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The Academies

There are five service academies in the United States which offer young men and women a free college education at a highly-ranked, nationally-recognized academic program while preparing them for an officer's commission in the armed forces. All except for the Coast Guard Academy require a congressional nomination for admission.

Over the past decade, close to one hundred young men and women from the 13th Congressional District have been admitted to West Point, Annapolis, the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy.
 

Annual United States Service Academy Orientation Program

Each year my office hosts the Annual United States Service Academy Orientation Program. This informative session provides high school juniors interested in pursuing a nomination to one of the four service academies with the proper orientation, documentation and guidance necessary to begin the nomination process. School officials are notified in advance of each program and requested to share the information with interested students. However, students may also call the Staten Island office for the time and date of the next program or for any additional information they might need.

This program is a must for students eager to begin the application process. Representatives from each of the academies, cadets and midshipmen from the district as well as members of the Congressman's screening committee typically attend. In addition, the young men and women who have been accepted and plan to attend in the fall are honored.
 

Nomination and Appointment Information

To be considered for admission to a service academy, an applicant must have a nomination through either a congressional office or directly from serving in the military. Applicants who meet eligibility requirements may apply for and receive nominations from either category. Nominees will be selected using the competitive nomination process. This method allows increased competition between the candidates and offers an equal chance for all qualified applicants. To assist in selecting the most qualified candidates, Congressman Fossella has formed an academy screening committee to interview each applicant and review his or her application package. Interviews will be conducted in December of each year. In the following weeks, final selections will be made and the candidates will be announced.
 

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must meet the following requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to a service academy:
  1. Must be at least 17 years of age, but not have passed one's 22nd birthday.
  2. Must be a United States citizen.
  3. Must be a legal resident of the 13th Congressional District.
  4. Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

General Admissions Standards

For consideration, each applicant must submit the following materials no later than November 15:
  1. A completed application form.
  2. Three letters of recommendation; one from an English teacher, one from a Math teacher and one from an Extracurricular/Volunteer Supervisor. No additional letters are necessary.
  3. SAT scores. Additional scores can be submitted until the selection committee meets to select final nominees. Scores should be sent directly to Sherry Diamond's attention in Congressman Fossella's Staten Island office. Congressman Fossella's SAT code is 2399.
  4. A copy of the applicant's high school grade transcript. If applicants are attending post-secondary school, he or she should include a grade report of his or her studies. The transcripts must include the applicant's grades, class rank, and cumulative grade point average through the junior year.
  5. Attach a recent photo to the application form.
  6. An essay describing why the applicant wants to attend a military academy and serve as a commissioned officer (included on the application).

For More Information

For more detailed information regarding the programs offered by each of the academies, you are encouraged to follow the links below. Each service academy has its own web site.

USAR crestUnited States Military Academy

USN crestUSMC crestUnited States Naval Academy

USAF crestUnited States Air Force Academy

USCG crestUnited States Coast Guard Academy

USMMA crestUnited States Merchant Marine Academy