What are the basic eligibility requirements?

Congressional nomination applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy:

• Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 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.
• Fitness/Skill: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the respective Academy.

What is a nomination?

Members of Congress may nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law.  A candidate may seek a nomination from:

• A member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which the candidate resides.
• Both U.S. Senators from his or her state.
• The Vice-President of the United States.

It is in your best interest to request a nomination from any source for which you are eligible.

If you are currently serving in the military or are the son or daughter of a career military member or service-connected disabled veteran, you may also seek a “service-connected” slot through your chain of command or directly from the Academy.  Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) members may also seek nominations through their chain of command.  Additional information regarding these nomination types is available directly from the Academies.

 

What is the difference between a nomination and an appointment?

A nomination is the authority from a nominating source (see above) for a candidate to be considered for entrance by an academy.  An appointment is the actual slot for admission from the candidate’s preferred academy.

 

Who do I contact to request an application for nomination?

You may contact your respective congressional offices for more information.

When do I apply for a nomination?

Nomination application periods traditionally open June 1 of each year for candidates who are high school juniors and will be seniors the following school year, or who have already graduated.

 

What is the deadline for completing a nomination file?

The deadline for submitting a nomination packets to congressional offices is traditionally in November, however, exact deadlines are District-specific.

What must be included in a nomination file?

A complete nomination file traditionally consists of:

• Completed, signed application.
• Materials from all high schools or colleges attended – transcript(s) and standardized test scores.
• Resume.
• Essay responding to prompt on application.
• Three recommendation letters from individuals who know you personally.

 

What happens after I have completed my nomination file?

Applicants who submit a completed nomination file will be scheduled for an interview traditionally in November or December.  Following interviews (typically within 2-3 weeks), candidates will be notified by a phone call and in writing of the result of their application.

What criteria are used in selecting candidates?

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

 

Do members of Congress nominate everyone who applies?

No.  Applicants will be evaluated and only offered a nomination if their application is competitive.

 

Can I be nominated by a member of Congress to multiple academies?

Yes.  You can be nominated to multiple academies depending on how well you compete among other candidates.  It is also possible to win multiple appointments.  Be sure to rank on your application the academies which you would like to attend if nominated.

 

How many academies are there?

There are five service academies.

Three reside within the Department of Defense:

• U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York
• U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
• U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado

One resides within the Department of Transportation:

• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York

One resides within the Department of Homeland Security:

• U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut

Are the requirements the same for all service academies?

No.  Although many of the qualifications are similar, each academy operates under its own admissions guidelines.  Visit the academy of your choice via their websites for each academy’s admissions qualifications.  It is not necessary to seek a nomination to the Coast Guard Academy, as New London accepts candidates based on their own testing criteria.

 

Who should I ask to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?

Some people applicants traditionally seek recommendations from include:

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

 

Will I automatically be selected by the academy after I receive a nomination?

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

 

When will I know if I have been offered an appointment by an academy?

Academies will begin to notify candidates of their admission status in February.  All offers of appointment are generally sent out by May.  Several academies offer rolling appointments, and you may know as early as October or as late as May if you are receiving an appointment.

 

Can you explain the number of appointments and slots available each year to members of Congress?

Each member of Congress is given five slots for each of three academies (West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy).  For each open slot, congressional members can nominate up to ten candidates.  Thus, four slots open and a member of congress wished to fill all of them, he/she could nominate 40 students.  The number of slots available (and thus, the number of students a member of Congress can nominate) varies with each year depending upon the cadets/midshipmen currently enlisted.  Please note congressional members do not have to fill all or even any of the open slots.  The Merchant Marine Academy grants ten slots per member of Congress.

 

Do members of Congress use the Competitive, Principal, or Principal with Competing Alternates Method?

Members of Congress are known to employ all the methods for nominating, depending on the candidate pool.  Please check with your respective District Office if you are interested in more information on the nomination methods.