LOCAL COMPLETES BASIC TRAINING AT WEST POINT

LOCAL RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, call Bill Roth, 408-876-0111, bill.roth@gmail.comHEADLINE: LOCAL COMPLETES BASIC TRAINING August - 2009WEST POINT, N.Y. – Cadet Cody David Ikkala, who attended Broomfield High School, completed Cadet Basic Training at the U.S. Military Academy. He entered West Point on June 29 and has successfully completed six weeks of CBT. Also referred to as "Beast Barracks," CBT is one of the most challenging events a cadet will encounter over the course of their four years at the academy.The initial military training program provides cadets with basic skills to instill discipline, pride, cohesion, confidence and a high sense of duty to prepare them for entry into the Corps of Cadets.Areas of summer instruction included first aid, mountaineering, hand grenades, rifle marksmanship and nuclear, biological, and chemical training.Ikkala began classes Aug. 17.The West Point curriculum offers 45 majors balancing physical sciences and engineering with humanities and social sciences leading to a Bachelor of Science degree and was recently named the top college in the country by Forbes Magazine.Ikkala, who attended Broomfield High School from 2003-2006, plans to graduate from West Point in 2013 and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.The mission of the U.S. Military Academy is 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, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army."We're all so proud of Cody," said Christine Ikkala, Cody's mother. "Being at West Point and playing Division 1 hockey is such an honor for him and reflects all his hard work."Ikkala was nominated to the service academy by Vice President Joe Biden.