Service Academy Nomination Process

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the U.S. service academies is to provide instruction and experience to all cadets so that they graduate with the knowledge and character essential to leadership and the motivation to become career officers in the U.S. military.

ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to enter an Academy, you must be:

• A citizen of the United States
• Of good moral character
• Unmarried with no dependents
• At least 17, but less than 23 years of age by July 1 of the year you would enter.

SELECTIONS
It takes a well-rounded program of leadership, academic, and athletic preparation to be one of the few who can meet the Service Academies’ high admission standards and the fierce competition for appointment. Carefully consider the characteristics of dedication, desire to serve others, ability to accept discipline, sense of duty, and morality, and the enjoyment of challenge in deciding if you want to pursue an Academy education.

ACADEMIC PREPARATION
It is recommended that young persons who aspire to go to one of the service academies take a college preparatory curriculum in high school that stresses English and Math. Also, they should plan on taking the ACT and SAT tests as early as possible and more than once as all candidates applying for admission to the U.S. service academies are required to take either the SAT or the ACT.

PHYSICAL PREPARATION
During the admissions process, prospective cadets will be given the Candidate Fitness Assessment. The purpose of these tests is to evaluate a candidate’s upper body strength and endurance. Please check with each academy on their specific requirements for the Candidate Fitness Assessment.

1. Open Applicant File: Request Pre-Candidate Questionnaire from the Admissions Office of the applicable Academy.
   • United States Military Academy – apply online westpoint.edu/admissions
   • United States Air Force Academy – (800) 443-9266; apply online at academyadmissions.com
   • United States Naval Academy – (410) 293-4361; apply online at usna.edu/Admissions
2. Request Nominations: Write to Congressional Representatives, (i.e. Congressmen/women, Senators) or apply using the form below for a Vice Presidential nomination.
3. Complete Testing: Take ACT or SAT tests, Candidate Fitness Assessment & schedule Medical Exam.
4. Complete Forms: Complete all forms and return to academy or academies by their deadline.
5. Visit Service Academies: Call Admissions Office to set up a tour of academies.

The Vice President is authorized to nominate individuals to the United States Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies but cannot nominate to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and does not nominate to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

The Vice President is the only authorized nominating authority who can nominate U.S. citizens without geographical restrictions. The Vice President may have a maximum number of five nominees in attendance at each authorized academy at any one time. Normally, the Vice President has one or two vacancies each year.

In order to be entered into competition for a Vice Presidential nomination, applicants must complete the online nomination application during the application period of March 1 to January 31 preceding the year of entrance to the academies. Please click the link below to begin. The Office of the Vice President will not accept paper applications.