Even though his dad is in the Army, Kyle Hicks, 16, has his sights set on attending the Air Force Academy when he graduates from high school in two years.

"Since he was four he always wanted to be astronaut," explained his mother, Betsy Hicks. "He has never changed his mind, and his goal is to be an aeronautical engineer."

The Hicks family, which also includes Kyle's brother, 19 year-old Jordan, has spent most of a decade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where Maj. John Hicks is currently stationed.

"He came to me in sixth grade and asked what the good schools were for engineering ... then he went and did research," she said. "He decided on the Air Force Academy and has been focused on that ever since."

One day, while Kyle was Googling the Air Force Academy, he saw something about a special camp offered onsite in Colorado Springs. The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) offers annual summer camps for high school students who excel at math and science and intend to pursue an engineering degree in college. There are four unique camps, divided by specific branch-related job requirements and skill sets, which are led by a professional staff of engineers from both private industry and the military services. The Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force each host a camp.

"We just happened to stumble upon this great opportunity," Betsy said. "It was sort of an accident that we even found it and I think other military families should know about it."

To be eligible, students must submit school transcripts and an essay, as well as demonstrate leadership and be on track to enter the engineering field. Specifically, students looking to attend the Air Force camp who are completing their junior year must also provide some proof of an expressed interest in applying to a service academy or Reserve Officer Training Candidate (ROTC) program.

Yet, Kyle, who is the president of the science and engineering club at Olympia High School, a member of the National Honor Society, is enrolled in numerous honors classes, plus plays soccer and the viola, was not selected the first time he applied.

This year, however, he was chosen and will be sponsored by the local Mt. Tacoma SAME post, which acts as a selection committee on the local level for the camps.

"He is the driving force behind all that he does," said Betsy, who will send Kyle off to Colorado in early July. "He is humble, but I think he deserves some praise. Who better to do that than your mother?"

For more information about SAME camps and how to apply for next year, visit samecamps.org.