Military Academy Nominations
Overview
The U.S. military service academies are tuition-free, four- year degree-granting institutions operated by the military departments. The academies are a major officer commissioning source, along with the Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps and Officer Candidate School. The military service academies include the
- U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, New York, under the Department of the Army;
- U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, Maryland, under the Department of the Navy (Navy and Marine Corps); and
- U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, Colorado, under the Department of the Air Force (Air Force and Space Force).
There are two other federal service academies:
- the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, under the Department of Homeland Security;
- and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York, under the Department of Transportation.
While graduates of these service academies may also receive an officer commission upon graduation, they differ from the military service academies in many respects (e.g., statutory authorities, application and acceptance processes).
The Nomination and Appointment Process
In order to be considered for an appointment to a United States Service Academy, each applicant must have obtained a nomination from an authorized nominating source. The Vice President of the United States, as well as Members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, may nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law. Because of the very strong competition for nominations, applicants are encouraged to apply for nominations from each of these sources. In addition to seeking a nomination from Congresswoman Ramirez, you must contact the Admissions Office at each academy to which you are applying to open an admissions file; It is to your advantage to apply to more than one academy. Congresswoman Ramirez encourages you to research the opportunities offered by each of the academies to serve the United States as a career officer in the Armed Forces. Final decisions on appointments and admission are at the discretion of the service academies.
The following is the contact information for each Service Academy
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| US Air Force Academy Admissions | US Coast Guard Academy | US Merchant Marine Academy | United States Military Academy | United States Naval Academy |
HQ USAFA/RRS |
31 Mohegan Avenue |
Admissions |
Building 606 |
117 Decatur Road |
Eligibility Requirements
Age: Applicant must be at least 17 years old but must not have passed their 23rd birthday on July 1 of the year of entry into the Academy.
Citizenship: Applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
Marital Status: Applicant must be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support a child or dependent.
Residency: Applicant must be a legal resident of the 3rd Congressional District of Illinois. If an applicant is under 18 years of age, the voting residence of his/her parent(s) or guardian will be considered the applicant’s legal residence.
Medical Fitness: A candidate who meets the minimum scholastic standards must pass a qualifying medical examination with the Department of Defense Medical Review Board (DODMERB). You will also complete a Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA)
Application Schedule
October 17, 2025 - All requested information, constituting a complete application packet, must be received no later than Friday, October 18th at 5 p.m. Pending a serious, unpreventable circumstance (death in the family, illness, etc.), no exceptions will be made to this deadline.
October 31, 2025 - First stage of the assessment will be complete, and candidates will be informed if they passed. Qualified candidates who passed this stage will be contacted to schedule a 30 min interview with Congresswoman Ramirez’s Academy Nomination Advisory Committee.
November 10 – November 21, 2025 - Period where interviews will be conducted.
November 26, 2025 - Candidates will be informed if they received a nomination to the first or second Service Academy of their choice.
TBD - Nomination Awards Ceremony for all nominees.
Feb 2026 - May 2026 - Service Academies will make a majority of their appointment offers.
How to Apply?
To apply for a nomination with our office, please complete the Service Academy Nomination Application below.
Please read the application process clearly and make sure you adhere to all deadlines and instructions as directed on the application page and form. Make sure to attach all requested relevant documentation even if you have already sent forms prior to our office. Only applications submitted through our webform by the deadline will be reviewed and given consideration.
As a reminder, the required documents that must be submitted to our office via the application webform are as follows:
- Complete Application Form
- Official Transcript(s)
- Resume
- Test Scores (sent to ACT: code 7377 // SAT: 1400)
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- Essay (review application form for guidance regarding requested content)
- Privacy Act Release Form
The deadline to submit your application for consideration by our review committee is December 8th, 2023 by 5:00 p.m. CT.
If you have any specific questions which our website cannot sufficiently answer, do not hesitate to contact our offices at (630) 520-9494 or (773) 799-8219 or email vianey.luna@mail.house.gov for further information and guidance.