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Military Academy Nominations

As a U.S. Senator, I have the honor of nominating a few of Minnesota’s most talented and skilled for selection to one of our four service academies: United States Air Force, Merchant Marine, West Point, and Naval Academies. (The Coast Guard Academy does not use Congressional nominations in its appointment process.)

To be considered for a nomination, candidates should have a strong academic background, participation in school and community activities (particularly in leadership positions), a high standard of physical fitness, and a desire to be challenged to the fullest.

Acceptance of an appointment commits an applicant to five years of active duty service after graduation as an officer, or in the case of the Merchant Marine Academy, the option of receiving an active duty commission and be required to secure employment in the maritime industry.

At the same time an individual seeks a nomination they are strongly advised to request an application from the Academy. Once direct contact is established, the Academy will create a file for the candidate and transmit Academy information and detailed admission requirements, including a Prospective Candidate Questionnaire. The questionnaire provides the preliminary information for the Academy to begin their selection process.

All candidates must submit a letter to Senator Klobuchar’s office requesting a nomination to a service Academy (sample letters are found on the academy websites).

Nomination Qualifications

Candidates, male and female, must be:

• Citizens of the United States
• Between 17 and 23 years old by July 1 of the year of entry
• Unmarried, and have no legal requirement to provide support to a dependent
• Resident of Minnesota
• The four main factors examined are academic excellence, leadership ability, physical aptitude, and motivation for a military career.

Qualifications for admission include consideration of scholastic examination scores, class rank, extra curricular activities, athletics, and physical examinations. Selection is determined on an individual basis through evaluation of all phases of a candidate’s life.

• Class rank in the top 40% is usually required, but may be waived for nominees demonstrating compensating qualities.
• Physical aptitude examination is required for all nominees.
• Medical examination is required for all applicants.

To apply send a completed application (PDF) and the following items to Senator Amy Klobuchar, Military Academy Appointments, 1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250, Minneapolis, MN 55415.

• High school transcript
• College entrance scores
• Three letters of recommendation
• One-page essay on "why I want to attend a military academy"
• Photo

Each Senator may have five individuals (5 slots) at an Academy at any one time. All applicants should be advised that acceptance of any appointment commits them to a nine-year obligation to the Service (four years at the Academy and five years of active duty). The Senator nominates ten individuals per open slot at the individual academy from the hundreds of applications filed. Each Academy then appoints the nominees who fulfill their admission requirements.

At the same time an individual seeks a nomination they are strongly advised to request an application from the Academy. Once direct contact is established, the Academy will create a file for the candidate and transmit Academy information and detailed admission requirements, including a Prospective Candidate Questionnaire. The questionnaire provides the preliminary information for the Academy to begin their selection process.

• Air Force Academy Admissions Office
  HQ USAFA/RRS
  2304 Cadet Drive Suite 200
  USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025
  1-800-443-9266
  
• U.S. Naval Academy Candidate Guidance Office
  117 Decatur Road
  Annapolis, MD 21402-5018
  
• U.S. Military Academy (West Point) Director of Admissions
  600 Thayer Road
  West Point, NY 10996-9902
• Merchant Marines Admissions Office
  U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
  Kings Point, NY 11024-9997