SERVICE ACADEMY NOMINATIONS
DEADLINE for Fall 2009: November 10, 2008
As a Member of Congress, every year I have the privilege of nominating a limited number of outstanding high school seniors to our Nation's Service Academies. Please read the information below and browse through the academies' websites to learn more about each one. I encourage motivated students to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity. If you have further questions, please contact my Newport News office at (757) 380-1000
A Short History of our Nation's Service Academies
The Nomination Process
Application Information
Links to the Service Academy Websites
A Short History of our Nation's Service Academies
Each year hundreds of young men and women are chosen to fill positions at each of our nation's service academies -- the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York; the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kingspoint, New York.
It is a very high honor to be selected to attend one of these excellent institutions, which have consistently drawn from the very best young men and women in our country. The service academies provide a full four-year scholarship, which is valued at more than $150,000. With this substantial investment, individuals are carefully selected and each applicant is carefully considered. Members of Congress have been asked to nominate their most qualified constituents to fill vacancies in each class.
Midshipmen and cadets at the service academies are offered many major fields of study, including science and mathematics, engineering (including aeronautical, civil and electrical) as well as humanities and social sciences such as psychology, history and international relations. Following graduation, students are awarded commissions in the armed forces and are offered careers in aviation, engineering, and combat leadership. Academy graduates have long served with distinction while in the armed forces and they continue to serve our country after their return to civilian life.
After four years of college-level education and training at the military academies, cadets or midshipmen are commissioned as junior officers in the appropriate branch of the military service. By accepting appointment to a service academy, a student commits to serve a minimum of 5 years in the military.
There are two categories for nominees to our service academies -- congressional nominations and military-service-connected nominations. Eligible applicants may apply for and receive a nomination in both categories. My office uses the congressional nomination process.
Each Member of Congress may have five students in each service academy as congressional nominees at any one time. When one of these five students graduates or is separated from the academy for any other reason, a vacancy is created, for which the congressional office can nominate a principal and nine competing alternate nominees. In some years, there are multiple vacancies, which greatly expands the pool of potential nominees.
Application Information
If an applicant meets the initial eligibility requirements, he or she should complete an application for nomination to a service academy. Copies of this application form are available in my Newport News office. An application can be requested by telephone at (757) 380-1000 or via mail.
My Newport News office mailing address is:
Office of Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott
Attention: Service Academy Nominations
2600 Washington Avenue
Suite 1010
Newport News, VA 23607
The application and all associated documents must be returned to the congressional office, indicated above, no later than November 15 preceding the year of desired nomination. It is possible that an earlier deadline my be established. Please contact the congressional office to confirm the deadline for applications.
To learn more about a specific Service Academy, click below:
United States Military Academy--Army
United States Air Force Academy
United States Naval Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
Please remember that although a nomination is required for an appointment, it is not a guarantee of acceptance by a service academy.
