By Jamie Enos
Among the United States’ military academies, spirited competition is most visible in annual sporting events like the Army-Air Force and Army-Navy Game matchups, where cadets and midshipmen vie for academy pride and the prestigious Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. However, sometimes the rivalry extends beyond the field, fueling competition in academics and military training that ends up at the family dinner table.
The Snider family feels that. Despite the intense competition, the “field of friendly strife” remains rooted in mutual respect and a shared commitment to service as brothers Reid and Ryan represent commitment to duty across different branches, celebrating both the shared values that shape America’s military academies. Cadet Reid Snider ’28 and his twin brother Cadet Ryan Snider, USAFA Class of 2028, have bonded over their brotherly competitiveness. It’s a family bond that parents, Dan and Dr. Diana Snider, have learned to embrace and laugh about.
Hailing from a family rooted in service, the brothers embody the spirit of dedication, resilience, and patriotism, albeit in different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Their grandfather was in the U.S. Army, they have two uncles in the U.S. Air Force, and their great-grandfather was a Seabee in the U.S. Navy.
“Having our twins at two different service academies is an incredible honor, exciting, and overwhelming all at the same time,” said Dr. Diana Snider, Reid and Ryan’s mother. “There have been many funny times for our twins when we accidentally say the wrong name, term, or location for their Academy. Regardless, we are fully enjoying learning the wonderful nuances that each cadet is experiencing and are truly blessed to be a part of the military academy family.”
Together, the Snider brothers exemplify the dedication required to serve the nation through two distinct military traditions. Their journey highlights the shared values across branches while celebrating each Academy’s unique approach to developing America’s next generation of military leaders.
For the Army-Air Force game at Michie Stadium, the Sniders will be in attendance, and Dr. Snider will be sporting a “Proud Mom” sweatshirt. Dr. Snider will remain neutral and be cheering for both Army and Air Force. “Our boys support us wearing Academy-aligned gear based on our location. For this game, I will cheer for both teams. Dan will be cheering for the team that will win.”
While the family text string is full of memes declaring the superiority of one Academy over the other, there’s one thing that they do come back to the table to agree on: “BEAT NAVY.”
Caption: L: USAFA Cadet Ryan Snider ’27 salutes the flag next to his twin brother and USMA Cadet Reid Snider ’27 during a football game at West Point in Michie Stadium.
