Academy Nominations

Service Academies

Nominating young Idahoans to one our Nation's Service Academies is one the most enjoyable aspects of being a Congressman.

The Nomination Process

To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, the first step is to meet the eligibility requirements by law and be nominated by an authorized person such as a Member of Congress, a United States Senator or the Vice-President.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for a nomination, an applicant must meet the following requirements as of July 1 of the year of admission to a service academy*:
• Be at least 17 years old, but not over 23 years old.
• Be a United States Citizen.
• Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children and other dependents.
*Requirements for the United States Merchant Marine Academy are slightly different, please contact my office if you fall outside of these guidelines and would like to attend the USMMA.

How to apply for a nomination?

Applicants interested in a nomination should request an Academy Nomination Application Packet from my Twin Falls office or click here and a packet will be mailed to you.

Other Congressional Nominations

Due to the competitive nature of the nomination process, you should seek as many nominations for which you eligible. In the Second Congressional District of Idaho, applicants are eligible for nominations from me, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Senator Larry Craig and Senator Mike Crapo.

Contacting the Service Academies

As well as applying for a nomination from a congressional member, it is extremely important to begin the application process with each academy of which you are interested. There are five service academies:

• U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) at Colorado Springs, CO
• U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapolis, MD
• U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, NY
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, NY
• U.S. Coast Guard Academy ** (USCGA) at New London, CT

**A nomination is not required for the USCGA. Appointments are made the basis of an annual nationwide competition.

Competitive Nominations

Gaining a Congressional nomination is extremely competitive. Each member of Congress, either in the House of Representatives or in the Senate, is allowed five appointees to each service academy per year. For each vacancy, I am allowed to nominate ten men or women. Nominations are based on academic records, extracurricular and athletic activities, physical aptitude, ACT and/or SAT scores, leadership ability and medical qualifications. Should you receive a nomination, it is the first step in the process and does not guarantee you will be appointed to an academy. Appointments are made by the individual academies.

Deadlines

October 31st is the deadline to submit your initial application to my office. November 30th is the deadline to complete your file. Nominations will be made by mid-December and you will be notified with a letter from my office. Further instructions about deadlines are included in the Academy Nomination Application Packet. Late applications will not be accepted.

Learn More about the Service Academies

Every first Saturday in October, the Idaho Congressional Delegation hosts the Annual Service Academy Day. Cadets and Midshipmen as well Academy Liaison officers from each Academy are present at the event to share their experiences at the Academies and give advice on the nomination process. If you would like more information about Academy Day or the nomination process, please feel free to contact Linda Culver in my Twin Falls office at (208) 734-7219 or email linda.culver@mail.house.gov.