Each year hundreds of the best and brightest young men and women write my office to apply for an appointment to a Service Academy.There are five Service Academies: The United States Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Military Academy at West Point, and the Naval Academy. Please note that nominations are required for all but the Coast Guard Academy.
Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements and be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which include, but are not limited to, your two United States Senators and your United States Representative (you may verify other sources with the Service Academies). You are encouraged to visit the websites for each Academy to determine their minimum entrance requirements.
Members of Congress may have no more than five people attending each service academy at any given time.For each vacancy, ten nominations may be submitted to the respective Service Academy Admissions Office. Offers of appointment are made by the admissions office on a competitive basis measuring the overall qualifications and eligibility of all nominees.
Students interested in a nomination must use the online Service Academy program. Once you have created your online account, you will be able to submit your application online. To access the online application, please click here.
Thank you for your interest in our nation’s Service Academies. Please contact my Columbia office if you have any questions or need further information at 803-933-0112 or academy_nominations@lgraham.senate.gov.
Eligibility Requirements
An applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to a Service Academy:
Must be a United States citizen
Must be a legal resident of South Carolina
Must be at least 17 years of age, but cannot have passed their 23rd birthday
*The US Merchant Marine Academy varies slightly, allowing individuals between the ages of 17 and 25 to apply*
Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy (contact the Academies directly for more information regarding their standards)
Cannot be pregnant or have a legal obligation to support children or other dependents
2012-2013 Application Requirements for Senator Graham
In addition to completing the online application, you must also submit the information below in one packet to my Columbia office. Incomplete application accounts will not be considered – no exceptions will be made. Interviews will be scheduled after October 26th for eligible applicants and will be held in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville. *Dates will be announced in the fall.
*APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012, AT 5:00pm*
For High School Seniors:
Principal or Guidance Counselor Recommendation Form: This Recommendation Form must be completed by your Principal or Guidance Counselor and placed in a sealed envelope with his/her signature across the seal.CLICK HERE FOR A DOWNLOADABLE RECOMMENDATION FORM (PDF).
2 Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation may come from sources of your choice, but they cannot be submitted by a family member.
Transcript: An official transcript of your high school academic record (and college, if applicable) must be submitted in a sealed envelope with a signature across the seal.This transcript must show your final junior grades and numerical class rank (percentile ranks are not acceptable).
College Boards (SAT and/or ACT Scores): Submit a copy of your scores from the respective testing agency website. If you prefer, you may have your scores sent directly to my Columbia office from the respective testing agency – please use reporting codes: ACT: 7180 and SAT: 5720.
Personal Essay: Explain why you are seeking a nomination to your Academy of choice.
For Students attending a Service Academy Prep School or College/University:
3 Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation may come from sources of your choice, but they cannot be submitted by a family member.
College Boards (SAT and/or ACT Scores): Submit a copy of your scores from the respective testing agency website.If you prefer, you may have your scores sent directly to my Columbia office from the respective testing agency – please use reporting codes: ACT: 7180 and SAT: 5720.
Personal Essay: Explain why you are seeking a nomination to your Academy of choice.
For Active Duty Service Men and Women:
3 Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation may come from sources of your choice, but they cannot be submitted by a family member.
College Boards (SAT and/or ACT Scores): Submit a copy of your scores from the respective testing agency website.If you prefer, you may have your scores sent directly to my Columbia office from the respective testing agency – please use reporting codes: ACT: 7180 and SAT: 5720.
Personal Essay: Explain why you are seeking a nomination to your Academy of choice.
Final Notes
You are encouraged to request a nomination from all possible nominating sources; including, but not limited to, both your two United States Senators and your United States Representative.Additionally, it is imperative that you stay in touch with the Admissions Office at the Service Academy to which you are applying in order to maintain your official application. If you are considered an “official” candidate by the Academy, they will schedule you for a medical examination by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) as well as a Physical Aptitude Evaluation (PAE).
Remember, you are responsible for submitting all application requirements in one packet to my Columbia office no later than 5:00pm on Friday, October 26, 2012.
*INCOMPLETE APPLICATION ACCOUNTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED, AND NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.*
Office of United States Senator Lindsey Graham
508 Hampton Street, Suite 202
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 933-0112 Phone
(803) 933-0957 Fax Academy_nominations@lgraham.senate.gov
Once you have created an account, you will have access to view an online checklist that will be updated when your packet of information is received in my Columbia office.
** Again, it is your responsibility to provide my Columbia office with the above requested information by Friday, October, 26th at 5:00pm. Please remember no exceptions will be made and delivery service will not be grounds for a late submission. **
Keep in mind receiving an academy appointment is an extremely competitive process; therefore, you may wish to consider one of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs at your college or university of choice. ROTC can offer you the same officer commission and military career opportunity as a Service Academy. In addition, ROTC offers a variety of tuition and fees scholarships. For more information, please visit the ROTC website: www.rotc.com
For more information on the Service Academies, you are encouraged to check out their websites:
