Forbes magazine recently released its annual list of America's top colleges.

The three military academies were firmly entrenched in the top 20 on the list, with West Point coming in third, the Air Force Academy tenth and the Naval Academy listed at 17th.

While high school students across the country may know that the Air Force Academy is a college, they may not know just how good the academic standards are.

Air Force JROTC cadets at Washington High School will get the chance to hear more about what the Academy has to offer and get any questions answered during a visit from the school Sept. 21.

"Kids don't really realize the kind of quality education they can receive from the Academy," said Col. John Pardo, Washington's JROTC commander and an Academy graduate himself. "This visit gives them the opportunity to be exposed to the Academy."

A group of Academy cadets will speak to JROTC cadets about life at the school and just what kind of commitment to academics it takes to get in. The cadets are also bringing with them the school's mascot, a falcon.

"The falcon will be a great ice breaker," Pardo said. "But even more it will show students that the guys that work with the bird and handle it are (Academy) cadets."

Capt. Noah Garguile, a Bremerton High School and Air Force Academy graduate, is excited to get the chance to speak to the cadets.

Garguile played football for the Academy and now tours high schools answering questions for students and talking about life at the campus in Colorado Springs, Colo. Over the next month he's spending time in the Puget Sound talking to several different high schools.

"Even in our own backyard in Colorado, high school students don't know that much about the Academy," said Garguile, who played defensive end while on the Academy football team.

Despite the fact both of his grandfathers were veterans, Garguile never through the military was going to be an avenue for him. But he was recruited for football and decided to commit.

"The Academy sets you up for a lot more than just academics," said Garguile, paying homage to the outstanding leadership opportunities it offered him. "We want to paint a picture of what Academy life is really like and answer any questions students might have."

While Pardo isn't short on stories from his days at the Academy, the commander said the visit from cadets provides students with someone closer in age they can better relate to.

It's a great opportunity to help the freshman and sophomores understand the kind of academic commitment it takes to be accepted into the Academy, Pardo said.