Thank you for your interest in serving the United States by attending a service academy.

Keep in mind that each academy has its own application process. You must meet these requirements and be accepted for admission to attend an academy. Nomination alone is not sufficient, as each academy reviews nominees to ensure they are scholastically and physically qualified. Visit the links below to learn more about applying to each academy.

Application for nomination is very competitive. Senator Tester makes 10 nominations for each academy vacancy each year. The academy admissions committee then selects from those ten candidates those they determine to be the most qualified for admission.

Each U.S. Senator is authorized to have a maximum of five cadets enrolled at each academy. Therefore, it is in your best interest to apply to every person who has authority to nominate you (including Senator Daines, President Trump, Vice President Pence, etc.). If you receive a nomination from another source, in most cases, Senator Tester will not duplicate that nomination.  Multiple nominations will not help any applicant in the admissions process. Please contact Sen. Tester's office if you are nominated by someone else.

Please carefully consider which academy you select as your first choice. Second choices are considered only in the event that there are not enough qualified candidates who designate an academy as their first choice.

Eligibility

Applicants for nomination must meet the following requirements as of July 1 of the year of admission to a service academy:

• be at least 17 years of age but not older than 23 years of age (25 years of age for the Merchant Marine Academy);
• be a United States Citizen and a permanent resident of Montana; and
• be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

Application Checklist

Online Application Form and Essay Questions

Completion of the online application form initiates your application for nomination. Visit the online application center and create an account to start the process toward nomination. You can monitor the progress of your application online as your materials are received by Senator Tester's office.

High school seniors graduating in 2019 must submit a completed application no later than November 1, 2018.

Go to the Online Application Center

SAT/ACT Scores

Your scores from the SAT and/or ACT are required for application to the service academies. Applicants must complete the SAT and/or ACT exam and submit an official score report to the academies and Senator Tester's office. The SAT and ACT tests administered in November are the latest test administration that will meet the application deadline on November 1, 2018. Send your score report to SAT Code 4464 or ACT Code 7152.

School Transcript

An official transcript from your high school record and a class record must be submitted. This transcript must show your current grades and numerical class rank (percentile ranks are not acceptable). If you apply before this information is available, it is your responsibility to submit an up-to-date transcript and to keep your records current. Submit your transcript to the address below.

Recommendation Form

The Recommendation Form must be completed by your High School Principal or Guidance Counselor. Have your High School Principal or Guidance Counselor mail the recommendation to Senator Tester's office at the address below.

Download a Nomination Recommendation Form

Direct application materials to:

Office of Senator Jon Tester
208 N Montana Avenue, Suite 202
Helena, MT 59601

You can reach Senator Tester's Nomination Coordinator by calling (406) 449-5401 or (800) 554-4403.