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Academy Nominations

Senator Grassley nominates Iowa students for appointments to the following U.S. service academies:

The U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York,
The U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado,
The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland,
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in King’s Point, New York,
Admission to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination.

Senator Grassley selects 10 individuals to nominate for each vacancy at the Military, Air Force and Naval academies. Senator Grassley is allocated five vacancies at each of those academies over a four-year period, so every fourth year he is able to nominate 20 Iowa students to each of those academies.  The Military, Air Force and Naval academies each select at least one qualified individual from Senator Grassley’s nominees.  Senator Grassley is also able to nominate 10 Iowans each year to the Merchant Marine Academy.  Appointments to the Merchant Marine Academy are allocated in proportion to the state’s representation in Congress.  Iowa is currently allocated four vacancies at the Merchant Marine Academy.

Senator Grassley encourages Iowa students to consider applying to all of the U.S. service academies, because each academy has different qualifications and a student who may be  medically disqualified for one academy may be eligible for another. Iowa students also should seek recommendations from Senator Tom Harkin and their representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Students interested in obtaining an academy appointment should begin the application process for a congressional nomination in the spring of their junior year of high school. Applicants also should apply directly to the academies of their choice and ask that pre-candidate files be opened on their behalf.

Candidates for the U.S. service academies should rank in the top half of their high school class in a college preparatory curriculum. Candidates should have ACT scores in the 25-36 range in math and science, and in the 22-36 range in English. Candidates should have demonstrated leadership in school and outside of school, with outstanding records of extracurricular activities and/or job experience. Candidates should have completed the physical requirements described in the academy catalogs.

Below is information only for students seeking to enter an academy in 2013.

Applicants seeking Senator Grassley’s nomination must be legal residents of Iowa or dependents of members of the military who are Iowa residents. Applicants must be citizens of the United States, unmarried with no children or legal obligation for a child, and at least 17 years of age but not past their 23rd birthday on July 1, 2013.

To seek a nomination from Senator Grassley, Iowa applicants should create an account and complete this online form.  Additional materials should be mailed to:

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Attn: Academy Nominations
111 7th Avenue SE
Suite 6800
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.

The additional materials that need to be sent to Senator Grassley’s office in Cedar Rapids are as follows: 1) a letter of recommendation from the School Guidance Counselor or alternate administrative school official, 2) high school transcript, 3) a letter of recommendation from a teacher, 4) two additional letters of recommendation from Iowans, 5) the applicant's ACT score must be sent directly to Senator Grassley’s office in Cedar Rapids by ACT. The identification number for the ACT is 7129.

The deadline for Iowa students to complete and submit their application for Senator Grassley’s nomination is October 1, 2012. Files not submitted by the deadline will not be considered. Nominations will be made by February 2013.

For more information, please send a message to academy_nominations@grassley.senate.gov, or call Danielle Cripe at Senator Grassley's Cedar Rapids office at (319) 363-6832.