Congressman Charles Bass

As part of my official Congressional responsibilities, I have the honor of nominating outstanding young women and men who live in the Second Congressional District to the United States Service Academies. Ranked among the finest educational institutions in the world, the Service Academies prepare cadets and midshipmen for a lifetime of leadership and service in the Armed Services.

The Academies select only the most qualified high school students in the country. The selection process is highly competitive and each Service Academy looks for candidates of good scholarship with strong backgrounds in math and science, leadership potential and physical aptitude. Medical fitness and a motivation toward a military career immediately following graduation are also important. The law requires that candidates to the Service Academies be at least 17 and not have passed their 22nd birthday, that they be United States citizens, unmarried, with no dependents.

Learn more about each academy and the admission process at their Web sites:

United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Colorado) http://www.usafa.af.mil/

United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, New York) http://www.usmma.edu/

United States Military Academy at West Point (West Point, New York) http://www.usma.edu/

United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland) http://www.usna.edu/homepage.php

United States Coast Guard Academy (New London, Connecticut) http://www.cga.edu/ (please note, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require Congressional nominations for admission)

The Congressional Nomination Process:
Students should contact the Service Academy or Academies that they are interested in attending in the Spring of their Junior year to start a pre-candidate file. During the Summer of the student's Junior year or Fall of their Senior year, they should contact my District Office in Concord to express their desire to attend a Service Academy and learn more about the Congressional nomination process:

Congressman Charles Bass
Attn: Service Academy Coordinator
114 North Main Street, Suite 200
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603-226-0064

Students must submit a complete application to my office by October 15th to be considered for a Congressional nomination.  A board of retired and active military personnel and community leaders in New Hampshire will review the applicants and make recommendations to me based on the students' academic, athletic, and extracurricular achievements as well as personal interviews. I will then nominate the top students from the Second District to the academies.  Please note: receiving a Congressional nomination does not guarantee an appointment from an academy.

Students seeking a Congressional nomination must submit the following documents to my Concord Office to complete one's file:

-- 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)
-- Minimum of three letters of recommendation (from individuals such as teachers, counselors, employers, coaches, clergy, scout leaders, etc.)
-- Completed nomination application (Click here to access the form to submit with a student's official nomination application.)

Nomination Applications are due to my Concord Office by October 15th.  Please call my Concord Office at (603) 226-0064 with any questions.