Academy Nominations

Each year, one of my most important responsibilities as your Senator is nominating young men and women for admission to our country’s service academies.

To be eligible, you must be:

  • A US citizen
  • A legal resident of the state of West Virginia (or a dependent of military members who are West Virginia residents)
  • Single; not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
  • At least 17 years of age and not yet 23 years old on July 1 of the year you would enter an academy (25 years old for USMMA).

Service academy applicants are eligible for nomination by both United States Senators in the state of their legal residence and the United States Representative for the District in which they reside as well as the Vice President. Applicants should apply for nomination to all applicable nominating sources.

Admission to a service academy is a two-tiered process. First, the candidate must apply through the Academy directly. There are five (5) service academies that offer appointments to highly qualified individuals who meet eligibility requirements and are the most competitive in academic performance, physical fitness, medical standards, extracurricular involvement, leadership traits, motivation and aptitude for military service. You are encouraged to apply early to any and all service academies for which you have a sincere interest. You may apply online at the respective service academy web site. If you meet the minimum eligibility and entrance requirements, the academy will forward a formal application package. You should return all requested materials as directed by the academy as quickly as possible. If you are considered an "official" candidate by the academy, you will be scheduled for a medical examination by the Department of Defense Medical Review Board (DODMERB). You will also complete a Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA).

The second tier in pursuing admission is the Congressional Nominations process. An individual must meet the admissions requirements of the Academy as well as receive a nomination in order to be offered an appointment to the Academy. You do not need a Congressional Nomination for the United States Coast Guard Academy.

The 2016 Academy Nomination application period is now closed. Information regarding the 2017 application process will be posted this spring.