Academy Nominations

Senator Menendez is honored to recommend motivated students from New Jersey to our country’s service academies. Additionally, he is grateful that many of our young, ambitious students have the desire to serve our great nation.

In order to understand how Senator Menendez’s selections are made, please review the application process below.

Important note: Applicants do not need an Academy Nomination for the Coast Guard Academy.

Download Application

Application Process

  1. Review the Criteria and Eligibility Requirements for attending a Service Academy below.
  2. Download the full academy application PDF here 
  3. Please fill out the full academy application, print a hard copy and send it to:

The Office of Senator Robert Menendez
Attn: Academy Department
1 Gateway Center, 11th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102

Please Note:

  • Applicants for nomination must also apply to the academy of their choice. Congressional nominations and academy applications are both required to attend. 
  • All application materials must be submitted (postmarked) by October 5th, 2018
  • An interview will be scheduled for all applicants whose files are found to be competitive and complete. 
  • You should apply to both U.S. Senators and your Congressional Representative

Please don’t submit your application unless you have included all of the following materials: 

  • Completed 7 page form
  • Must include recent picture on page 1
  • Must indicate ONLY ONE academy preference on page 2
  • Must include signature on page 7

  • A resume/list of activities with email address

  • A copy or print-out of your SAT/ACT scores (https://studentscores.collegeboard.org/home)

  • An official transcript from your school(s)

    Transcript must be signed and include a school seal to be considered official. We will not accept unofficial one

  • Three (3) letters of recommendation

  • The only thing we accept late are your updated SAT or ACT scores
Please submit all materials in one envelope to: 

           The Office of Senator Robert Menendez
           Attn: Academy Department
           1 Gateway Center, 11th Floor
           Newark, NJ 07102

  • If you have any questions or concerns about the nomination process, please contact Deb or Jeremy in our academy department at 973-645-3030.

  • We may have to contact you so please provide your phone number and make sure your voicemail is set up professionally and not full.

Criteria & Eligibility

Criteria for selecting nominees are based upon the standards and goals of the academies, stressing:

  • Leadership potential;
  • High academic performance;
  • Demonstrated athletic ability;
  • Self-motivation; and,
  • Performance on the SATs or ACTs.

Academies require nominees to be:

  • Permanent residents of and domiciled in the state of the nominating senator;
  • At least 17 years old, but not passed their 23rd birthday; and,
  • Unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.  (The marriage and age requirements vary for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.)