Each year my office receives numerous inquires concerning nominations to the United States service Academies.  I am pleased to provide the following information for constituents who may be interested in a service academy appointment.

• The Nomination Process

To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, an applicant must have a nomination from an authorized nominating source.  Title 10 of the U.S. Code authorizes Members of Congress to make nominations.  Members of the United States House of Representatives may nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law.

Applicants should apply to the service academy of their choice in the spring of their junior year in high school and request a nomination from the appropriate nomination source shortly thereafter.

• WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Each applicant for a nomination must meet the following requirements as of July 1 of the year of admission to a service academy

• Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 22nd birthday.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

• GENERAL ADMISSIONS STANDARDS

Before nominating an applicant, our office carefully evaluates each applicants overall qualifications, including the legal residence, to confirm that the applicant is domiciled within the boundaries of my district.  All academies consider evidence of character, leadership, physical aptitude, medical fitness, goals and motivation in performing each nominee's "whole-person" evaluation.

• CHARACTER

Absolutely critical in the course of evaluating a candidate is a positive determination of the candidate's character.  Absence of good moral character is cause for disqualification.  Candidates are considered to have good moral character unless evidence exists to suggest otherwise.

• SCHOLARSHIP

Each service academy's admission board carefully evaluates each element of a candidate's academic record.  The elements evaluated include a complete high school record (and college record, when applicable), class standing and either the Scholastic Assessment Test or the American College Testing scores.  All strengths and weaknesses in a candidate's academic background are taken into account.

• LEADERSHIP

Participation and achievement in organized athletics, student body and class government, clubs and class extracurricular activities, scouting, church or other community-related activities demonstrate evidence of leadership potential.  Candidates who have found it necessary to work to provide family support are considered to have demonstrated desirable leadership potential.

• PHYSICAL APTITUDE

Measuring strength, endurance, agility and coordination, the Army and Navy's physical aptitude examination (PAE) and the Air Force's candidate fitness test (CFT) are designed to determine each candidate's readiness to undertake the rigorous athletic and physical education program at the academies.  Each academy has its own test requirements.  Results of the examination are evaluated, assigned a numerical score and included in the whole-person evaluation by West Point.  The Air Force and the Naval academies evaluate the results on a pass/fail basis.

• MEDICAL FITNESS

Candidates whom meet minimum scholastic standards will be scheduled to take a service academy qualifying medical examination at a military or civilian contract facility near the candidate's home.  Although medical qualification standards vary for each of the academies, only one exam is required.  However, different tests may be necessary depending upon the academy.  The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board will handle the scheduling and evaluation of the exam.  Candidates who have questions about their medical exam results should direct them to:

DODMERB
8031 Edgerton Drive
Suite 132
USAF Academy, Colorado 80840-2200
Phone:  (719) 472-3562

• MOTIVATION

An attempt to measure motivation may be made through observation of the candidate's interest level in attending an academy and serving as an officer in the armed forces.  Motivation may be measured through an evaluation of correspondence and personal contacts.  Motivation is an intangible quality and difficult to evaluate; however, since it is most frequently the factor that determines an appointee's success or failure at a service academy, the effort must be made.

• WHOLE-PERSON EVALUATION

All of the preceding factors are part of the "whole-person" evaluation used by each of the academies.  These qualities are required of an individual in order to meet the challenges of the academy programs and, following graduation, as commissioned officers.

• APPLICANT EVALUATION

Each academy uses a questionnaire to make an initial assessment of an applicant's potential for appointment.  The results of this evaluation are provided by each academy to members of Congress to assist them in screening their applicants.  Soon after the applicant returns the questionnaire, the admissions office will reply to the applicant with an evaluation of the applicant's demonstrated ability to meet admissions standards.  Applicants who meet the standards are declared candidates; those who do not meet the standards at that point may later submit additional test scores or information to the academy for re-evaluation.  The applicant must provide the following information:

• Academic standardized test scores
• Rank in class and grade point average Social security number
• Participation in high school extracurricular activities

• APPLYING TO MY OFFICE FOR A NOMINATION

Students are encouraged to begin the application process in the spring of their junior year of high school.  At that time please contact my office to request an application form.  Those students who file an application before this time will not be considered until the spring of their junior year.  Also, please note that it is extremely important that you begin the application process with the academies themselves.  I encourage you to visit the service academies web sites to gain further information.  These sites can be accessed from my web site.

* The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, offers appointments solely on the basis of an annual nationwide competition.  There are no Congressional appointments or geographical quotas involved.