He has been working towards it for the past two years, and now Kildare Catholic College student Nahum Ferguson is on the fast-track to realising his goals.
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Beginning next year, the 17-year-old will travel to Canberra to attend the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) to hopefully begin his career in military cyber-security.
"I didn't have any other plans [to fall back on], this has been my goal since year 10 when I found out about the army's computing and cybersecurity [divisions]," Nahum said.
"I love IT. It's a passion I've found at school. I love pulling things apart to see how they work, then putting them back together."
To be selected the teenager faced a grueling interview conducted by panel of decorated officers. An experience he describes as "intimidating".
"Normally it would be face-to-face but this time it had to be virtual, so that made it harder," he said.
"Not being in the room with them, I find, makes it harder to put words together."
The final hurdle to reach the goal will be his success in the HSC and a brief physical test to ensure he has the metal to keep up with the military.
He must attain an ATAR of above 80, and prove he can do 15 push-ups, maintain a 7.5 on the beep test and do 45 sit-ups. Then he will receive his military appointment in January.
"I'll find out if I'm going in early December, then it's off to Canberra for the four weeks of initial training. That's like doing Kapooka condensed into just four weeks," he said.
"Then it's into the uni side of things."