Our United States Service Academies provide the highest standard of undergraduate education and the training of commissioned officers for the United States Armed Forces upon graduation. Each year, I have the privilege of nominating students from our community to attend our nation's Service Academies.
Applying to an Academy is a two-pronged process. First, in order to be considered for admission to a Service Academy, applicants must apply for a nomination through a qualified nominating source. Second, students must apply to their preferred Service Academy/Academies and meet the minimum qualifications set forth by that particular academy.
Completed Academy Nomination Applications must be submitted to my office no later than October 31, 2024.
My Academy Selection Board will review only completed applications on a competitive basis, considering a multitude of factors in selecting the most qualified applicants to represent the Seventh Congressional District of North Carolina. The Board carefully evaluates all facets of a candidates file including:
- Academic record
- Athletic activities
- Extracurricular activities
- Leadership abilities
- Official SAT/ACT scores
What are United States Service Academies?
The United States is the proud home to five federal Service Academies, also known as military academies, including:
These academies provide the highest standard of undergraduate education and the training of commissioned officers for the United States Armed Forces upon graduation. A Member of Congress may nominate students to all academies with the exception of the Coast Guard Academy, which appoints individuals on the basis of an annual nationwide competition.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants for a nomination must meet the following requirements set forth by law as of July 1st of the year of admission to a service academy. He or she:
- Must be 17 years of age, but not have passed their 23rd birthday;
- Must be a U.S. citizen;
- Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.
By law, a graduate of the Service Academy is appointed to active duty as a commissioned officer and must serve in the appropriate branch of the military for a minimum of five years.
Applying for a Nomination to a U.S. Service Academy
If you are interested in attending a U.S. Service Academy, please be aware that there are various nominating authorities. Applicants are encouraged to seek out and apply for a nomination from each eligible source. Applicants should, at a minimum, apply to their designated Member of Congress, and both United States Senators from their home state. Additionally, highly qualified applicants should consider applying for a nomination from the Vice President. Other nominating sources include Military Affiliated, U.S. Territory, and International categories.
With respect to the Congressional nominations category, for each vacancy that occurs, a Member may nominate up to 10 candidates to be considered for an appointment. Therefore, it is encouraged that each interested individual apply through all sources for which they are eligible and for all Academies for which they have a real interest.
As the Member of Congress for the Seventh Congressional District of North Carolina, I only have the opportunity to nominate qualified students who are domiciled in my District for consideration to attend our Nation’s Service Academies.
My period to apply for a nomination to a Service Academy opens in the spring of each year for those students who are currently high school juniors preparing for their senior year, or those who have already graduated from high school, but who meet the age eligibility requirements specified by law.
Students interested in a Congressional nomination should plan early and fill out an online application far in advance of the deadline. Completed nomination applications, including all required documentation, must be submitted in their entirety to my office no later than October 31, 2024.
Applicants must manage their application with the Service Academies separately from their application for a nomination. Therefore, applicants should contact the academy directly to establish a pre-candidate file. It is important to distinguish that these are two completely separate processes.
Students who receive a nomination should be aware that the decision for final selection of appointees rests solely with the appropriate academy officials based off their competitive evaluation of all nominees.
For more information, please review the page of Frequently Asked Questions for those seeking a Military Academy Nomination. If you have any questions about the nomination process, contact my office at NC07MilAcademies@mail.house.gov.
