A four-year starter and team captain on the Washington High School football team as well as a squadron commander within the school's Air Force JROTC unit, Jesse Tuivaiave laid the groundwork to become a leader within the Army after his high school graduation.

Six months into his studies at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School on the campus of West Point, Tuivaiave is now embarking on the next step.

"It's been challenging, but it's too easy to quit, so why do it?" Tuivaiave said via phone last week while visiting family in Washington over the winter break. "You just have to keep pushing."

The purpose of the prep school is to prepare candidates selected by the United States Military Academy admission's office for the academic, physical and military challenges of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Selected students (also known as cadet candidates) are high school graduates or enlisted personnel from the active, Reserve or National Guard force.

While Tuivaiave has meshed well with the other cadets in his unit, he's not used to seeing those close to him fail to achieve their goals.

"Seeing some of my buddies here fail is really hard," he said. "It lowers the unit's morale."

The 18-year-old is doing the best he can to keep the morale at a high level and help push other cadets.

"I really like the competitiveness in the company; we feed off of each other," he said.

Tuivaiave also enjoys the strict physical regimen the school helps cadets maintain.

"After basic training I lost 20 pounds," he said with a laugh.

The U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School, known as USMAPS, the Prep School, or West Point Prep, was formally established in 1946, but the "history" of "prepping" of soldiers for West Point has been done since Congress enacted legislation in 1916 authorizing appointments for Soldiers to West Point. The school exists today as an "avenue of opportunity" to a carefully selected group of soldiers and civilians by providing them the academic, leadership and physical skills that will prepare them for success as cadets at the United States Military Academy.

Tuivaiave said he really enjoys the support cadets receive at the school.

"We have unlimited resources ... there are always officers and teachers there to help us in the classroom," he said.

Tuivaiave's goal is to become an Army infantry officer.

"It's the only thing I see myself comfortable doing," he said after he was accepted to the prep school last year. "It's going to be great to learn something new every day."

It's also something he's dreamed about since he was a young child. Tuivaiave has uncles in the Army, and all have had positive experiences.

While cadets who graduate from the prep school must still apply to be accepted into West Point, Tuivaiave is confident he's on the right track.

"(Cadets) have a good basis of what (the admission board) is looking for," he said. "I'm pretty sure I'm going to be prepared for that."