Service Academy Nominations FAQ

Members of Congress may nominate applicants for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies:

• U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY
• U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD
• U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY

It is not necessary to seek a nomination to the Coast Guard Academy, as the USCGA accepts candidates based on their own testing criteria.
The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

Each applicant for a nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy:

• Age: Must be at least 17 years old, but not past your 23rd birthday
• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents.
• Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of Washington’s Third Congressional District to receive a nomination from our office.
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• Skill/Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy.

To apply, please fill out the application form on our website and email the required attachments to the email address listed.

A candidate may seek a nomination from the following:

• A member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which you reside.
• A U.S. Senator who represents your state.
• The Vice President of the United States.

The nomination application period opens May 15th of each year for those candidates who are high school juniors and will be seniors the following school year, or who have already graduated.

The deadline for submitting a nomination application to our District Office is Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

A complete nomination file consists of the following items:

• Current photo
• High school transcript
• American College Testing Program (ACT) results and College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results
• Resume of extracurricular activities
• An essay stating why you want to attend a service academy (500 words max)
• Minimum of three letters of recommendation

Applicants who submit a completed nomination file will be scheduled for an interview during the first weekend in December.

Nominations are based on a “whole person” evaluation. Factors such as academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, leadership skills, physical aptitude, character and motivation are taken into consideration and compared with other applicants.

No. Although many of the qualifications are similar, each academy operates under its own admissions guidelines. Visit the website of the academy of your choice for its particular admissions qualifications.

Some of the people applicants typically seek recommendations from include:

• Teachers
• Counselors
• Employers
• Coaches
• Clergy
• Scout Leaders

A specific recommendation form is not required. A letter of recommendation is sufficient.

No. You will be placed among a select group of nominees, and the academy of your choice will make the final decision. If selected, you will receive an offer of admission (an appointment) directly from the academy.

No. You can be nominated to multiple academies depending on how well you have competed among this year’s pool of candidates. It is also possible to win multiple appointments.

Full applications and nominations are due to the academies on January 31^st. All offers of appointment are generally sent out by May.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to tony.sprague@mail.house.gov.