U.S. Senator Jon Tester | Academy Nominations

Service Academy Nominations

Thank you for your interest in serving your country and furthering your education by attending a service academy. The application process for nomination by Senator Tester is outlined on this page.

Keep in mind that each academy has its own application process. You must meet these requirements and be accepted for admission to attend an academy. Nomination alone is not sufficient, as each academy reviews nominees to ensure they are scholastically and physically qualified. Visit the links below to learn more about applying to each academies.

Application for nomination is very competitive. Senator Tester makes ten nominations for each academy vacancy each year. The academy admissions committee then selects from those ten candidates those they determine to be the most qualified for admission.

Each U.S. Senator is authorized to have a maximum of five cadets enrolled at each academy. Therefore, it is in your best interest to apply to every authority for which you are eligible for nomination (e.g. Senator Baucus, Representative Rehberg, President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans, etc.). If you receive a nomination from another source, in most cases, Senator Tester will not duplicate that nomination. Since a single source nominates each member of the entering class of each service academy, multiple nominations will not help any applicant in the admissions process. Please contact us if you are nominated by another authority so other Montanans can have the opportunity to stand for nomination.

Please carefully consider which academy you select as your first choice. Second choices are considered only in the event that there are not enough qualified candidates who designate an academy as their first choice.

Eligibility

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

be at least 17 years of age but not older than 23 years of age (25 years of age for the Merchant Marine Academy);
be a United States Citizen and a permanent resident of Montana; and
be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

Application for Nomination Checklist

Online Application Form and Essay Question

Completion of the online application form initiates your application for nomination. Visit the online application center and create an account to start the process toward nomination. You can monitor the progress of you application online as your materials are received by Senator Tester's office.

SAT/ACT Scores

Your scores from the SAT and/or ACT are required for application to the service academies. Applicants must complete the SAT and/or ACT exam and submit an official score report to the academies and Senator Tester's office. The SAT and ACT tests administered in November are the latest test administration that will meet the application deadline on December 1, 2008. Send your score report to SAT Code 4464 or ACT Code 7152.

School Transcript

An official transcript from your high school record and class record must be submitted. This transcript must show your current grades and numerical class rank (percentile ranks are not acceptable). If you apply before this information is available, it is your responsibility to submit an up-to-date transcript and to keep your records current. Submit your transcript to the address below.

Recommendation Form

The Recommendation Form must be completed by your High School Principal or Guidance Counselor. Have your High School Principal or Guidance Counselor mail the recommendation to Senator Tester's office at the address below.

Download a Nomination Recommendation Form

Direct application materials to:

Office of Senator Jon Tester
208 N Montana Avenue, Suite 202
Helena, MT 59601

You can reach Senator Tester's Nomination Coordinator, by calling (406) 449-5401 or (800) 554-4403.

Evaluation Criteria

Successful nominees are serious about their interest in serving their country through a career in the military. These applicants demonstrate excellence, perseverance, and the highest moral character. There are many indicators for these qualities, including academic achievement, leadership, community service, and participation in various extracurricular activities, including sports.

Service Academy Contacts

Air Force Admissions Office 2304 Cadet Dr Suite 200 USAF Academy, CO 80840	Army Director of Admissions 600 Thayer Rd West Point, NY 10996	Coast Guard* Admissions Office 31 Mohegan Ave New London, CT 06320
Merchant Marine Director of Admissions 300 Steamboat Rd Kings Point, NY 11024	Navy Candidate Guidance Ofc. 117 Decatur Rd Annapolis, MD 21402	*The United States Coast Guard Academy does not accept congressional nominations.