The United States Military Academies are all four-year liberal arts institutions with extremely competitive selection processes.  Appointments to any of the academies offer a full academic scholarship and commission as an officer in the branch of military service served by the academy upon graduation.

Learn more about the U.S. Service Academies through the links below - or by viewing or podcasting a special edition of Congressman Latham's Congressional Report, which focuses on all five service academies and features a recent Naval Academy graduate from the State of Iowa:

Click here to watch this special program now -- online. (Windows Media Player required)

Download the full audio Podcast version of this program (26:34) here.

Download the condensed audio Podcast version of this program (9:50) here.

U.S. Military Academy www.usma.edu 845-938-4041

U.S. Naval Academy www.usna.edu 410-293-4361

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy www.usmma.edu 516-773-5391

U.S. Air Force Academy www.usafa.af.mil 800-443-9266

Each of these academies have admissions offices that can provide you with detailed brochures.  The links for each service academy can provide information about deadlines and any other application requirements.  Congressman Latham's Fort Dodge District Office is also available to provide admissions information and answer any questions you may have.

Any student interested in gaining a nomination to one of these academies should begin the process by Contacting Congressman Latham requesting a nomination to a specific academy.

In response to the student's contact, they will receive a packet of information that must be completed and returned, to the Congressional Office, by a predetermined date in the fall (for the 2007 entrance year the deadline is October 1, 2006).   The information required is similar to that required by a college including: teacher and character recommendations, a high school transcript and a recent photograph.  Please note that each student should also notify the academy of their interest in gaining admittance.

Each year, Congressman Latham's Military Academy Selection Committee will interview each of the potential nominees.  Upon completion of this screening process and after a careful evaluation of each of the candidates files, the Committee will make final recommendations as to which nominees should be selected.  Please keep in mind that a congressional nomination does not guarantee admittance.  The final appointment decision rests solely with the individual academy.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Fort Dodge District Office at 515-573-2738.

Note: The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is the only U.S. Service Academy that does not required a congressional nomination or appointment to attend it.  For information about USCGA, you may write to:

United States Coast Guard Academy Admission Office New London, CT  06320