Service Academy Nominations

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

Each Congressional Office uses a selection process which is designed to meet its own needs and standards. The different procedures are often confusing to applicants who apply to more than one office. Last minute misunderstandings can be avoided by carefully studying and following the instructions of each office.

I use the competitive method of nomination. I can submit the names of ten individuals seeking an appointment for each vacancy allotted me at a Service Academy, with the exception of the Merchant Marine Academy. At the Merchant Marine Academy, ten candidates will be selected for nomination to compete for the state quota of ten nominations.

A screening committee of area citizens interviews each applicant and determines which ten persons are best qualified to be offered nominations. The candidates selected for nomination will be evaluated by the respective academies which will make the final appointment. NOTE: There are no Congressional appointments to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. For information on admission, applicants must write to the United States Coast Guard Academy, Academy Admissions Office, New London, Connecticut 06320-4195 or call them at 203-444-8501.

II. REQUIREMENTS

Certain information is required as outlined below in order for you to be considered as an applicant. The deadline for receipt of information is NOVEMBER 8th, because there must be adequate time to assess each candidate's qualifications. APPLICATIONS NOT POSTMARKED BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, 2009 MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Careful though should be given to your first choice of an academy. Second through fourth choices can be considered only in the event that there are not a sufficient number of qualified candidates in an academy category to fill a slate of nominees. Second through fourth choices may also be considered in the event a nominee resigns or is disqualified by the academy. However, this rarely happens. First choice designations may be changed at any time prior to your appointment with the screening committee.

A. Residency: All applicants must be legal resident of the 5th Congressional District. (See enclosed district map)

B. Application Packet: Formal candidacy is established in my office upon receipt of the completed packet. If your completed application packet has not been received, it will be presumed that you are no longer interested in pursuing a nomination.

III. REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETED APPLICATION

1. Application Form: The enclosed application must be completed and returned promptly. You should not wait to file your application if transcripts or test scores are not immediately available. The information on your application must be typed. You must complete and return the original application form, and you may not alter the form in anyway. The application must be filled out completely. Resumes will not be considered.

2. Three Letters of Recommendation: Only three letters will be considered by the screening committee. If you submit more than three letters, you must designate which three letters you wish to be included in your packet prior to the deadline.

3. Transcripts: An official transcript of your high school record and class rank must be submitted. This transcript must show your final junior grades and numerical class rank.. Example: 1 out of 300...(percentile ranks are not acceptable). If you apply before this information is available, it is your responsibility to request your guidance counselor to send an up-to-date transcript and to keep your records current. Transcripts must be an official copy bearing the school seal.

NOTE: If you are a high school graduate, prep school, or college student, you must submit official transcripts for all semesters completed.

4. College boards: The SAT and ACT are required entrance examinations by the Service Academies. You will be required to take these tests to be considered for admission to an academy. Applications are responsible for test registration and for requesting scores from both tests, to be sent to the Service Academies and to my office. If you submit more than one set of scores, the higher scores will be counted.

5. Pre candidate Questionnaire (PCQ): Each academy uses the PCQ to make an initial evaluation of an applicant's potential for appointment. To be eligible for a Pre candidate evaluation the candidate must have reached the second semester of the junior year of high school. All candidates must complete a PCQ card and forward it to the admissions office of the appropriate academy. It is the responsibility of each applicant to furnish any additional documents required by the service academies for their evaluations. No documents will be sent from my office to the Academies.

You must obtain a PCQ card from the admissions office of the respective academy. Additionally, you must fill out a PCQ for each academy to which you are applying for admission.

6. One page essay: Each candidate must submit a one page essay entitled, "Why I Would Like to Attend a Service Academy." The essay must be typed, on the blank page attached to the application. Essays of more than one page or those not completed on the original application form will not be accepted.

7. Application completed improperly will be returned to the applicant with a new application attached. A correct and complete application packet must be received prior to the deadline. If you need a new application please contact either district office immediately.

ALL CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE SERVICE ACADEMIES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:

If you have any questions regarding this application packet or about the service academies in general, please call Jacob Bennett at telephone number 810-239-1437 or 1-800-662-2685.

Click here for Academy Checklist
Click here for Academy Nomination Application