Representative John Spratt, Proudly Serving the People of the 5th District of South Carolina image of Capitol

Academy Nominations

The armed forces service academies offer young men and women a full tuition college education at a highly-ranked, nationally-recognized academic institution while preparing them for an officer's commission in the armed forces. Each year I have the opportunity to nominate some of the best and brightest young men and women from the 5th Congressional District of South Carolina to attend our nation's military service academies.

Acceptance at one of these academies involves at least a 9-year obligation to the Service - 4 years at the Academy and 5 years of active duty with the service, or in the case of the Merchant Marine Academy, the option of receiving an active duty commission along with employment in the maritime industry.

The Air Force, Merchant Marine, Military (West Point), and Naval academies all require a nomination from an authorized nominating source. The Coast Guard Academy is the only one of the academies to offer appointments on the basis of an annual nationwide competition rather than a nominee program and should be contacted directly to apply.

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

  • Applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
  • Applicant must be at least 17 years old and must not have passed his/her 23rd birthday, with the exception of the Merchant Marine Academy where the applicant must be 17 years old, but not passed the age of 25.
  • Applicant must be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support a child or dependent.

Members of Congress may nominate applicants who meet these eligibility requirements established by law. To apply for a nomination through my office, you must be a legal resident of the 5th Congressional District of South Carolina, which I represent. Academy nomination vacancies are limited and highly competitive.

Where To Start

  • Review our Question and Answer Section about applying to a service academy. This information can help you in the application process.
  • Fill out an initial application and mail it to my Rock Hill office. Applications for nominations are accepted from May 1 to November 15.

Have Questions?

Should you have any questions not answered in the Questionthis section, please don't hesitate to contact my Rock Hill office for further assistance.