Each year my office receives numerous inquiries concerning
nominations to the United States Service Academies. I am pleased
to provide the following information for constituents who may be
interested in a service academy appointment.
The Nomination Process:
To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, an applicant
must have a nomination from an authorized nominating source. Title
10 of the U.S. Code authorizes Members of Congress to make nominations.
Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives may nominate
applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law. Members
of the House of Representatives may nominate only those applicants who reside
in their congressional districts, therefore my office can nominate any applicant
who resides in Southwest Washington. Who
is My Representative?
Applicants may apply for and receive nominations from both their United States
senators and from their representative. Applicants may also apply to the Vice
President of the United States who can nominate applicants at large. Applicants
should apply for all nominations for which they are eligible. Applicants should
apply to the service academy of their choice in the spring of their junior
year in high school and request a nomination from the appropriate nomination
source shortly thereafter.
The deadline for submitting application and supplemental materials is October 8, 2010. All materials should be sent to:
Congressman Brian Baird
Attn: Military Academy Nominations
General O.O. Howard House
750 Anderson St., Ste. B
Vancouver, WA 98661
Our office has formed a Third District Service Academy Selection Committee composed
of former military personnel and other leading citizens from across Southwest
Washington. This committee is charged with evaluating each application and forwarding
final recommendations to Congressman Baird.
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 23rd birthday. Exception
- U.S. Merchant Marine Academy applicant must be at least 17 years old, but not
passed the age of 25.
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
Marital Status: Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support
children or other dependents.
General Admissions Standards:
Before nominating an applicant, the Third District Service Academy Review Selection
Committee carefully evaluates each applicant's overall qualifications, including
the legal residence, to confirm that the applicant is domiciled within the boundaries
of Washington's Third
Congressional District. The academies consider evidence of character, scholarship,
leadership, physical aptitude, medical fitness, goals and motivation in performing
each nominee's "whole-person" evaluation. Likewise, the Third District
Service Academy Review Selection Committee uses these criteria as the basis for
its recommendations.
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, 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 the U.S. Military Academy
at West Point. The Air Force and 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, re-testing 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 considered essential in 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.
|