TIFTON — Many young men and women dream of a career in the military. But what many don’t know is that they have a path to be appointed to a service academy.

The U.S. Navy’s J.D. Bengston, a Tift County High graduate, came home for a few days last week to talk to several high school groups about how they can achieve what he is currently doing.

Bengston is involved with “Op Info,” short for Operations Info, to “Teach more kids who probably don’t know about the (United States Naval) Academy in areas it’s not very publicized.”

This is a prime area to spread the information. Bengston himself admits he was not very familiar with the Naval Academy until he began drawing interest from them about football. Football was one of many sports Bengston excelled in as a Blue Devil.

“I was like, ‘Wow, what an opportunity,’” said Bengston once he learned what the Academy could do for him.

Once he finishes schooling, Bengston has five years of service ahead of him. “It’s definitely worth it,” he said. Graduating from a service academy opens doors that few can match. “Anybody in the job force is going to be looking for those people who have that leadership experience you automatically get once you start working in the fleet.”

He’s also meeting people he would never meet elsewhere and learning about different cultures. One of Bengston’s best friends is in the Naval Academy through an exchange program with another country.

Bengston was still waiting to hear about his deployment. He said he prefer a surface warfare ship, but he’s definitely ready to lead his fellow sailors and see the world. Bengston has already spent time traveling up the east coast, visiting various bases.

Southern Georgia can contribute plenty to the Naval Academy, he said. “I believe there is a lot of great untapped talent here,” Bengston said, with plenty of hard-working individuals who may not otherwise know where to apply their talents. Or they might not be able to afford further schooling.

In exchange for the commitment, schooling at the Naval Academy is free, said Bengston. “It’s very challenging, but it is something that is extremely rewarding.”

Acceptance into a service academy is a dedication of its own, he said. A potential enrollee must have a letter of recommendation from a congressperson or senator. In Bengston’s case, it was Rep. Austin Scott, who he has been “a great mentor for me.”

Admissions information on the Naval Academy’s website further said any potential applicant must be between the ages of 17-23, unmarried, have no dependents and is a United States citizen.

The Naval Academy is looking for “people who want to put themselves in hard situations in leadership positions,” said Bengston. For that, he suggests having a diverse high school experience of activities, groups and/or athletics. “They want a good balance,” he said, adding students need to “handle their schoolwork as much as possible.”

He said students might want to take at least the SAT a few times to get as good a score as possible.

Bengston said for those interested, there are summer seminar and summer STEM programs. Anyone up to a rising senior can attend. “They give you a better understanding of the Naval Academy,” he said, with training in academics and athletics. Those not old enough to apply for the Naval Academy can still take part in the summer programs.

Bengston said the initial spark for a military career came through football. The summer before his senior year, then-Blue Devils head coach Ashley Anders took Bengston and three others to a camp at Army in West Point.

“That was a big part,” he said of his thoughts for a service academy. Instead of the Army, the Navy stuck out more for Bengston. Annapolis, Maryland, is a great city, he said. “Navy seemed like the best fit for me.”

Going to the Naval Academy allowed him to stay on the east coast, which makes it easier for family visits. That includes with his twin brother, Beau, who is a swimmer at UMass.

Bengston participated in nearly every sport at Tift County High, but found a new one at Navy: Rugby. While having no history in the sport in Tifton, he has risen to be team captain in Annapolis.

It has been a challenge for Bengston not to just to learn the sport, but earn the respect of his peers who have more of a background in it. He challenged himself to work hard to reach their level and prove himself capable of leading them, very Naval Academy behavior.

Back home was a busy few days. Bengston said he was to speak to baseball, football, tennis and swim teams at Tift, as well as make a visit to Lowndes High, where Ashley Anders is currently an assistant coach.