‘We believe in Jay'

Business owner’s son enters West Point, By Lily Sussman BASKING RIDGE - Theresa Beneventino is in the minority of parents who is comforted when her son tells her he is more likely to die in a car accident than by an enemy bullet. Her son, Jason Rothamel, a graduate of Basking Ridge High School, only applied to one college. “He would’ve enrolled (in the military) directly if he didn’t get into West Point,” said Beneventino. With support including a nomination from Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, vast political knowledge and position of football captain, Rothamel was accepted to his dream school, the United States Military Academy at West Point. He will be training at Fort Monmouth boot camp in New Jersey for the next couple of weeks before beginning four years of classes and military training at West Point. His father, Scott Rothamel, who runs Kitchen & Bath Works and Warwick Valley Appliances, said about 50 percent of his son’s motivation to attend the academy is his dedication to football. The rest was a love for his country and political activism. Both parents believe in order to enlist in the military today men and women must care deeply about world affairs. Other incentives could be the high level of education available and monetary benefits. However diverse or mundane initial motivations are, once in, cadets from all backgrounds face similar challenges. To build camaraderie within the corps, cadets are limited to writing letters to their families throughout their three weeks of boot camp. “They consider all these cadets new family,” said Beneventino, explaining the logic behind the communication barriers. While cadets are acclimating to the military lifestyle and each other, parents such as Jason Rothamel’s are worrying. Among worries about enough food, Jason Rothamel’s a big guy, and tough schedules, on top of the generic military requirements Rothamel has hours of football practice, are larger worries about the future. “It’s pretty scary, especially the day they do the oath,” said Scott Rothamel. “They have to abide by everything the president says.” Neither of the new cadet’s parents held strong political position; they said political talk in their houses is laid back and infrequent. “You have to support the troops over there,” said Scott Rothamel. The cadet’s mother spoke similarly. “Whatever everyone agrees or disagrees,” said Beneventino, “we believe in Jay.”