|
|
|
Who
is Eligible?
Each applicant for
a nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as
of July 1 of the year of admission to a service academy:
Age: Must be at least
17 years old, but not have passed the 22nd birthday.
Citizenship: Must
be a U.S. Citizen.
Marital status: Must
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 applicant's overall qualifications,
including the legal residence, to confirm that the applicant is
domiciled within the boundaries of the State of Oregon. The three
academies consider evidence of character, scholarship, 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 element of a
candidate's academic record is carefully evaluated by each service
academy's admissions board. The elements evaluated include a complete
high school record (and college record, when applicable), class
standing and either the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT-1) or the
American College Testing (ACT) 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, boys/girls
state, 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's 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 who 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.
Scheduling and evaluation of the exam is accomplished by the Department
of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB). 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
Medical scheduling
and evaluation are time-consuming processes, especially if consultation,
retesting or corrective action are required. The process may take
from six weeks to four months.
|
|
|
|
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 (ACT, PSAT,
SAT-1), rank in class and grade point average, Social Security number
and participation in high school extracurricular activities.
|
|
|
|
Vacancies
Each U.S. Senator
and Representative may have a maximum of five cadets or midshipmen
at each service academy at one time. During the summer, the service
academies report the number of vacancies available for the coming
admissions cycle to each member of Congress. Throughout the year,
our office is notified by each academy whenever additional vacancies
become available because of graduations, transfers, resignations,
academic failures or other reasons. Our office may nominate up to
ten candidates for each vacancy.
|
|
|
|
The
Congressional Competitive System
My office employs
the widely used Congressional Competitive System for making nominations
to the service academies. It is my practice to provide nominations
for the 10 best qualified applicants for each vacancy each year.
The final choice for each vacancy is made by the service academy
based upon a comparative review of the credentials of each of the
10 applicants. My choice of this procedure is based on my view that
the service academy is in a better position than a Member of Congress
to judge which of the applicants is most likely to succeed given
the details of that academy's curriculum.
|
|
|