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Military Service Academy Nominations

As a Member of Congress, I have the distinct honor of nominating promising candidates to the United States service academies.  I have taken great pride over the years in nominating a number of talented young people from my district.

Eligibility Requirements

All candidates applying for a congressional nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to a service academy:

• Be a U.S citizen and legal resident of the 31st Congressional District of California
• Be at least 17 years of age and not past their 23rd birthday (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy)
• 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 a candidate to six years of active duty service after graduation.

Application Process

If you are interested in applying for a congressional nomination to a service academy you will need to fill out and submit my U.S. Service Academy Nomination Application Form and supporting documents:

Class of 2017 Service Academy Application>> (right-click and select "Save Link As..." to download).

Mail or drop off the completed application packet to my District Office:

Office of Rep. Xavier Becerra
Attn: Brenda Vargas
1910 W Sunset Boulevard
Suite 810
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Make sure to complete the application, print it, sign it, and mail or deliver it to the District Office before the deadline. If you have any questions about the application or selection process, please call Brenda Vargas at 213-483-1425.

Please note that we are currently accepting applications for the Class of 2017. Completed applications and all accompanying documents must be submitted directly to my District Office by November 15, 2012.

In addition, it is your responsibility to directly contact your academy or academies of choice to request a pre-candidate questionnaire and complete a candidate file. The questionnaire may also be completed online by visiting each academy’s webpage (see below):

Naval Academy Air Force Academy Merchant Marines Academy
Coast Guard Academy Military Academy at West Point

Selection Process

Candidates will be evaluated using a competitive system recommended by the academies. The selection process includes a personal interview, and a review of your application, essays, academic records, letters of recommendation, community involvement, character and leadership experience. Nominations will be made prior to December 31 of this year.

Please note that a congressional nomination is not a guarantee of admission. The final decision will be made by the academy itself following a “whole-person” evaluation that considers a candidate’s character, scholarship, leadership, physical aptitude, medical fitness, goals and motivation.