As a Member of Congress, I have the distinct honor of nominating promising candidates to the United States service academies.  I have taken great pride over the years in nominating a number of talented young people from my district.

Among the most selective institutions of higher learning, our nation’s prestigious service academies provide an excellent opportunity to earn a top-notch college education and prepare young men and women for successful careers as officers in the military and beyond.

 

 

  

The Military Service Academies

To learn more about the respective Military Service Academies, please visit their websites:

United States Military Academy (West Point)

United States Naval Academy

United States Air Force Academy

United States Merchant Marine Academy

 

Eligibility Requirements

All candidates applying for a congressional nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to a service academy:

• Be a U.S citizen and legal resident of the 34th Congressional District of California
• Be at least 17 years of age and not past their 23rd birthday (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy)
• Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents

Please note that the acceptance of an appointment to a United States service academy commits a candidate to at least five years of active duty service after graduation.

Application Process

Class of 2021 Congressional Nomination Application (right click and hit ‘Save link as.’)

If you are interested in applying for a congressional nomination to a service academy, you will need to fill out and submit my Military Service Academy Congressional Nomination Application with supporting documents. To send SAT scores to Representative Becerra’s office, use code 0178. To send ACT scores, use code 7273.

Mail or drop off the completed application packet to the District Office:

Office of Representative Xavier Becerra
Attention: Irvin De La O
350 South Bixel Street, Suite 120
Los Angeles, CA 90017

      

Deadline

The deadline for submitting a Military Service Academy Congressional Nomination Application and supporting documents is Wednesday, November 30, 2016 and no late applications will be accepted. If you have any questions about the application or selection process, please call Irvin De La O at 213-481-1425.

In addition to the congressional nomination application, it is your responsibility to directly contact your academy or academies of choice to request a pre-candidate questionnaire and complete a candidate file.

  

Selection Process

Candidates will be evaluated using a competitive system recommended by the academies. The selection process includes a personal interview, and a review of your application, essays, academic records, letters of recommendation, community involvement, character and leadership experience. 

Please note that a congressional nomination is not a guarantee of admission. The final decision will be made by the academy itself following a “whole-person” evaluation that considers a candidate’s character, scholarship, leadership, physical aptitude, medical fitness, goals and motivation.