Q: How do I apply to a military academy?
A: Securing a “military academy appointment” (an offer of admission) requires a dual-track process: simultaneously applying directly to the academy and securing a Congressional nomination.
Both processes are highly competitive and should be started in the spring of your junior year of high school.
How to get started:
Open an Admissions File: Contact the specific academy directly to request a pre-candidate questionnaire. Apply online to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis), U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs), U.S. Coast Guard Academy (Connecticut), or U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (New York).
Apply for a Nomination: You must obtain a nomination, typically from your U.S. Representative, two U.S. Senators, or the Vice President. Visit your representatives’ official websites to find their specific nomination forms and deadlines, which generally fall between September and October of your senior year.
Letter of Recommendation: While not an official nomination, a strong letter of recommendation from an Academy graduate may carry weight with the admissions board and congressional panels.
Complete Testing and Evaluations: Submit your SAT/ACT scores, complete the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA), and pass a Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) physical.
Await Appointment: Once you are found fully qualified and have received a nomination, the academy’s admissions board will make the final decision and offer an appointment if selected.
To find upcoming Academy Days or service academy nomination workshops, look directly at the sources that host them: federal elected officials and the service academies themselves.
These events are highly localized and typically held between April and September. Locate them through the specific channels outlined below.
Congressional District and Senate Websites
Members of Congress host these events to explain their specific nomination processes.
Your U.S. Representative: Go to the official U.S. House of Representatives Find Your Representative tool. Enter your ZIP Code to identify your specific representative. Navigate to their website’s “Constituent Services” or “Student Resources” section to check for a “Service Academy Day” or “Information Night” listing.
Your U.S. Senators: Visit the U.S. Senate Directory to locate both of your state’s senators. Check their calendar or services pages. For example, in Virginia, Senator Mark Warner’s Service Academy Nominations page tracks his annual statewide Academy Day.
Service Academy Official Event Pages
The academies maintain regional calendars listing joint informational events where admissions officers will be present.
USAFA: Check the U.S. Air Force Academy Events Portal, specifically designed to list upcoming Academy Days by state.
U.S. Naval Academy: Check the calendar sections on the U.S. Naval Academy Admissions website.
West Point: Check the calendar sections on the West Point Admissions page.
Contact Local Academy Liaison Officers (ALOs)
If no events are actively listed online, your local ALO will know about them.
Log into your application portal to find the contact information for your assigned regional Academy Liaison Officer.
Send them a brief email asking if any joint congressional information sessions or local workshops are scheduled for your region over the coming months.
High School Guidance Counselors
Congressional offices send flyers and invitations directly to regional high school guidance offices and school counselors to recruit applicants. Ask your school’s counseling office if they have received any recent notices regarding service academy info nights.