Order Code RL33213
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service
Academies: An Overview and Resources for
Outreach and Management
Updated February 21, 2006
R. Eric Petersen
Analyst in American National Government
Government and Finance Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies:
An Overview and Resources for Outreach
and Management
Summary
Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for
appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military
Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S.
Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard
Academy, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. These
institutions prepare college-age Americans to be officers of the United States
uniformed services. Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned
as officers in the active or reserve components of the military, the merchant marine,
or the U.S. Coast Guard for a minimum of five years.
The nomination of constituents to one of the service academies can provide
Members of Congress with the opportunity to perform community outreach and other
representational duties. In some states and congressional districts, nominations are
highly competitive. Others are less competitive, and some offices do not receive
expressions of interest from enough applicants to fill the number of nominations
allocated. Consequently, some congressional offices might need to dedicate
considerable staff resources to the selection process to identify qualified candidates,
whereas others can incorporate service academy nominations alongside other
constituent service work such as casework.
The nomination authorities, number of appointments, and criteria establishing
the qualifications of potential service academy appointees are set by statute and
policies established by each academy. No laws or regulations govern congressional
nomination processes, as long as nominations are submitted by deadlines established
by the academies and comply with chamber ethics rules. Each congressional office
with nominating authority has may develop its own process for managing its service
academy nominations. Each office has the discretion to determine how to administer
the decision-making process. Some offices handle nominations internally, assigning
the task of managing applicant files and developing nominations recommendations
to a staff member. Other offices assign staff to oversee nominations-related activities
but delegate the screening and development of nomination recommendations to a
volunteer panel, which could be charged with screening or interviewing applicants.
This report, which will be updated as warranted, describes statutory
requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies. It also
identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established
by statute and each academy. Finally, sample documents that could be used by
congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are
included. These documents provide basic information and can be customized to fit
the specific needs of individual office policies. For further materials and resources
for other constituent service issues, see the CRS Constituent Services Web page at
[http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/constituentservices.shtml].

Contents
Congressional Approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Appointment Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Department of Defense Academies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Noncongressional DOD Service Academy Appointment Authorities . . . . . . 4
United States Merchant Marine Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
United States Coast Guard Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Applicant Qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Appendix 1. Sample Initial Contact Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Appendix 2. Sample Information Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Appendix 3. Sample Application Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Appendix 4. Sample Nomination Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
List of Tables
Table 1. Distribution of Non-Congressional Nominations to Department of
Defense Service Academies, by Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 2. Distribution of Seats Available for Congressional Nomination to
the United States Merchant Marine Academy, by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Table 3. Websites for Preliminary Application to United States Service
Academies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Congressional Nominations to
U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and
Resources for Outreach and Management
Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for
appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military
Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis,
MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S.
Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy,
the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a
congressional nomination for appointment. These institutions provide college-age
Americans with a tuition-free, four year undergraduate education and prepare them
to be officers of the U.S. uniformed services. Upon graduation, service academy
graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve components of the
military, the merchant marine, or the U.S. Coast Guard for a minimum of five years.
The nomination of constituents to one of the service academies can provide
Members of Congress with the opportunity to perform community outreach and other
representational activities. In some states and congressional districts, nominations
are highly competitive. Others are less competitive, and some offices do not receive
expressions of interest from enough applicants to fill the number of nominations
allocated. Consequently, some congressional offices may need to dedicate
considerable staff resources to the selection process to identify qualified candidates,
whereas others can incorporate service academy nominations alongside other
constituent service work such as casework.1
Congressional Approaches
The nomination authorities, number of appointments, and criteria establishing
the qualifications of potential service academy appointees are set in statute and
policies established by each academy. No laws or regulations govern congressional
nomination processes, as long as nominations are submitted by deadlines established
by the academies and comply with chamber ethics rules. Each congressional office
with nominating authority has the opportunity to develop its own process for
managing its service academy nominations. Some congressional offices have
adapted and modified a “whole person” approach similar to that used by USMA,
USNA, and USAFA to develop their nomination decisions. This approach evaluates
several broad components of a potential nominee’s qualifications for appointment,
1 See CRS Report RL33209, Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules,
Laws, and Resources
, by R. Eric Petersen. Additional casework materials are available at
the CRS casework Web page at [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/casework.shtml].

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including character, scholarship, leadership, physical aptitude, medical fitness, and
motivation. Other congressional offices reach decisions through the consideration of
a candidate’s academic preparation, extracurricular participation, community service,
and the recommendations of those familiar with their activities in such areas.
In addition to establishing criteria for nomination decisions, each congressional
Member office may determine how to administer the decision-making process. Some
offices handle nominations internally, assigning the task of managing applicant files
and developing nomination recommendations to a staff member. Other offices assign
staff to oversee nomination-related activities but delegate the screening and
development of nomination recommendations to a volunteer panel, which could be
charged with screening or interviewing applicants. A nominations review panel
could include educators, service academy alumni, representatives of veterans’ groups,
and other community leaders from a Member’s state or district. The decision to
employ one approach or another could be based on the number of nomination
applications received, the volume of other activity in a congressional office, the
availability of qualified volunteers to sit on a nominations board, and other unique
considerations related to individual states and congressional districts. The use of
volunteers in congressional offices is governed by regulations issued by the Select
Committee on Ethics in the Senate2 and by the Committees on House Administration
and Standards of Official Conduct in the House.3
Statutory requirements regarding allocations of congressional nominations to
service academies are described in the next section. A subsequent section describes
qualifications of potential nominees to service academies established by statute and
each academy. Finally, this report includes sample documents that may be used by
congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process. These
documents, which are based on information and examples found on service academy
and congressional websites, provide basic information and can be customized to fit
the specific needs of individual office policies. The documents include
! an initial contact letter that a congressional office could send to high
schools in its state or district,
! an information sheet and application that could be sent to those
potential applicants who respond to the contact letter or contact a
congressional office on their own initiative,
2 U.S. Congress, Senate, Select Committee on Ethics, Senate Ethics Manual, S. Pub. 108-1,
108th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 2003), pp. 113-115. The document is available on
the Web at [http://ethics.senate.gov/downloads/pdffiles/manual.pdf].
3 U.S. Congress, House, Committee on House Administration, Member’s Congressional
Handbook
, available on the Web at [http://cha.house.gov/services/memberhandbook.htm];
U.S. Congress, House, Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, House Ethics Manual,
102nd Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 1992), pp. 197-199, and 209; and U.S. Congress,
House, Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Ethics Manual for Members, Officers,
and Employees of the U.S. House of Representatives
, available on the Web at
[http://www.house.gov/ethics/ethicschap5.html].

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! an instruction sheet for preparing an application for congressional
nomination, and
! an application for congressional nomination.
Appointment Criteria
Appointment and nomination criteria are established by statute and regulations
issued by each academy. Three service academies, USMA, USNA, and USAFA, are
housed in the military branches of the Department of Defense (DOD). USMMA is
governed by regulations issued by the Department of Transportation. USCGA,
which does not require a congressional nomination for admission, is an
organizational unit of the Department of Homeland Security.
Department of Defense Academies
Three service academies, USMA, USNA, and USAFA, are overseen by the
three military branches of the DOD. Allocations for nomination by Members of
Congress of prospective appointees to these academies are established by statute and
are substantially similar for each academy.4 The number of positions subject to
congressional nomination includes
! 10 from each state, 5 of whom are nominated by each Senator from
that state;
! 5 from each congressional district, nominated by the Representative
from the district;
! 5 from the District of Columbia, nominated by the Delegate from the
District of Columbia;
! 2 from the U.S. Virgin Islands, nominated by the Delegate from the
U.S. Virgin Islands;
! 5 from Puerto Rico, nominated by the Resident Commissioner from
Puerto Rico;5
! 2 from Guam, nominated by the Delegate from Guam; and
! 1 from American Samoa, nominated by the Delegate from American
Samoa.
4 Appointment, number, and territorial distribution information are codified at 10 U.S.C.
9342, USAFA; 10 U.S.C. 6954, USNA; and 10 U.S.C. 4342, USMA.
5 In addition to the congressional appointees from Puerto Rico, the statutes provide for the
nomination by the Governor of Puerto Rico of one individual who is a native of Puerto Rico.

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When a congressionally nominated academy position is vacant, a Member of
Congress is entitled to nominate 10 persons for possible appointment. As DOD
service academy cadets who received a congressional nomination graduate, or as
their appointments are otherwise terminated, the nominating Member office can
make new nominations. Typically, one appointment per DOD academy per Senator
and Representative is available annually. In some years, however, a congressional
office that is allocated five positions in each academy will have the opportunity to
make nominations that could lead to two appointments to an academy.
Appointments made by a predecessor are considered part of the quota of a newly
elected Member. Appointments made for candidates whose Representative changes
as a result of legislative redistricting are considered as part of the new Member’s
allocation.6
Nominees may be submitted in three categories: without ranking, with a
principal candidate and nine ranked alternates, or with a principal candidate and nine
unranked alternates.7 When the Member specifies a principal candidate, that
individual will be appointed to a DOD academy as long as he or she meets all other
admission criteria. If the principal candidate is disqualified, the service academies
will appoint the first fully qualified, ranked alternate, if specified by the Member. In
circumstances where Members do not specify a principal candidate or ranked
alternates, one individual from among the Member’s nominees who is found to be
fully qualified will be appointed by the academies to serve as cadets.
Noncongressional DOD Service
Academy Appointment Authorities

All qualified nominees not selected for appointment through the congressional
nomination process are considered qualified alternates for the purposes of selection
by other noncongressional nominating or appointing authorities. In his capacity as
commander in chief of the military, the President is the appointing authority for all
service academy admissions. The President makes direct appointments in several
military-affiliated categories, including children of career military personnel,
deceased or disabled veterans, military or civilian personnel in missing status, and
Medal of Honor recipients. Other nominating authorities include the Vice President;8
the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to their respective academies; the
superintendents of each academy to their respective academies; the Governor of
Puerto Rico; and the resident representative of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Vice presidential nominations are made at large, and applicants may apply for
those through each DOD service academy. The service secretaries nominate
individuals who serve as enlisted members of the regular and reserve components of
their respective military branches, as well as participants in the reserve officer
6 10 U.S.C. 9347, USAFA; 10 U.S.C. 6955, USNA; and 10 U.S.C. 4347, USMA.
7 No data are publicly available regarding the number of offices that choose ranked or
unranked options.
8 If there is no Vice President, then the President Pro Tempore of the Senate makes those
nominations.

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training corps of the service they oversee. The superintendents of each academy
nominate candidates from the country at large. The governor of Puerto Rico and the
representative of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands make
nominations from among applicants in their respective jurisdictions. The distribution
of nominations by noncongressional authorities is listed in Table 1.
In addition to appointments made through nomination authorities, 65 cadets per
academy are appointed in order of merit established by examination from among the
children of armed forces personnel who were killed in action, who are missing in
action, and who had or have a 100% service-connected disability contracted in active
service.
Table 1. Distribution of Non-Congressional Nominations to
Department of Defense Service Academies, by Authority
Nominating Authority
Number and Type
Presidenta
One hundred who are children of members of the armed
forces who have eight years of active or reserve duty service,
retirement status, or who are deceased with one of those
statuses.
The President is also authorized to appoint an unlimited
number of children whose parents have been awarded the
Medal of Honor.
Vice Presidentb
Five, at large.
Service Secretaryc
Eighty-five enlisted members of the regular service of the
branch led by the Secretary.
Eighty-five enlisted members of the reserve components of
the branch led by the Secretary.
Twenty honor graduates of schools designated as honor
schools by any military branch, and from members of the
Secretary’s service Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
One hundred-fifty qualified alternates who received ranked
congressional nominations but were not appointed.
Service academy
Fifty, at large.
superintendent
Governor, Puerto Rico
One, who must be a native of Puerto Rico.
Resident representative,
One, who must be from the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands
Notes: These nomination authorities apply to nominations for appointment to USMA, USNA, and USAFA. They
do not apply to nominations for appointment to USMMA, which has no noncongressional nominations, or the
USCGA, which requires does not require nominations.
a. In his capacity as commander in chief of the military, the President is the appointing authority for all service
academy admissions.
b. If there is no Vice President, then the President Pro Tempore of the Senate makes those nominations.

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c. The service secretary for USMA is the Secretary of the Army; USNA, Secretary of the Navy; and USAFA,
Secretary of the Air Force. In addition to their numerical categorical nominating authority, military branch
secretaries are also authorized, when the annual quota of cadets is not met, to appoint any qualified
applicant who did not receive a nomination from any other nominating authority.
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Members of Congress nominate individuals for appointment to USMMA.9 The
number of positions in an entering class at this service academy are allocated by
regulation issued by the Secretary of Transportation. Under the regulation, each
Senator, Representative, Delegate, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico
may nominate 10 candidates to compete for admission to the academy. Individual
applicants from states are appointed to the academy in proportion to the state’s
representation in Congress. The regulation allocates four vacancies to nominees
from the District of Columbia and one vacancy each to nominees from Puerto Rico,
Guam, Virgin Islands, and America Samoa. The allocation of positions by state and
territory is listed in Table 2. The regulation states that nominating officials may
select individuals for nomination by any method they wish, including a screening
examination.10
Table 2. Distribution of Seats Available for Congressional
Nomination to the United States Merchant Marine Academy,
by State
State
Seats
State
Seats
State
Seats
Alabama
4
Kentucky
2
Ohio
8
Alaska
1
Louisiana
4
Oklahoma
2
American Samoa
1
Maine
2
Oregon
3
Arizona
3
Maryland
5
Pennsylvania
10
Arkansas
2
Massachusetts
5
Puerto Rico
1
California
19
Michigan
7
Rhode Island
2
Colorado
4
Minnesota
3
South Carolina
4
Connecticut
4
Mississippi
3
South Dakota
1
Delaware
1
Missouri
3
Tennessee
4
District of Columbia
4
Montana
2
Texas
13
Florida
10
Nebraska
2
Utah
2
Georgia
5
Nevada
2
Vermont
1
Guam
1
New Mexico
2
U.S. Virgin Islands
1
Hawaii
2
New Jersey
6
Virginia
5
Idaho
2
New York
15
Washington
5
Illinois
9
New Hampshire
2
West Virginia
2
Indiana
3
North Carolina
6
Wisconsin
4
Iowa
4
North Dakota
1
Wyoming
1
Kansas
3
Source: 46 CFR 310.53.
9 46 U.S.C. Appendix — Shipping, sec. 1295b.
10 46 CFR 310.53. There are no presidential, vice presidential, or service-connected
nominations to USMMA.

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United States Coast Guard Academy
Procedures for appointments to USCGA are established by regulations issued
by the Secretary of Homeland Security.11 No congressional nomination is required
for admission to this service academy.
Applicant Qualifications
To qualify for an appointment to any service academy, an applicant must meet
the following statutory criteria:
! American citizenship;
! at least 17 years of age and not yet 23 years old on July 1 of the year
the applicant would enter an academy (25 years old for USMMA);
! unmarried; and
! not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or
other dependents.
In addition to statutory requirements, each academy has established academic,
physical, and leadership requirements for admission. Candidates for appointment to
each academy must
! demonstrate comprehensive academic preparation;12
! demonstrate leadership in athletics and other extracurricular
activities;
! take the SAT-I, or the ACT Assessment (ACT);
! be in good physical and mental health;
! pass a comprehensive medical examination; and
! pass a physical aptitude examination.
Specific requirements in each of the academic, physical, and leadership
categories vary by academy and are revised regularly. In preparation for making
11 14 U.S.C. 182.
12 The extent and nature of recommended high school preparation varies by academy.
Detailed preparation and admissions information is available from each academy’s website:
USMA [http://admissions.usma.edu/FAQs/faqs_admission.cfm#COURSES]; USNA
[ h t t p : / / w w w . u s n a . e d u / A d m i s s i o n s / f a q . h t m # q u a l i f i c a t i o n s ] ; U S A F A
[http://academyadmissions.com/admissions/preparation/index.php]; and USMMA
[http://www.usmma.edu/admissions/facts/scholasticrequirements.htm].

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appointments, a congressional office might review each academy’s most recent class
profile for specific information on scores and class rankings and activities of recently
admitted students. Some of this information is available on the academies’
websites.13
In addition to requesting a nomination from a Member of Congress or another
nominating official, an individual seeking appointment to a service academy must
separately apply to the service academies to which he or she seeks to be appointed.
Each academy requires the submission of a preliminary application to initiate the
process. Preliminary application materials are available from the academies' websites
listed in Table 3. Acceptance of a service academy appointment requires at least a
nine-year service obligation, including four years at an academy and five years of
active duty service.
Table 3. Websites for Preliminary Application to United States
Service Academies
Academy
Admissions Website
U.S. Military Academy
[http://admissions.usma.edu]
U.S. Naval Academy
[http://www.usna.edu/admissions]
U.S. Air Force Academy
[http://www.academyadmissions.com]
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
[http://www.usmma.edu/admissions/default.htm]
U.S. Coast Guard Academy14
[http://admissions.uscga.edu/i2e/admissions]
13 USNA [http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/profile2009.htm]; and USAFA
[http://www.academyadmissions.com/news.php#profile]. Class profile information for
USMA and USMMA is not available from the schools’ websites.
14 The United States Coast Guard Academy does not require congressional nominations.

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Appendix 1. Sample Initial Contact Letter15

Dear High School Senior:

One of my favorite duties as a Member of Congress is nominating
[state’s/town’s/district’s] best and brightest young men and women to our
nation’s service academies. If you are a highly motivated, well-rounded,
successful student, I invite you to consider the unique opportunity to develop
physically, ethically, and intellectually while building a foundation for an
exciting, challenging, and rewarding career as a military officer in the service of
our nation. [State/Town/District]-area students traditionally are very
successful at the academies, and I’m pleased to do my part to ensure that the
community continues to provide some of the next generation’s outstanding
military leaders.

A congressional nomination is required for students wishing to enter the
U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis,
MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S.
Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY. Successful applicants will have
a broad academic background, the ability to pass a physical aptitude test, and
strong leadership potential. An applicant must also be a U.S. citizen, a high
school graduate between the ages of 17 and 23, unmarried, have no dependents,
and be of high moral character. Acceptance of a service academy appointment
requires at least a nine-year service obligation, including four years at an
academy and five years of active duty service.

If you are interested in being considered for a service academy
nomination, you must apply to me at my office by [date] to be considered for
the class entering the service academies in July, [year]. Please contact my
[Washington/district/state] office, at [phone/e-mail/address], for further
information and to request a nomination application.

Thank you for your interest in the service academies.

Sincerely,



[Member]
United States [Representative/Senator]
15 This is a sample document and is not intended to be definitive. It is based on information
and examples found on service academy and congressional websites. Any information may
be deleted or modified as appropriate to individual Member office policies and procedures.

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Appendix 2. Sample Information Sheet16
[Representative/Senator]

Service Academy Nomination Procedure and Basic Fact Sheet for [year]
Admission

An appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force
Academy, or U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is a distinct and rare honor.
Acceptance of an academy appointment requires at least a nine-year service
obligation, including four years at an academy and five years of active duty service.

Eligibility. To be eligible for appointment, you must be an American citizen, at least
17 years old and not yet 23 years old on July 1 of the year you enter an academy (25
years old for United States Merchant Marine Academy). Further, you must not be
married or pregnant, and you must not have any legal obligation to support children or
other dependents. To apply for a nomination through my office, you must also be a
legal resident of [state/district]. If you are not certain that your legal domicile is in
the [state/district], call my office and request an address verification.

Nomination. The nomination process is very competitive. I urge you to apply for a
nomination from me as well as [Representative and Senator/Senators] from our
state who can nominate qualified applicants to the four service academies. If you are
interested in attending the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Air
Force Academy, you may also qualify for nomination through other sources, including
! President George W. Bush, who nominates children of career
military personnel, deceased or disabled veterans, military or civilian
personnel in missing status, and Medal of Honor recipients;
! Vice President Richard B. Cheney, who nominates five individuals
from across the United Sates per year; and
! The Secretary of each military department, Army, Navy and Air
Force, who nominates members of regular military, reserve
components, and participants in the ROTC.
Further information regarding application procedures for these nominations is
available through each academy’s website, listed below. Applying for more than one
nomination increases your chances of securing a nomination. More than one
nomination, however, is neither required nor of assistance in gaining an appointment.
If another authority nominates you, please notify me so that I may allow other
candidates the opportunity for nomination.

Evaluation Criteria. The academies consider evidence of character, scholarship,
leadership, physical aptitude, medical fitness, personal goals, and motivation in
performing each nominee’s “whole-person” evaluation. These are also the criteria I
use to determine nominations. Specific criteria in the “whole person” evaluation
16 This is a sample document and is not intended to be definitive. It is based on information
and examples found on service academy and congressional websites. Any information may
be deleted or modified as appropriate to individual Member office policies and procedures.

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include character, scholarship, leadership, physical aptitude, medical fitness, and
motivation.

Character. Absolutely critical in the course of evaluating a candidate is a positive
determination of the candidate’s character. Absence of good moral character is cause
for disqualification. Candidates are considered to have good moral character unless
evidence exists to suggest otherwise.

Scholarship. Each element of a candidate’s academic record is carefully evaluated by
a service academy’s admissions board. The elements evaluated include a complete
high school record (and college record, when applicable), class standing, and either
the SAT-1 or ACT scores. All strengths and weaknesses in a candidate’s academic
background are taken into account.

Leadership. Participation and achievement in organized athletics, student body and
class government, clubs and class extracurricular activities, scouting, boys or girls
state, and church or other community-related activities demonstrate evidence of
leadership potential. Candidates who have found it necessary to work to provide
family support are considered to have demonstrated desirable leadership potential.

Physical Aptitude. Measuring strength, endurance, agility, and coordination, the
academies’ fitness tests are designed to determine each candidate’s readiness to
undertake the rigorous athletic and physical education program at one of the
academies. Each academy has its own test requirements. Results of the examination
are evaluated, assigned a numerical score, and included in the whole-person
evaluation by West Point. The Air Force, Naval, and Merchant Marine academies
evaluate the results on a pass-or-fail basis.

Medical Fitness. A candidate who meets minimum scholastic standards will be
scheduled to take a service academy qualifying medical examination at a military or
civilian contract facility near the candidate’s home. Although medical qualification
standards vary among the academies, only one exam is required. Different tests may
be necessary, however, depending upon the academy. Scheduling and evaluation of
the exam are arranged by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review
Board (DODMERB). Candidates who have questions about their medical exam
results should direct them to:

DODMERB
8031 Edgerton Drive
Suite 132
USAF Academy, Colorado 80840-2200
(719) 472-3562

Medical scheduling and evaluation are time-consuming processes, especially if
consultation, re-testing, or corrective action is required. The process may take from
six weeks to four months.

Motivation. Motivation is an intangible quality and difficult to evaluate; however,
since it is most frequently the factor that determines an appointee’s success or failure
at a service academy, I make every effort to gauge a candidate’s motivation. An
attempt to measure motivation may be made through observation of the candidate’s
interest level in attending an academy and serving as an officer in the armed forces.
Motivation may also be measured through an evaluation of correspondence, personal
contacts, and care with which application materials are prepared.

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Applicant Evaluation by Service Academies

Each academy uses a questionnaire to make an initial assessment of an applicant’s
potential for appointment. The results of this evaluation are provided by each academy
to Members of Congress to assist them in screening their applicants. Soon after the
applicant returns the questionnaire, the admissions office will provide the applicant
with an evaluation of the applicant’s demonstrated ability to meet admissions
standards. An applicant who meets the standards is declared a candidate; those who
do not meet the standards at that point may later submit additional test scores or
information to the academy for re-evaluation. The applicant must provide the
following information: academic standardized test scores (ACT, SAT-I), rank in class
and grade point average, Social Security number, and participation in high school
extracurricular activities. Be sure to complete a pre-candidate questionnaire for each
academy in which you are interested.

Service academy websites are:

Military Academy
[http://www.usma.edu]
Naval Academy
[http://www.usna.edu]
Air Force Academy
[http://www.usafa.edu]
Merchant Marine Academy
[http://www.usmma.edu]

Contact Information

Address correspondence regarding your application for a nomination to

[Member]
[Address]
[Telephone]
[E-mail]

Deadline

[Date] is the deadline for applications.

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Appendix 3. Sample Application Information17
Dear ______:

Each year, [Representative/Senator] receives many inquiries from [District/State]
students who wish to attend a military service academy. One of the application
requirements of all of the United States service academies (except for the United
States Coast Guard Academy) is nomination by a government official. The
nominating official is usually a Member of Congress. The military service academies
(Army, Navy and Air Force) also accept nominations from other government officials.
If you are interested in attending one of these academies, I urge you to apply for a
nomination from me as well as the other nomination sources:

! [Appropriate Representative/Senator(s)];
! President George W. Bush, who nominates children of career
military personnel; deceased or disabled veterans; military or civilian
personnel in missing status; and Medal of Honor recipients;
! Vice President Richard B. Cheney, who nominates five individuals
from across the United Sates per year; and
! The Secretary of each military department, Army, Navy and Air
Force, who nominates members of regular military, reserve
components, and participants in the ROTC.
Information regarding application procedures for these nominations is available
through each academy’s website, listed below. Applying for more than one
nomination increases your chances of securing a nomination. More than one
nomination, however, is neither required nor of assistance in gaining an appointment.
If another authority nominates you, please notify me so that I may allow other
candidates the opportunity for nomination.

Please note that the United States Merchant Marine Academy only accepts
congressional nominations.

Candidates for a service academy nomination should recognize that each academy has
specific deadlines which must be met if an application is to be successful. Academy
websites provide information about deadlines and other application requirements.
Also please note that [Congressman/Senator] generally considers applications only
from [District/State] residents and children of [District/State] residents.

Here are the steps to follow in seeking a nomination from [Representative/Senator]
to the service academies:

Contact [Representative/Senator] in writing at [his/her]
[Washington/district/state]
office, expressing your interest in receiving a nomination
17 This is a sample document, and is not intended to be definitive. It is based on
information and examples found on service academy and congressional websites. Any
information may be deleted or modified as appropriate to individual Member office policies
and procedures.

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to one or more of the academies. Your letter should include your
! name;
! permanent mailing address;
! telephone number;
! temporary mailing address, if applicable;
! high school; and
! year of graduation
A nomination is only one of the requirements for matriculation at one of our nation’s
service academies. You must also apply directly to each service academy
individually. At the same time you contact this office, you should also request
admissions information from each academy to which you plan to apply, by writing to
them at the following addresses:

United States Naval Academy
USNA Candidate Guidance Office
Annapolis, MD 21402-5018
[http://www.usna.edu/Admissions]

United States Air Force Academy
Admissions Office
USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025
[http://www.academyadmissions.com]

United States Military Academy
Admissions Office
600 Thayer Road
West Point, NY 10996-9902
[http://admissions.usma.edu]

United States Merchant Marine Academy
Office of Admissions
Kings Point, NY 11024-1699
[http://www.usmma.edu/admissions/default.htm]

To be considered for nomination, you will need to submit the following to
[Representative’s/Senator’s] [Washington/district/state] office in order to
complete your nomination file:
! a nomination application
! a copy of your high school transcripts, including your GPA, the size
of your class, and your ranking within that class
! an official copy of your SAT or ACT scores
! 3 letters of recommendation: one from a teacher, principal, or
guidance counselor; one from an employer, coach, or extracurricular
faculty advisor; and from any person of your choice who is not
related to you.
Please forward the requested information at your earliest convenience. We do ask that
you submit information as you compile it, instead of waiting until you have everything

CRS-15
together.

The deadline for submission of all required documentation is {date}.

Please contact [Member staff] in the [Washington/district/state] office at [phone/e-
mail]
if you have any questions or if [he/she] can be of assistance in any way during
this process.

Applying for Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy

As noted above, the Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is the only United States service
academy that does not require a nomination for appointment. For information about
the USCGA, you may write to:

United States Coast Guard Academy
Admissions Office
New London, CT 06320
[http://admissions.uscga.edu/i2e/admissions]


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Appendix 4. Sample Nomination Application18

[Representative/Senator]
APPLICATION FOR NOMINATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE
UNITED STATES SERVICE ACADEMIES

Please complete and return this form. Type or print neatly. Fill out all
information completely. Any missing information may adversely affect your
chances for nomination.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle)
Date of Birth
Place of Birth

Permanent Mailing Address (Number, Street, City, State, and Zip)




Phone Number

Temporary Address (If different from above)




Social Security Number

Mother’s/Father’s/Legal Guardian’s Name (Address if different from above)




School Principal or Academic Dean Date of Graduation




Names and Addresses of all High Schools and/or Colleges Attended



18 This is a sample document, and is not intended to be definitive. It is based on
information and examples found on service academy and congressional websites. Any
information may be deleted or modified as appropriate to individual Member office policies
and procedures.

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Month and year of graduation
Month and year you are requesting nomination

Are you a United States citizen? (Please circle) Yes No

Are you a [State/District] Resident? Yes No
If not, please state connection:

Which of the academies are you interested in attending? Please number
according to your preference. You will be considered only for those academies
for which you have indicated an interest, and in the order in which you have
ranked them below.

AIR FORCE_____ MERCHANT MARINE_____ NAVAL _____ MILITARY
_____

Have you requested that a pre-candidate file be initiated for you at any of the
academies?
If so, which one(s)?




ACADEMIC HISTORY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Latest cumulative grade point average: _____ on a scale of _____
Rank in class: _____ in a class of _____(#of students) as of _______(date)

SAT Scores
Date(s) Taken Verbal
Math



ACT Scores
Date(s) Taken English
Mathematics Reading Science
Composite



You do not need to take both tests, but you must provide officials copies of
either your SAT or ACT scores. If you have already taken either examination,
you should contact the College Entrance Examination Board for SAT scores, or
ACT for ACT scores, and request that a copy of your scores be sent directly to
[congressional office code assigned by each group]. If you have not yet taken
these examinations, please list [congressional office code assigned by each
group]
as one of the recipients of your scores at that time.

Please answer all questions completely (use another sheet of paper if
necessary):

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AWARDS AND HONORS (be specific):




SCHOOL RELATED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (Please indicate
years of participation. 1=Ninth Grade, 2=Sophomore, 3=Junior, 4=Senior):




COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES (please indicate duration and hours per week):




WORK EXPERIENCE (please indicate duration and hours per week):




MILITARY EXPERIENCE (e.g. JROTC or Civil Air Patrol):




In a one-page essay on a separate sheet, describe why you wish to attend a
service academy.

If you feel that there are special conditions or circumstances that we should take
into consideration, please elaborate briefly (e.g. an extremely difficult course
load, a traumatic event that affected your performance).