Service Academy Nominations

As a Member of Congress, Representative Walz has the honor and privilege of nominating young men and women from Minnesota’s 1^st Congressional District to one of our country's four service Academies:

The United States Coast Guard does not accept Congressional nominations, applications must be submitted directly to:

Director of Admissions

U.S. Coast Guard Academy

New London, Connecticut 06320.

Legal Requirements for Nominees include the following:

Qualifications for admission to academies include consideration of scholastic examination scores, physical aptitude scores, class rank, extra-curricular activities, athletic and medical examinations.

To qualify for an appointment to any service academy, an applicant must meet the following statutory criteria:

American citizenship;
at least 17 years of age and not yet 23 years old on July 1 of the year the applicant would enter an academy (25 years old for USMMA);
unmarried;
and not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

Specific requirements in each of the academic, physical, and leadership categories vary by academy and are revised regularly. Some of this information is available on the academies' websites.

Medical examination is required of all applicants; exams are given at various locations around the country and are free and by appointment only. Evaluation of all medical examinations is made by the Dept. of Defense Medical Review Board.

Minor disqualifying defects subject to medical or dental correction can be waived in some circumstances. Disqualifying illnesses include: chronic skin diseases, organic heart diseases, uncorrected hernias, asthma, loss of fingers or toes, etc.

Who Is Eligible?

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

Because of the extremely intense competition for nominations, you are urged to apply to every nominating authority which your eligibility allows. Since the academies are able to award more appointments than are provided by Congressional vacancies and other categories, no candidate who is highly qualified needs more than one nomination—whether Principal, Alternate or Competitive—to obtain an appointment. By the same token, no candidate who fails to meet academy standards will benefit by having multiple nominations.

Each Congressional office uses a selection process, 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 Congressman Walz’s office.

Certain information is required as outlined below in order for you to be considered as an applicant. It is your responsibility to submit this information and to keep it updated. The deadline for receipt of information is October 31, 2008 to ensure adequate time to assess each candidate’s qualifications.

II. REQUIREMENTS – All materials are due no later than October 31, 2008

A. Residency – Applicant must be a legal resident of Minnesota’s First Congressional District.

B. Application Form (link) - Formal candidacy is established in my office upon receipt of the application. It is not necessary for you to send all of the required information at once, and you should not wait to file your application if your transcripts or test scores are not immediately available. If your application packet is not complete as of October 1, 2008, it will be assumed that you chose not to continue in the nomination process.

C. Recommendation letters - Three recommendation letters must be submitted as part of your application packet. These can be from teachers, coaches, employers, etc.

D. Transcript - An official transcript of your high school record and if possible, your class rank, must be submitted. This transcript must show your final junior year grades. 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.

E. Scores - The SAT and ACT are required entrance exams for candidates applying to the Service Academies. Applicants are responsible for registration for tests and for requesting scores to be sent to the academies and to my office. SAT scores should be directed to Congressman Walz’s office by indicating 2093 as the code on the CEEB form. ACT scores may be sent by using code 7483.

F. Personal essay of 500 words or less - Leadership potential and physical fitness are judged from the information provided on your application form. This information should be kept up to date. Unlike civilian colleges, the Service Academies place strong emphasis on physical training. In addition, the academies, like civilian colleges and universities, place a high premium on leadership and extra-curricular activities. Therefore, consideration must be given to each candidate’s proven ability in these areas. Your personal essay should highlight these areas.

G. Photo – please submit a current photo along with your application. Photos submitted may be distributed to the local media in the event that the applicant is accepted and chooses to enter a Service Academy.

III. BASIS FOR SELECTION

Click here for a checklist of materials required to complete a candidate file. Each academy has its own application and requirements, including a medical exam. Please visit the websites of the academies you wish to attend for more information.

All correspondence regarding the service academy nominations should be sent to the following address:

Congressman Tim Walz

c/o Academy Nomination Staff

1134 7^th St., NW

Rochester, MN 55901

REMEMBER: DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF COMPLETED APPLICATION IS October 31, 2008.

Commissioning Options:

ROTC

A very satisfactory alternative to academy attendance is one of the Reserve Officer Training programs offered by the three military services. ROTC, as it is normally called, is a four year elective program that is offered on many college campuses. The ROTC program also offers full tuition scholarships to qualified students. Completion of a Reserve Officer Training program will result in your commissioning as a Second Lieutenant or Ensign along with students who graduate from a military academy at the same time you graduate from college.

Officer Training School

A three month training program leading to a commission as a Second Lieutenant. Active duty service personnel who have an undergraduate degree, and who meet certain eligibility requirements may apply for selection to OTS. OTS opportunities are considerably enhanced by a degree in a technical area.

Education & Commissioning Program

A program for qualified enlisted personnel to attend college full time to obtain a degree needed by their particular branch of the service. This is followed by commissioning through OTS. The disciplines available for study are in technical areas such as engineering or computer science, and an applicant must have completed 45 semester hours of transferable college credit, including math and physical science. The service pays all college tuition expenses and fees, and the student draws his pay as a staff sergeant while attending school full time.