Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator for New York

As some of the most selective institutions of higher learning in the world, the United States service academies offer young people a unique opportunity to obtain a first class education and subsequently serve our
country upon graduation as commissioned officers in the United States Military. The President of the United States officially makes all appointments to the United States service academies. However, each member of Congress is allotted a limited number of nominations, which they may submit for consideration of an appointment (by the academy) to fill vacancies at each academy. Because securing a nomination does not guarantee an appointment or an offer of admission, the entire process is highly competitive. Currently each United States Senator is permitted to have a total of five vacancies charged to his or her office at each academy. You are therefore encouraged to apply for as many nominations as you may be eligible, including (but not limited to) your local congressional representative and the Vice-President of the United States.

You are to be commended on your interest in serving our country by seeking a nomination to one of the United States service academies. I encourage you to contact my New York City office at (212) 688-6262 should you have any questions about this process.

The Application Process

How does it work?

As stated earlier, members of Congress may nominate a limited number of candidates to the United States Military, Naval, and Air Force academies each year. Members may only nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements as established by law. Additionally, Senators and Representatives from each state may collectively nominate a certain number of candidates to the Merchant Marine Academy.

Admission to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is no longer predicated upon receiving a nomination from a United States Senator. Applications must therefore be made directly to the Academy.

In addition to returning the enclosed application to my New York City office, you must also remember to complete and submit the requisite admissions application to your academy or academies of choice. It is your responsibility to ensure that the institutions to which you are applying open an admissions file for you. Additionally, it is also your responsibility to make sure that you meet any special criteria required for admission by your academy or academies of choice. For more information you should consult the academy guidebook or contact your high school guidance counselor. You may also find out more information about each of the academies at the telephone numbers and websites listed below.

Army: 1-800-822-ARMY
www.usma.edu

Navy: 1-888-249-7707
www.usna.edu

Air Force: 719-333-2520
www.usafa.af.mil

Merchant Marines: 1-800-732-6267
www.usmma.edu

Who Is Eligible?

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

• Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday. (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy)
• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen, and a permanent resident of New York State.
• Marital Status: Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

Please note that the acceptance of an appointment to a United States service academy commits an applicant to at least five years of active duty service after graduation.

Prior to applying for a nomination from my office, please contact your academy or academies of choice to request a pre-candidate questionnaire. Once completed and returned, the academy will apprise you of any special physical, medical, or academic requirements particular to their institution. Congressional nominations are utilized by the following academies:

• U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York
• U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York
• U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland

*The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut does not utilize Congressional nominations. However, like her sister academies, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy provides an excellent education in exchange for an active service commitment upon graduation.

Because it is possible to receive a nomination from more than one source and nominations are limited, I request as a matter of courtesy that you inform my office immediately of any other nominations you may receive to a service academy.

The Application

All requests for applications from my office must be received by October 1st. The application may be printed from Senator Gillibrand’s website at any time by clicking on the link above. Once you have completed all of our application requirements, please send them to my New York City office at the following address and fax
number:

Office of Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand
780 Third Avenue - Suite 2601
New York, New York 10017
ATTN: Academy Coordinator
FAX: (212) 688-7444

Completed applications must be received at my New York City office by November 1st. I request that you submit your completed application AS A COMPLETE PACKET, including all application materials (see below), in a single mailing and/or fax. Due to the Senate mail screening process, it is strongly recommended that you fax all unsealed and unofficial sealed portions of your application to the attention of the Academy Coordinator in my New York City office, fax: (212) 688-7444, in addition to mailing your complete packet. Please note that return receipts on certified mail will not be sent back.

My office will require the following materials in order to fairly evaluate your request for nomination:

• A completed “Service Academy Nomination Application.”
• An official, sealed transcript from all high schools, junior colleges, or colleges you have attended. This transcript must show your final junior year grades.
• Official SAT (score code: 2425) or ACT (score code: 7164). If they are not noted on your official academic transcript, please arrange to have the scores submitted directly to my New York office by November 1. See your guidance counselor for clarification on this.
• Three letters of recommendation from people who know you well. For high school students, one of these recommendations must be from a mathematics or science teacher. Recommendations from family members are not permitted.
• Essay: In approximately 500 typed words, please explain why you are seeking this nomination, and why you want to be commissioned to one of our service academies.

Please note our November 1st deadline. Due to the volume of applications that must be processed, extensions beyond this deadline are not possible. If an applicant's application and required materials are not received by November 1st, the applicant cannot be considered for a nomination. I encourage you to follow up with my office at 212-688-6262 in order to confirm our receipt of your completed application.

The Selection Process

Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of academic performance, intelligence, leadership ability, moral character, adequacy of preparation, and commitment to attend a service academy. You may be contacted for an interview that will be conducted at a place and time to be determined. Interviews by my Academy Selection Committee shall be conducted in November, December or January. Candidates will be informed whether or not they will be receiving a nomination by mail.