Senator Jack Reed - US Senator for Rhode Island

Jack Reed

Jack Reed

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Academy Nominations

As your Senator, and a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, I am honored to recommend outstanding students from Rhode Island to our nation's Service Academies.

Jack Reed with a group of West Point cadets

Jack Reed with cadets enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point.

I applaud you for your interest in helping to protect and serve our nation.

America's service academies have a rich and proud tradition that dates back over two hundred years. Students wishing to serve must meet high academic and physical standards.

In order to help you understand the nomination process, please review the detailed instructions available in my online application.

 

Opening a File in My Office

  1. Create an account for my online application.
  2. Read the application instructions, which provide information on the selection process and eligibility requirements for a nomination.
  3. Answer the online questionnaire. When you have completed it, please check it "complete."
  4. Submit all required materials to:
The Honorable Jack Reed
ATTN: Service Academy Nomination Coordinator
1000 Chapel View Boulevard, Suite 290
Cranston, RI 02920

REMEMBER: All application materials must be submitted by October 31, 2012. You also must submit a Pre-Candidate Questionnaire (PCQ) directly to the Academies before my Selection Committee will consider your application.

You can check the status of your application at any time by clicking on "Checklist" in the top right corner of the online application.

If you have any questions or concerns about the nominating process, please contact my Service Academy Nomination Coordinator at (401) 943-3100.

Access Online Application

If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact my office for the paper version.

Selection Process

All applicants are required to complete a Pre-Candidate Questionnaire (PCQ) from the Academies. My office can request a PCQ for an applicant, if necessary.

An interview will be scheduled for all applicants whose files are found to be competitive. The interview is conducted by Senator Reed's U.S. Service Academy Selection Committee in his Cranston office.

Criteria for selecting nominees are based upon the standards and goals of the Service Academies, stressing:

  • Leadership potential;
  • High academic performance;
  • Demonstrated athletic ability;
  • Motivation;
  • Performance on the SAT or ACT.

Eligibility and Methods of Appointment

Regulations of the Academies require nominees to be permanent residents of the State of the nominating Senator and domiciled in the State of the nominating U.S. Senator. Applicants must be at least 17 years old, but not have passed their 23rd birthday, and must be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents. The marriage and age requirements vary for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

A U.S. Senator is allowed a maximum of five appointments per Service Academy, ten appointments for the Merchant Marine Academy. For the Military (West Point), Air Force, and Naval (Annapolis) Academies, the top applicant is deemed the "principal nominee"; the other nominees are submitted as "competing alternates." If for some reason the principal nominee does not qualify, the alternates then compete for the vacancy.

If one of your parents is an active duty or retired military person, you may also be eligible for a Presidential Nomination. If you are the son or daughter of a deceased or disabled veteran, or of a Medal of Honor winner, you may also apply directly to the Superintendent of the Academy for a nomination.

In addition, the Vice President has the same nominating authority as a Member of Congress, but can nominate from the United States at-large (an application can be made directly to the Vice President).