Franklin student perseveres after setback to become a West Point cadet

But the 20-year-old was first denied a slot at West Point. So, after earning a four-year campus scholarship at University of Dayton’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps , Rinehart worked to raise his ACT scores and was accepted to the academy on his second try, said mother Lisa Rinehart.

He is one of 1,300 in the new cadet class, said Jim Fox, West Point media relations specialist. The upcoming Acceptance Day Parade symbolizes how cadets pass training and become the plebe class, said Fox.

“They’re not new cadets, they’re part of the Corps now,” Fox said.

Watching Jared become part of the Corps will be parents Lisa and Carlo of Hemlock Street and siblings Jacob and Rachel. Lisa Rinehart also said he’s considering a foreign languages major in Russian and Arabic and would like to join the special forces, possibly pursuing a military career.

Meanwhile, the Franklin High School graduate has a full ride. “[He] just made us exceptionally proud all the way through school,” Lisa Rinehart said.

In fact, Jared Rinehart proved himself academically, physically and as a leader when he was a first-year cadet at UD, said retired Maj. Alton Womack, an Army ROTC recruiting officer. When he was initially denied, he received a four-year campus based scholarship through ROTC, the largest commissioning source for Army officers, said Womack, who recruited Rinehart.

“From the whole person concept, he presented himself as someone who would do well as a cadet at West Point,” Womack said.

Lt. Col. Chuck Schretzman, UD professor of military science, wrote one of Rinehart’s recommendations.

“Definitely lives the Army values. He definitely was a stellar cadet,” said Schretzman, who graduated from West Point in 1989. “I would trust my son with him,” he said.

Upon graduation, Rinehart will have a minimum five year active duty obligation, Fox said. West Point’s acceptance rate is about 11 percent. And alumni include Generals Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower and David Petraeus.

Contact this reporter at (513) 205-2507 or clevingston@coxohio.com.