Congressional Nominations to the:
- United States Air Force Academy
- United States Military Academy
- United States Naval Academy
- United States Merchant Marine Academy
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1 of the year of admission:
- Reside in the 2nd Congressional District to receive a nomination from Congressman Polis
- Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed their 23rd birthday (25th birthday for the Merchant Marine)
- Be a legal U.S. Citizen
- Be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligations to support children or dependents
Applying for a Nomination
Those interested in a nomination must complete and submit an application. You must also begin the application process with the U.S. Service Academy or Academies of your choice, as well as your U.S. senators and/or the vice president of the United States. Congressional representatives may only nominate a slate of 10 applicants for each U.S. Service Academy vacancy. A nomination panel and staff will review applications and conduct interviews. Congressman Polis will review and confirm the panel’s recommendations.
The nomination method may vary by Congressional office. The nomination method used in the 2nd Congressional District is called “competitive with a primary,” and is designed to select qualified and diverse candidates. Of the 10 nominations comprising of a slate, one candidate will be selected as a primary and listed in the #1 slot. The other nine candidates will be listed as a competitive nomination in slots #2-10. The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations for the most qualified candidates. They have the ultimate responsibility to appoint based on several “whole person” factors, including, but not limited to: academic and test records, athletic activities, leadership potential, medical qualifications, extracurricular activities, and diversity in perspective.
Complete Application:Click here to fill out an application. You will need to provide your contact information, the names of 3 references, a letter written to Congressman Polis detailing why you would like a nomination, and you will also be asked to upload an official transcript and SAT/ACT scores and complete 2 essay questions. You are welcome to send updates of test scores to our office.
Forms for References: Click here if you would like to provide a recommendation letter for a service academy candidate.
U.S. Service Academy Presentations
If you would like a U.S. Service Academy presentation for your troop, squadron, or other organization meeting, please contact Stuart Feinhor in the Boulder office. You can also download a brochure.
Candidate Deadlines
October 1: Applications are due to Stuart Feinhor in the Boulder office.
Late October to mid-November: Candidate interviews are conducted.
December 31: Candidate selections are submitted to the U.S. Service Academies.
Coast Guard Academy or Reserves Office Training Corps
If you are interested in the United States Coast Guard Academy or the Reserves Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), you do not need a Congressional nomination. However, Congressman Polis can provide a letter of recommendation on your behalf once you have completed our process.
Office Contact
For all questions and further information, contact:
Stuart Feinhor
Congressman Jared Polis
1644 Walnut St.
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (303) 484-9596
Fax: (303) 568-9007
U.S. Service Academy Contact Information
For information on the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in Colorado please contact:
Tammy L. Croteau
Scholarship and Enrollment Officer
University of Colorado at Boulder Army ROTC
Folsom Stadium, Gate 3, Room 205
Phone (303) 492-3549
Fax (303) 492-5560
Cell (303) 817-8360
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