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Academy Nominations

Senator Shaheen is honored to have the opportunity to nominate outstanding New Hampshire students to the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy and West Point. Our nation’s service academies provide young men and women with the excellent education and leadership skills they need to succeed in the future.

Students must obtain a nomination in order to compete for admission to any of the four Service Academies and should apply for a nomination in the spring of their junior year.

To be considered for a nomination, please send your completed application to:

Office of Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Attn: Academy Nomination Coordinator
1589 Elm Street, Floor 3
Manchester, N.H. 03101

All application materials must be postmarked, or hand delivered, no later than October 3, 2014. Applications postmarked after this deadline will not be accepted.

Senator Shaheen is also inviting New Hampshire students interested in attending any of the country’s military service academies to attend New Hampshire Military Service Academy Day on Saturday, May 10, in Concord.

The event will feature representatives from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. They will be available to provide information and answer questions from interested students. Staff representatives for Senator Shaheen will also be available to answer questions about obtaining service academy nominations.

Below are some common questions and answers regarding service academy nominations and appointments.

Am I eligible for a nomination?

In order to be considered for a nomination, an applicant must meet all of the following eligibility requirements by July 1 of the year of admission:

  • Be between the ages of 17 and 23 (25 for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy)
  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be a resident of the State of New Hampshire
  • Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

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What is the difference between a nomination and an appointment?

A nomination from a qualified nomination source allows you to compete with other students to be accepted into the Service Academies. If you are nominated by Senator Shaheen's office, you will be placed among a select group of nominees, and the academy of your choice will make the final decision. A nomination DOES NOT guarantee you an appointment to a service academy.

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Who else should I apply to for a nomination?

Students are encouraged to seek nominations from all available sources. In addition to applying to Senator Shaheen's office, it is also recommend that you apply to Senator Kelly Ayotte’s office as well as either Representative Ann McLane Kuster or Representative Carol Shea-Porter (please note that the Representatives may only nominate those students who reside in their district).

In addition to the Congressional nomination process, nominations may also be available to qualifying students from the following sources: President and Vice President of the United States and the Secretary of each military department; Army, Navy and Air Force.

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Should I open an application with the Service Academy I am interested in?

Yes, it is absolutely critical that a student open an application with the Service Academy in which they are interested. Opening an application with the Service Academy will allow Senator Shaheen's office to track your application online, and if nominated, submit the student’s nomination online to the Service Academy.

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How do I open an application with a Service Academy?

Each academy uses a questionnaire to make an initial assessment of an applicant’s potential for an appointment. The results of this evaluation are provided by each academy to Members of Congress to assist them in screening their applicants for nominations. Please be sure to complete a pre-candidate questionnaire for each academy in which you are interested.

You may obtain a pre-candidate questionnaire from each of the Service Academy websites (below).

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How do I request a nomination from Senator Shaheen?

As part of the nomination process, several items are required to process your application. Please refer to the Applicant Check List, which is available to students to track their application file. The following items are required to process your request for a nomination. **Please note that submitting these items does not guarantee you a nomination.

  • Official Request Letter – official letter from you, stating that you are requesting a nomination from Senator Shaheen. Phone calls or emails requesting a nomination will not serve as the official request letter.
  • Nomination Application Form
  • Resume
  • Personal Statement (not to exceed one page single spaced)
  • Official copy of High School Transcripts (if applicable, college transcripts should also be included)
  • SAT/ACT scores - copies of your official scores will be accepted. If you would like to send your scores directly from the College Board you may use the SAT code 0225 or ACT code 7158.
  • Three letters of recommendation (please do not submit more than three letters of recommendation)
    • One from a teacher, principal or guidance counselor
    • One from an employer, coach, or extracurricular faculty advisor
    • One from anyone NOT related to you

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Is there an interview process?

Yes, each student who is deemed fully qualified to attend an academy will be required to participate in an interview with Senator Shaheen's Service Academy Nomination Board.

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When will the interviews be?

If you are a fully qualified candidate, you will be contacted by one of Senator Shaheen's staff members to schedule an interview with Shaheen's Service Academy Nomination Board. The interview date and time will be determined after all applications have been received and reviewed.

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Where can I obtain more information on each Service Academy?

If you are looking for additional information on one or more of the Service Academies, please visit their websites directly:

U.S. Military Academy: www.usma.edu
U.S. Air Force Academy: www.usafa.edu
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: www.usmma.edu
U.S. Naval Academy: www.usna.edu

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When can I start to submit my application materials?

Application materials are accepted on a rolling basis beginning June 1, 2014. Please note that no priority will be given to those applications submitted earlier than others. All applications are submitted to Senator Shaheen's Service Academy Nomination Board two weeks prior to the date of interviews.

** No application materials via email or fax will be accepted**

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What is the deadline to submit nomination application materials?

All application materials must be postmarked, or hand delivered, no later than October 3, 2014. Applications postmarked after this deadline will not be accepted.

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Where do I send my application materials?

All application materials must be sent to Senator Shaheen's Manchester office at:

Office of Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Attn: Academy Nomination Coordinator
1589 Elm Street, Floor 3
Manchester, N.H. 03101

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When will I hear if I have been nominated?

All students will be notified of the nomination results by January 30, 2015.

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More Questions?

If you have more questions regarding a nomination to a U.S. Service Academy, Senator Shaheen’s staff is more than happy to help.  You may reach our office at 603-647-7500

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