Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service
Academies: An Overview and Resources for
Outreach and Management
R. Eric Petersen
Specialist in American National Government
October 7, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RL33213
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
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,
while 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 may develop its own process for
managing its service academy nominations. 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 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.
Congressional Research Service
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
Contents
Congressional Approaches .......................................................................................................... 1
Appointment Criteria .................................................................................................................. 2
Department of Defense Academies........................................................................................ 2
Noncongressional DOD Service Academy Appointment Authorities...................................... 4
United States Merchant Marine Academy.............................................................................. 5
United States Coast Guard Academy ..................................................................................... 6
Applicant Qualifications ............................................................................................................. 6
Tables
Table 1. Distribution of Non-Congressional Nominations to Department of Defense
Service Academies, by Authority.............................................................................................. 4
Table 2. Distribution of Seats Available for Congressional Nomination to the United
States Merchant Marine Academy, by State .............................................................................. 5
Table 3. Websites for Preliminary Application to United States Service Academies...................... 7
Appendixes
Appendix A. Sample Initial Contact Letter .................................................................................. 8
Appendix B. Sample Information Sheet....................................................................................... 9
Appendix C. Sample Application Information ........................................................................... 11
Appendix D. Sample Nomination Application ........................................................................... 13
Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 15
Congressional Research Service
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
embers 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),
M 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,1 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,
while others can incorporate service academy nominations alongside other constituent service
activities such as casework.2
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, 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 those 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
1 While tuition is covered for all students in service academies, some academies may require students to pay fees for
some services and activities. See USMMA, “Description of Midshipman Fees,” http://usmma.edu/admissions/aid/
fees.shtml.
2 See CRS Report RL33209, Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules, Laws, and Resources, by R. Eric
Petersen.
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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
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 Senate3 and by the Committees on
House Administration and Standards of Official Conduct in the House.4
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,
• 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
3 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.
4 U.S. Congress, House, Committee on House Administration, Member’s Handbook, http://cha.house.gov/
members_handbook.aspx; and U.S. Congress, House, Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, House Ethics
Manual, 110th Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 2008), pp. 284-291.
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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
academy.5 The number of positions subject to congressional nomination at each DOD academy
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;
• 3 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;
• 3 from Guam, nominated by the Delegate from Guam;
• 2 from American Samoa, nominated by the Delegate from American Samoa; and
• 2 from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, nominated by the
Delegate from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
When a congressionally nominated academy position is vacant, a Member of Congress may
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.
5 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.
6 10 U.S.C. 9347, USAFA; 10 U.S.C. 6955, USNA; and 10 U.S.C. 4347, USMA.
7 No publicly available data regarding the number of offices that choose ranked or unranked options were identified.
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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
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 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; and the governor of Puerto Rico.
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 training corps of the service they oversee. The superintendents
of each academy nominate candidates from the country at large. The governor of Puerto Rico
may nominate one individual who is a native of Puerto Rico. 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
Number and Type
Authority
Presidenta
One hundred children of members of the armed forces who have eight years of continuous
active service or are credited with eight years of 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
8 If the vice presidency is vacant, then the President pro tempore of the Senate makes those nominations.
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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
Nominating
Number and Type
Authority
Governor, Puerto
One, who must be a native of Puerto Rico.
Rico
Source: 10 U.S.C. 9342, USAFA; 10 U.S.C. 6954, USNA; and 10 U.S.C. 4342, USMA.
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.
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 American 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
9 46 U.S.C. 51302.
10 46 CFR 310.53. There are no presidential, vice presidential, or service-connected nominations to USMMA.
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State Seats
State
Seats
State
Seats
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
Hampshire
2 U.S.
Virgin
Islands
1
Hawaii
2 New
Jersey
6 Virginia
5
Idaho
2 New
Mexico
2 Washington
5
Illinois 9
New
York
15
West
Virginia
2
Indiana
3 North
Carolina
6 Wisconsin
4
Iowa
4 North
Dakota
1 Wyoming
1
Kansas 3
Source: 46 CFR 310.53.
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
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 http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/faq.htm#admissions; USAFA
http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/Preparation; and USMMA http://usmma.edu/admissions/facts/
scholasticrequirements.shtml.
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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
• demonstrate leadership in athletics and other extracurricular activities;
• take the SAT, 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 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 admissions 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://academyadmissions.com
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
http://usmma.edu/admissions/default.shtml
U.S. Coast Guard Academy14 http://www.uscga.edu/display.aspx?id=2904
Source: CRS compilation.
13 USMA http://admissions.usma.edu/moreinfo/Profile2014.pdf; USNA http://www.usna.edu/admissions/
USNA%202014%20Class%20Portrait.pdf; USAFA http://academyadmissions.com/#Page/Current_Year_Profile. Class
profile information for USMMA is not available from the school’s website.
14 The United States Coast Guard Academy does not require congressional nominations.
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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
Appendix A. 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 B. 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], cal 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 wel 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 Barack H. Obama, 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 Joseph R. Biden, who nominates five individuals from across the United Sates per year; and
• The Secretary of the Army, Navy, or 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 al ow 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 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 or ACT scores. Al 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.
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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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
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
8034 Edgerton Drive
Suite 132
USAF Academy, Colorado 80840-2200
(719) 333-3562
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.
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 C. 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 usual y
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 wel as the other nomination sources:
• [Appropriate Representative/Senator(s)];
• President Barack H. Obama, 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 Joseph R. Biden, who nominates five individuals from across the United Sates per year; and
• The Secretary of the Army, Navy, or 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 al ow 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 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
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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United States Air Force Academy
Admissions Office
USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025
http://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.shtml
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 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 D. 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
Month and year of graduation
Month and year you are requesting nomination
Are you a United States citizen? (Please circle) Yes No
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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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 al questions completely (use another sheet of paper if necessary):
AWARDS AND HONORS (be specific):
SCHOOL RELATED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (Please indicate years of participation. 1=Ninth Grade,
2=Sophomore, 3=Junior, 4=Senior):
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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).
Author Contact Information
R. Eric Petersen
Specialist in American National Government
epetersen@crs.loc.gov, 7-0643
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