Academy Nominations

GA-06 Service Academy Nomination Instructions - Class of 2021

Admission to a service academy is a two-tiered process. First, the candidate must apply through the academy directly. There are five 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. 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.

Applying to Academies

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). Applicants should direct any questions regarding the admissions process of a particular academy to that academy’s admissions office. Information can be obtained through the contact information below:

United States Air Force
Director of Admissions
Colorado Springs, CO 82840-5651
1 (800) 443-9266 www.usafa.edu

United States Naval Academy
Candidate Guidance Office
117 Decatur Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-5018
(410) 293-4361 www.usna.edu

United States Military Academy at West Point
Admissions, Building 606
West Point, NY 10996
(845) 938-4041 www.usma.edu

United States Merchant Marine Academy
300 Steamboat Road
Kings Point, NY 11024-1699
www.usmma.edu

United States Coast Guard Academy
31 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320-4195
(800) 883-USCG (8724) www.cga.edu

Congressional Nomination Process

Eligibility

Candidates seeking nomination to a service academy must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements as of July 1 of the year of admission to an academy:

• Be a U.S. citizen by the time you enter a military academy
• Be 17, but not yet past your 23^rd birthday on 1 July of the year you enter a military academy
• Be unmarried with no dependents

For consideration for a congressional nomination from the Sixth Congressional District, you must also:

• Be a legal resident of the district
• Have earned an above average academic record
• Have achieved competitive standardized test scores (ACT/SAT)
• Scored near or above the published averages on the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA)
• Be of unquestionable strong moral character and display uncompromising integrity

Congressional Process

Every congressional office requires some sort of application form or packet to apply for a nomination. The applications are reviewed by a nomination board, interviews are held, and nomination recommendations are submitted to the Member. The Member will then submit ten nominations for every vacancy available at each academy. Most years, there is one vacancy available at each academy. It is an extremely competitive process and not everyone who applies will be interviewed. 

The application packet for a nomination can be found here. The deadline for submitting completed applications for the class entering the summer of 2017 is Friday, September 30, 2016 at 5:00 PM. Completed application packets must be physically in the District Office by the deadline - postmarks are not sufficient. Please make sure to read all the instructions and verify that you have a completed, signed, application form, as well as all required additional materials.

Nominating Sources

You are encouraged to apply for all nomination sources available. 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. You may also qualify to apply for an ROTC nomination or a Presidential Nomination. You should speak with your Academy Liaison Officer to learn how to apply for these.

Can I Apply Again?

Yes. In fact, every year 1/3 of the entering class at each academy is composed of applicants who have completed a year of college. Applying again shows perseverance and commitment to becoming a military officer. Instructions for what you need are in the application packet.