CONGRESSMAN Jared Polis 2nd DISTRICT OF COLORADO

• United States Air Force Academy
• United States Military Academy
• United States Naval Academy
• United States Merchant Marine Academy

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1 of the year of admission:

• Reside in the 2nd Congressional District to receive a nomination from Congressman Polis
• Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed their 23rd birthday (25th birthday for the Merchant Marine)
• Be a legal U.S. Citizen
• Be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligations to support children or dependents

Applying for a Nomination
Those interested in a nomination must complete and submit an application. You must also begin the application process with the U.S. Service Academy or Academies of your choice, as well as your U.S. senators and/or the vice president of the United States. Congressional representatives may only nominate a slate of 10 applicants for each U.S. Service Academy vacancy. A nomination panel and staff will review applications and conduct interviews. Congressman Polis will review and confirm the panel’s recommendations.

The nomination method may vary by Congressional office. The nomination method used in the 2nd Congressional District is called “competitive with a primary,” and is designed to select qualified and diverse candidates. Of the 10 nominations comprising of a slate, one candidate will be selected as a primary and listed in the #1 slot. The other nine candidates will be listed as a competitive nomination in slots #2-10. The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations for the most qualified candidates. They have the ultimate responsibility to appoint based on several “whole person” factors, including, but not limited to: academic and test records, athletic activities, leadership potential, medical qualifications, extracurricular activities, and diversity in perspective.   

To Download the Application
Access the links below, and please read the instructions thoroughly.

Instructions and Complete Application: Contains personal information, Certification of Accuracy and Understanding form, optional demographic questionnaire, reference list and summary sheet. Complete this form with the test scores you have available and send updates as available.

Forms for References: Contains the Academy Nomination Reference Form. Be sure to print three (3) of the forms, one (1) for each personal reference. You may also share this link with your references to expedite the process. Your references can give you their personal recommendation letter and Academy Nomination Reference Form for inclusion with your final application, or you can request that they mail it directly to Congressman Polis' office.

U.S. Service Academy Presentations
If you would like a U.S. Service Academy presentation for your troop, squadron, or other organization meeting, please contact Christine Berg in the Boulder office. You can also download a brochure.

2012 Candidate Deadlines
October 1: Applications are due to Christine Berg in the Boulder office.
Late October to mid-November: Candidate interviews are conducted.
December 31, 2012: Candidate selections are submitted to the U.S. Service Academies.

Coast Guard Academy or Reserves Office Training Corps
If you are interested in the United States Coast Guard Academy or the Reserves Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), you do not need a Congressional nomination. However, Congressman Polis can provide a letter of recommendation on your behalf once you have completed our process.

Office Contact
For all questions and further information, contact:

Christine Berg
Congressman Jared Polis
4770 Baseline Rd, #220
Boulder, CO 80303
Phone: (303) 484-9596
Fax: (303) 568-9007

U.S. Service Academy Contact Information