With the start of the academic year, many juniors and seniors will begin the task of trying to determine what path to take for their futures. For some, it may mean transitioning into the workforce, or continuing forward at another educational institution. But for many young adults, trying to figure out the future brings on apprehension, anxiety and stress. With so many choices, there is one that is sometimes forgotten – a United States Service Academy.

United States Service Academies are also known as Military Academies. These are federal academies that offer undergraduate education and training of students who will graduate as commissioned officers in the United States Armed Forces. There are five U. S. service academies: US Air Force Academy, US Coast Guard Academy, US Merchant Marine Academy, US Military Academy and the US Naval Academy. Like any college or university, you must apply for entrance. However, there are very few if any similarities to the application process of a regular college or university. For the student interested in math, science, aviation, research, engineering, political science or law (to name a few), the challenges of the application process are worth taking the chance.  But many do not know where to begin.

Parents, if this is a path your high school senior is interested in exploring, the time is NOW. It begins with contacting each of your federal elected officials to not only obtain details for completing an application, but to begin the process of applying for a Congressional Nomination. Each elected official as well as the Vice President award Congressional Nominations. This means you should complete an application for your two US Senators (Marco Rubio and Rick Scott) as well as your US Congressman (either Maxwell Frost or Daniel Webster in Orange County).

What Should You Know?

Each Congressional member in the US is allowed one nomination per academy. They will generally choose 10 candidates for each academy to submit, with the hope that the academy will choose more than the allocated one. In most instances, the candidates are not ranked when submitted. In addition to the 10 chosen candidates, 10 alternates may also be chosen. While Alternate status may be seen as a consolation prize, it still remains a viable status to obtaining a nomination. Alternates may be ranked. Much like a pageant, if the nominee declines the nomination or simply is later found ineligible, an alternate candidate is chosen to fill the slot. What is a cause for ineligibility? Not passing the required medical is the most common.

Presidential Nominations are reserved for children of career military personnel (active duty, retired, disabled, deceased); there are only 100 vacancies in each service academy class for Presidential Nominations. Presidential nominations are not awarded for the US Coast Guard Academy or the US Merchant Marine Academy. The Vice President is authorized to nominate students without any geographical restrictions. (Additional details)

A Congressional Nomination is not necessary for the US Coast Guard Academy.

In addition to submitting an application to your elected officials, students must also begin the application process at their chosen service academy. That process should begin sooner rather than later. Elected officials cannot submit a nomination if there is no open application at the academy. If you are allowed, rank your choices on your congressional application and consider submitting applications to more than one academy. Nugget of Insight: Consider applying to the Merchant Marine Academy. Graduates from this academy have choices. A graduate may choose to be commissioned as an officer in any branch of the military, or go into the private sector.

When submitting your applications, make sure you follow the directions. Senate offices receive an enormous volume of applications because they must accept them from all 67 Florida counties. They may not be able to make notifications informing applicants if something is wrong prior to the deadline. Once the deadline has passed, your application could be excluded because of mistakes or missing documents. House of Representative offices may only consider applications from students residing in their district, making the applicant pool smaller.

Applicants must be at least 17  years old, but not yet 23 years old on July 1st of the year the applicant will enter the academy (25 years old for the Merchant Marine Academy).

Already enlisted in the military, check with each congressional office as well as the academy to ensure you have the proper procedure for obtaining entrance into the academy and obtaining a Congressional Nomination.

For the unsuccessful student, remember you can try again. However, if you begin college, focus on math and science courses. These will transfer with you to any service academy.   

Application deadlines are fast approaching.

            US Senator Marco Rubio: September 8, 2023 (Additional details)

            US Senator Rick Scott: September 17, 2023 (Additional details)

            US Congressman Maxwell Frost:  October 2, 2023 (Additional details)

            US Congressman Daniel Webster: October 6, 2023 (Additional details)

There is no greater honor than serving our great nation. We salute all of our members of the military past and present. And, look to our students – our future leaders!

Service Academy Websites:

            US Air Force Academy: https://www.academyadmissions.com/

US Coast Guard Academy: https://uscga.edu/

            US Merchant Marine Academy: https://www.usmma.edu/

            US Military Academy (West Point): https://www.westpoint.edu/

            US Naval Academy: https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php