There is no greater honor than serving your country. The United States service academies offer young Hoosiers an opportunity to not only obtain a first class education, but upon graduation, serve our country as commissioned officers in the Armed Forces.

The President officially makes all appointments to the United States service academies. However, each member of Congress is allotted a limited number of nominations, which they may submit for consideration of an appointment by the academy. The application process is highly competitive; you are encouraged to apply for as many nominations as you may be eligible, including through U.S. Senators Lugar and Bayh.

The Application Process

How Does It Work?

Members of Congress may nominate a limited number of candidates to the United States Military, Naval, Air Force, and Merchant Marine academies each year. Applicants applying for admission to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy no longer require a nomination from a U.S. Representative and should apply directly to the Academy .

In addition to applying for a nomination from my office, you must also complete and submit the required admissions application to your academy of choice. It is your responsibility to ensure this institution opens an admissions file for you. For more information on application requirements you should consult your high school guidance counselor. Additional information about each of the academies is available at the telephone numbers and websites listed below.

Army: 1-800-822-ARMY
www.usma.edu

Navy: 1-888-249-7707
www.usna.edu

Air Force: 719-333-2520
www.usafa.af.mil/

Merchant Marines: 1-800-732-6267
www.usmma.edu

Who is Eligible?

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy to be eligible for consideration:

• Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday. (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy)
• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Indiana's 8^th Congressional District.
• Marital Status: Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

The Application

To apply for consideration of a nomination, you must submit the following application materials no later than October 15^th:

• An official, sealed transcript from all high schools, junior colleges or colleges you have attended. The transcript must include your final junior year grades.

• Official SAT or ACT scores, noted on your official academic transcript or otherwise provided.

• Essay of approximately 500 words explaining why you are seeking this nomination and want to serve in the U.S. military. Please include your name, date of birth, academy preference, and contact information on the first page of the essay.

Once you have completed all of our application requirements, please send them to my Evansville office at the following address and fax number:

Congressman Brad Ellsworth
ATTN: Academy Nomination
101 NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd 
Room 124                                                      
Evansville, IN 47708                                      
FAX: (812) 422-4761                                     

The Selection Process

Applicants will be evaluated on an overall package including academic performance, leadership ability, moral character, and commitment to attend a service academy.

You may be contacted for an interview that will be conducted at a place and time to be determined.

8th District U.S. Service Academy Nominees (Class of 2012)