrew Obst garnered nominations from Senators Steve Daines, Jon Tester and John Walsh to the Naval Academy and West Point, with an additional nomination from Tester for the Merchant Marines.

Andrew was Senator Daines’ principal nomination for the Naval Academy, which guaranteed Andrew an offer of appointment, as long as he met admissions requirements from the academy. Daines receives dozens of applications every year, with all students who apply getting interviewed by a board comprised of Montanans who have attended service academies. Andrew Obst said the approach is challenging, but probably yields the best result for the academies.  

“It’s so important that we have a rigorous process so we’re nominating the very best candidates,” Daines said. “The board looked at a number of factors and Andrew checked the box in every category.”

The highlight for Daines is when he gets to pick-up the phone and call the applicants directly to tell them they are officially accepted into an academy. “Montana has a legacy of producing great leaders for our nation,” Daines said. “They’ve earned this, it’s not about who they know, but what they’ve done.”

Andrew Obst will attend Plebe Summer at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., for a six-week indoctrination in July to get acquainted with the ideals of the military. Jon Obst will join his son. “Not to interfere with him, but so I understand where he’s at and what’s going on,” he said.

Andrew Obst thinks there is room to improve the United States military. “What I see is we have the best political system and military in the world, but it can always be better,” he said. He strives to help make those changes a reality by becoming an officer and working to create positive advancements.

His appointment to the Naval Academy makes Andrew Obst proud, and a little self-conscious. He also feels indebted to all those who helped get him to this point in his life. Everyone has been telling Andrew Obst that he’s a good kid for choosing the military path and he’s been agreeing. “I’ve been doing a lot of talking and now it’s time to start doing the things I’ve been telling people I was going to do,” he said.