Information on the Academy Nominations Process

Each year hundreds of South Carolina's best and brightest young men and women contact my office about a nomination to a Service Academy. There are five Service Academies: United States Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Military Academy at West Point, and the Naval Academy. Please note that nominations are required for every Service Academy, except the Coast Guard Academy.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the websites for each Academy to determine the entrance requirements as well as the respective deadline for applications. Applicants must also must meet certain eligibility requirements (listed below) and be nominated by an authorized nominating source. Nominating sources include, but are not limited to, the applicant’s two United States Senators, and United States Congressman (applicants may also verify other nominating sources with the Academies).

Members of Congress may have no more than five people attending each Service Academy at any given time. For each vacancy, ten nominations may be submitted to the respective Academy Admissions Office. Offers of appointment are made by the Academy on a competitive basis measuring the eligibility of all ten nominees.

For more information on the Service Academies, you are encouraged to check out their websites:

United States Military Academy at West Point

United States Naval Academy

United States Air Force Academy

United States Merchant Marine Academy

United States Coast Guard Academy