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Four New Lithuanian Cadets at U.S. Service Academies Will Be Congratulated by a Visiting Group of Current USMA West Point Cadets

7 June 2005

Media event:

Wednesday, 8 June 2005, 6 p.m., the Ambassador’s Residence (Birutes 14, Vilnius).

Registration required.  Please call (370-5) 2660330 or e-mail litevkaitea@state.gov .

Camera Highlight:  Nine U.S. Army Cadets in full uniform will greet their new Lithuanian classmates.  

U.S. Ambassador Stephen Mull will congratulate and present certificates of appointment to four young Lithuanians to attend two different United States Military Academies. The new Lithuanian cadets will also be congratulated by a visiting group of current West Point Cadets.

The four newly accepted Lithuanians were selected from a number of other competing young people in Lithuania as well as thousands of international applicants who sought admission to the prestigious U.S. Military Academies.  They include two cadets in the class of 2009 at the United States Military Academy at West Point - Edgaras Varnelis and Arturas Vanagas; and two midshipmen in the class of 2009 at the United States Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut - Tomas Mameniskis and Tomas Naujokaitis.  All four will be departing for the United States within the next weeks.  

The four will join other Lithuanians that are currently attending all four US Service Academies. There are several Lithuanians serving in the Lithuanian Armed Forces who received Commissions from the US Service Academies over the last 5 years.   The appointments to study in the USA come with a five-year service obligation to their country upon graduation.  

The U.S. places a $200,000 value on the four-year training programs for Cadets and Midshipmen in order to grant them a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.  In addition to academic training the young people compete as members on the Service Academy athletic teams, during the summer months they participate in military training exercises, travel to other countries and participate in various international programs.  In September of 2005 the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense and the United States Embassy will announce application and enrollment procedures for prospective candidates.  

Some Facts about the Newly Accepted Cadets and Midshipmen:

Edgaras Varnelis – from Vilnius, a graduate of Vilnius Lyceum
Arturas Vanagas – First year student at the Lithuanian Military Academy, a graduate of Klaipeda Zemyna Gymnasium
Tomas Mameniskis - First year student at the Lithuanian Military Academy, a graduate of Anyksciai A. Vienuolis Gymnasium
Tomas Naujokaitis – Second year student at the Lithuanian Military Academy, a graduate of Kaunas J. Basanavicius Secondary School