Senate Approves Bill Providing for Valley Forge Appointments

Sen. Mensch's legislation creates selection process for military academy/college

The Senate today approved Senate Bill 560, legislation introduced by Senator Bob Mensch (R-24) creating a new program for legislative appointments to the Valley Forge Military Academy & College (VFMA&C).

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

"Valley Forge has a long tradition of providing character-based education within an academic and military environment," said Senator Mensch, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. "The institute provides the training and discipline that builds a solid foundation enabling young men and women to be successful in a wide variety of career paths. Its students have gone on to become military leaders, business and industry executives, government officials, professional athletes Rhoades Scholars and White House Fellows."

VFMA&C is a two-year, transfer program from which almost all students move on to four-year colleges and universities. Valley Forge is also the only institution in the Northeastern United States offering an Early Commissioning Program, which allows successful candidates to earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army in two years rather than the standard four years through ROTC programs at other colleges and universities.

The State Military College Legislative Appointment Initiative Program created under Senate Bill 560 would allow each member of the legislature to create a selection committee to recommend an eligible student for enrollment at Valley Forge. The State Ethics Commission would be charged with developing guidelines to govern the establishment and functions of the selection committee in order to prevent conflicts of interests or other potential ethics violations.

"The House of Representatives adopted a Resolution last session which allows each member of the House to appoint a qualified constituent to the freshman class at Valley Forge each year and they are eligible to receive a scholarship funded entirely by the institution," Senator Mensch said. "My legislation builds on that by providing for the selection process in statute and allowing for an appointment by every member of the General Assembly."