Military Academy Nominations

All interested candidates must apply in writing to Congressman Miller's Concord district office at 1333 Willow Pass Road, Suite 203, Concord CA 94520 by November 1st. In this initial request letter, the candidate should include biographic information including: full name, permanent residence, mailing address, telephone number, date and place of birth, social security number, high school/college being attended, counselor, etc.

Upon receipt of the candidate's letter, an application file is opened with the Congressman's office and an application packet is mailed to the student. Included in the application packet is a copy of these procedures, an application form, and a counselor appraisal form.

Students should be advised that application files must be fully completed no later than December 1st for a student to be considered for nomination. For an applicant file to be considered complete, the following documentation must be in hand:

Application Form (pdf file)
Counselor's Appraisal Form (pdf file)
Certified copy of academic transcript
Report of SAT or ACT
Verified class rank and cumulative GPA
Personal essay explaining why the candidate wants to attend the Academy and why they feel they should be nominated
Recent photograph

All qualified candidates will be scheduled for an interview with Congressman Miller's Service Academies Advisory Board in December. The Board will interview candidates with a minimum SAT score of 550 verbal and 550 math or ACT score of 23 for English and 27 for math. The College Board reporting numbers are: SAT-#0247 and ACT-#7246. Candidates must also maintain a 3.0 GPA or better. All candidates will be notified in advance of the time and place of their interview.

Upon completion of the interviews, the Service Academies Advisory Board will notify Congressman Miller of their recommendations for nomination, and notification will be sent to each applicant.

Competition for the Academy openings is very intense, and it is impossible for all those who wish to attend to do so. We, therefore, recommend that candidates consider alternate plans and also apply through the California Senators.

Final appointments are made solely by the Academies. The Congressman cannot guarantee appointments; he can only provide a nomination.

Instructions

Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Service Academies. As your 7thDistrict Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, each year I have the privilege of nominating a limited number of people to four of the five service academies. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending one of the U.S. Service Academies and serving our country.

Seeking a Nomination: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a nomination?

Members of Congress may nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law. A candidate may seek a nomination from the following:

A member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which the candidate resides
Both U.S. Senators from his or her state
Apply directly to the Vice-President of the United States

What are the basic eligibility requirements?

Each applicant for a nomination 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
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of the 75th Congressional District of StateName.
Skill / Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy.

When do I apply for a nomination?

My nomination application period opens May 15th of each year for those candidates who are high school juniors and will be seniors the following school year, or who have already graduated.

What is the deadline for completing a nomination file?

This year the deadline for submitting a nomination packet to my District Office is December 1.

What must be included in my nomination file?

A complete nomination file consists of the following items:

Current photo
High school transcript
American College Testing Program (ACT) results and/or College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results
Resume of extracurricular activities
An essay stating why you want to attend a service academy (500 words or less)

What happens after I have completed my nomination file?

Applicants who submit a completed nomination file will be scheduled for an interview in December.

What criteria is used in selecting candidates?

Nominations are based on a "whole person" evaluation. Factors such as academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, leadership skills, physical aptitude, character and motivation are taken into consideration and compared with other applicants.

How many academies are there?

There are five service academies.

Three reside within the Department of Defense:

U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York
U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs

Two reside within the Department of Transportation:

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York
U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut

Are the requirements the same for all of the service academies?

No. Although many of the qualifications are similar, each academy operates under its own admissions guidelines. Visit the academy of your choice via the web sites noted for each academy's particular admissions qualifications. It is not necessary to seek a nomination to the Coast Guard Academy, as the U.S.C.G.A. accepts candidates based on their own testing criteria.

Will I automatically be selected by the academy after I receive a nomination?

No. You will be placed among a select group of nominees, and the academy of your choice will make the final decision. If selected, you will receive an offer of admission (an appointment) directly from the academy.

What if I choose more than one academy? Will I be limited to a single nomination?

No. You can be nominated to multiple academies depending on how well you have competed among this year's pool of candidates. It is also possible to win multiple appointments.