Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he has been informed that Cadet Candidate Fa’aolataga Pulou has successfully completed the course requirements at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) and will, upon his graduation in May, receive an offer of appointment to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

“I am very pleased to learn about Fa’aolataga Pulou’s success at the USMAPS,” Faleomavaega said.  “I commend him for his hard work, desire and determination that has now earned him an opportunity to gain admittance to West Point and subsequently achieve his ultimate goal to become a leader, serving as an officer in the U.S. Armed Forces.”

Fa’aolataga Pulou is the son of Mr. Fereti Pulou and Mrs. Folauiula Pulou of Faga’itua, American Samoa.  He graduated from Kanana Fou High School in 2008 and was named Salutatorian of his graduating class.  He was also a Prefect and a member of the National Honor Society.  Upon enlisting in the U.S. Army, Pulou was assigned to C/126th Financial Management Company at Fort Riley, Kansas where he served as a Finance Technician.  Despite his youth, Pulou is a veteran of the Afghanistan war where he was awarded the Combat Action Badge.

The United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) located at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, prepares and trains selected personnel to successfully compete for appointments to West Point.  The USMAPS emphasizes instruction in mathematics and English.  The academic program readies the candidate for the standardized tests required for admission to West Point, and improves the candidate’s ability to meet the Military Academy’s rigid academic course load.

“Obtaining an appointment to a U.S. service academy is no easy feat and I congratulate Cadet Candidate Pulou as well as his parents and teachers for his success.  As he has proved at USMAPS, I have every confidence that Fa’aolataga Pulou has the academic and physical ability to succeed at West Point and I wish him the best of luck” Faleomavaega concluded.