“I just thought it was kind of neat,” he said. 

The game helped spark Theriault’s interest not only in aircraft, but the military in general. Theriault, now 18 and a high school senior at the Greater Portland Christian School in South Portland, said he’s excited to start his military career, whether it be in the air or on the ground. 

“I’ve always wanted to fly jets, but I’m interested in tanks too,” he said. “The Navy has a little bit of both worlds and if it can’t happen, there’s always the Marines.”

Of the 45 high school seniors throughout the state to receive recommendations from Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) Theriault is the only student from Cape Elizabeth with his sights set on attending one of the nation’s military academies. 

“My friends kind of joke about it,” he said. “They say ‘Oh, Navy guy over there.’”

As excited as Theriault is about beginning a military career, he said leaving Greater Portland Christian School is bittersweet.

“I like my school,” he said. “If anything, the year is going by faster than I would like.”

Although Theriault said his first choice is to attend the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. and become a Navy pilot by the time he’s 22 years old, he also applied to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. and has already been accepted to the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. 

“I really want to fly jets, but if it can’t happen it’s not the end of the world,” he said.

He said he visited the three different academies last year, although he’s hesitant to say which campus was the most impressive. 

“I don’t want to end up somewhere having said something wrong,” he laughed.

The Theriault family has history in both the Navy and the Air Force. He said his grandfather gave him his Navy pilot’s wings on his deathbed and his father served in the Air Force, but his desire to serve is about more than tradition. 

“I knew the history was there but it is just a small thing,” he said. “I just always pictured myself in the military.”

Theriault said he’s prepared by studying hard in advanced courses at Greater Portland Christian School and taking his SATs twice to ensure an “above average” score. Education isn’t the only challenge he will face at a military academy, however. Theriault said he has participated in school sports to stay in shape, obtained Eagle Scout status and installed a metal bar in his home to do “one or three” pull-ups whenever he walks beneath it.

“It’s something you can do that doesn’t take up a lot of time,” he said with a laugh.

During a week-long visit to the Naval Academy Theriault said he and other potential freshman, or “Plebes,” were exposed to a sample of what their induction day would be like – hollered at by training officers for close to an hour, an experience he said affected more recruits than others.

“Some people were really shaken up,” he said. “I didn’t think it was that bad, I just kept reminding myself that all of these other people have gotten through it, I can too. The guys yelling are the ones that are being nice to you. It’s a game.”

During that same visit, Theriault said he spoke with academy students who gave him plenty of advice to get through the rigorous training he will face his first year.  

“Everybody I’ve talked to has told me it will be the worst thing I’ve ever been through in my entire life,” he said. “I’ve heard it’s best to take it one day at a time. ‘Live meal to meal,’ they say.”

Theriault said his faith could also help him through the challenges he will face in becoming an officer. 

“I try to incorporate God into everything in my life,” he said. “It will help having someone to watch over me.”

When it comes to serving as an officer in any division of the military, Theriault said he feels like he knows what he’s getting himself into. Should he be deployed, he said he hoped to learn from the other enlisted men. A good officer needs to rely on “perseverance and a certain amount of humility,” he said. 

“Some guys get out and think they can boss people around,” he said. “The truth is that the senior enlisted men really know what’s going on. As an officer, you’re not supposed to be the most important, just deal with a different level of responsibility.”

For now, Theriault said he’s focusing on finishing high school and taking advantage of what could be his final few months as a civilian.

“I’m not going to cut my hair, I always like to grow it out,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll know where I’m going sometime between January and April, but I could hear only two days before classes start if somebody drops out last minute. West Point would be looking pretty good at that point.”