Apply for nomination to a United States service academy


Service Academy Nominations

Each year, our office nominates high school students from Tennessee public and private high schools to four military service academies. Successful candidates, 17 to 23 years of age, receive a free college education and remain in the military at least five years after graduation. To obtain application materials, contact our district offices. The application deadline is November 30.

A nomination to one of the United States service academies is a distinct and rare honor, and the process is very competitive. Acceptance of an academy appointment involves at least a nine-year obligation to the Service: four years at the academy and at least five years of active duty service.

An applicant must have a nomination before a service academy can consider admission. Title 10, United States Code, establishes two nomination categories: Congressional and Military Service related. Applicants meeting eligibility requirements may apply for and receive nominations in both categories. Members of Congress may nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law. Senators may nominate applicants in the entire state, while Representatives are limited to nominating applicants who live only in their Congressional Districts. Applicants may apply for nominations from both of their United States Senators and their Representatives. The Vice President of the United States can nominate applicants at large.

Information regarding nominations via the Military Service related category can be obtained from the service academies.

We make nominations to the following service academies:

  • The United States Military Academy at West Point
  • The United States Naval Academy at Annapolis
  • The United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point
  • The United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs

    • The United States Coast Guard Academy has a direct-admissions policy and does not require a Congressional nomination.

    We may nominate 10 candidates to compete for each vacancy our office has at the U.S. Air Force, Naval, Military and Merchant Marine academies. The academies select from the 10 nominees the one candidate they believe to be the best candidate. The other nine nominees then compete for other available appointments in a nationwide pool of nominees.

    Nominations are based on academic record, extra-curricular activities and SAT or ACT scores. The following are considered:

  • School records. Your grade point average and class rank are critical elements. The average competitive candidate stands in the upper fifth of his or her class.
  • College boards. For the most part, a competitive candidate must have minimum SAT scores above 500 verbal and above 550 math or ACT scores above 25 for English and above 25 for math. If your scores do not meet these minimum requirements, you are strongly encouraged to retake the SAT or ACT.

    • To be eligible for a nomination from our office, you must be:

  • At least 17 years old but not yet 23 years old
  • A citizen of the United States
  • Unmarried, not pregnant and with no legal obligation to support a child or a dependent
  • A legal resident of Tennessee's 8th Congressional District

    • You must furnish the following application materials:

  • A completed application form. Your candidacy is established by our receipt of the completed application.
  • An up-to-date transcript: Your academic transcript must be current and official and contain your grade point average.
  • SAT or ACT scores. Plan to take either of these tests at least once before your senior year. You are responsible for asking the testing services to send your scores to our office. SAT/ACT scores will be sent directly to our office if you indicate 5462 for SAT and 7319 for the ACT as a score recipient on the test registration forms.
  • A qualifying medical examination. Upon receipt of your pre-candidate questionnaire, the academies will schedule you for a medical examination by the Department of Defense Medical Review Board.
It is not necessary to send all the materials required for your file at once, but we encourage you to return the application form immediately and to send the other materials as they are completed. Please note the final deadline for all completed materials is November 30.

All correspondence regarding the service academies, including requests for application forms, should be directed to our Millington office:

Congressman John Tanner
8120 Hwy 51 N.
Suite 3
Millington, TN 38053
Phone: (901) 873-5690
Fax: (901) 873-5692