Academy Nominations

Thank you for your interest in applying to one of the United States Service Academies. Being nominated is a significant honor and the application process is rigorous. It is important to continue to strengthen our proud military history by providing each United States Service Academy with the most qualified and meritorious candidates.

Our nation's service academies offer four-year college educations to qualified students. Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy receive commissions in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Merchant Marine, or Coast Guard, and are obligated to serve for at least five years after graduation. You do not need a Congressional nomination to attend the Coast Guard Academy.

I encourage all students who are interested in applying and willing to put forth significant time and effort to do so.

If you are interested in pursuing this proud tradition, begin the nomination process by creating your online application account. You will be able to adjust and add to your application as needed through this account. Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending a U.S. Service Academy and serving our country.

Eligibility for Nomination from U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich:

U.S. citizen;
New Mexico resident;
At least 17 years of age and not yet 23 years old on July 1 of the year the applicant would enter an academy (25 years old for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy);
Unmarried; and
Not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

Application Requirements

Online application with personal essay
Official SAT/ACT scores
Official high school transcript (in a signed and sealed envelope)
Two letters of recommendation from non-relatives
Counselor evaluation form
Service Academy Nomination Review Board interview

Counselor Evaluation Form

Applicants are encouraged to download the evaluation request form and submit it to their counselor or principal so that they may use it to complete the online counselor evaluation.

Counselors may complete an online counselor evaluation, and create an online evaluation account where they may submit multiple evaluations for multiple students.

Counselors may also opt to download a copy of the Counselor Evaluation Form, complete, scan, and email to academy@heinrich.senate.gov.

In addition to the above requirements, each academy has established academic, physical, and leadership requirements for admission. Candidates for appointment to each academy must:

Demonstrate comprehensive academic preparation;
Demonstrate leadership in athletics and other extracurricular activities;
Take the SAT, or the ACT;
Pass a comprehensive medical examination; and
Pass a physical aptitude examination.

Individuals seeking appointment to a service academy must also separately apply to each service academy to which he or she seeks to be appointed. Each academy requires the submission of a preliminary application to initiate the admissions process. Preliminary application materials are available from the academies' websites.

Begin Online Application Process Begin Counselor Evaluation Form

Service Academy Websites

United States Military Academy at West Point

Since its founding two centuries ago, the Military Academy has accomplished its mission by developing cadets in four critical areas: intellectual, physical, military, and moral-ethical - a four-year process called the "West Point Experience."

United States Naval Academy

The Naval Academy was founded in 1845 by the Secretary of the Navy, George Bancroft, in what is now historic Annapolis, MD. This academy gives young men and women the up-to-date academic and professional training needed to be effective naval and marine officers in their assignments after graduation.

United States Air Force Academy

Designed for the future, the United States Air Force Academy campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories, observatories and a library containing over 700,000 volumes. Spanning 18,000 spectacular acres nestled against the Rocky Mountains, the Academy draws thousands of visitors from around the world each year.

United States Merchant Marine Academy

The United States Merchant Marine Academy will teach you how to succeed in the maritime and transportation industries or the Armed Forces, while it prepares you to receive a Bachelor of Science degree, a merchant marine license, and an appointment as a commissioned officer on reserve or active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.

United States Coast Guard Academy

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is proud to educate leaders of a multi-mission, maritime military force. While the United States Coast Guard is notable as the oldest life-saving service in the world, its roles include more than just Maritime Safety and Security. The Coast Guard is also called upon for critical service in Protection of Natural Resources, Maritime Mobility and National Defense.