Academy Nominations
As your Senator, and a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, I am honored to recommend outstanding students from Rhode Island to our nation's Service Academies.
I applaud you for your interest in helping to protect and serve our nation.
America's Service Academies have a rich and proud tradition that dates back over two hundred years. Students wishing to serve must meet high academic and physical standards.
In order to help you understand the nomination process, here is some detailed information about how to submit an application through my Senate office.
Opening a File in My Office
To begin the process, please send a letter of request for nomination to my Cranston office. Click here to download the academy nomination packet.
The Honorable Jack Reed
ATTN: Service Academy Nomination Coordinator
1000 Chapel View Boulevard
Suite 290
Cranston, RI 02920
A file will be opened in your name and an application will be sent to you.
Criteria for Consideration
In addition to your completed application, the following criteria are required to be considered for my Congressional Nomination to one of the United States Service Academies:
Official School Transcript of Grades: Include junior year and most current class rank.
SAT or ACT scores: Photocopy original reports.
SAT Code: #3688
ACT Code: #7178
Recommendations: Two (2) written references from people who know you well and can comment on your character, scholastic ability, etc. These can be educators, clergy, employers, etc.
Photograph: A recent, clear picture of yourself.
A 300 Word Essay: Describe why you wish to attend the Academy of your choice.
It is imperative that all of the required material listed above be submitted with your application form. The sooner you submit your file, the more time we will have to review it.
Selection Process
All applicants are required to complete a Pre-Candidate Questionnaire (PCQ) from the Academies. My Office can request a PCQ for an applicant, if necessary.
An interview will be scheduled for all applicants whose files are found to be competitive. The interview is conducted by Senator Reed's U.S. Service Academy Selection Committee in his Cranston office.
Criteria for selecting nominees are based upon the standards and goals of the Service Academies, stressing:
- Leadership potential
- High academic performance
- Demonstrated athletic ability
- Motivation
- Performance on the SAT or ACT
It is an extremely complicated and arduous task to select young men and women with the qualities necessary to lead our Armed Forces. However, overall analysis of the above parameters will allow the selection committee to nominate well-rounded individuals. Please send all application materials to:
The Honorable Jack Reed
ATTN: Service Academy Nomination Coordinator
1000 Chapel View Boulevard
Suite 290
Cranston, RI 02920
Eligibility and Methods of Appointment
Regulations of the Academies require nominees to be permanent residents of the State of the nominating Senator and domiciled in the State of the nominating U.S. Senator. Applicants must be at least 17 years old, but not have passed their 23rd birthday, and must be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.
A U.S. Senator is allowed a maximum of five appointments per Service Academy, ten appointments for the Merchant Marine Academy. For the Military (West Point), Air Force, and Naval (Annapolis) Academies, the top applicant is deemed the PRINCIPAL NOMINEE; the other nominees are submitted as COMPETING ALTERNATES. If for some reason the PRINCIPAL does not qualify, the ALTERNATES then compete for the vacancy.
If one of your parents is an active duty or retired military person, you may also be eligible for a Presidential Nomination. If you are the son or daughter of a deceased or disabled veteran, or of a Medal of Honor winner, you may also apply directly to the Superintendent of the Academy for a nomination.
In addition, the Vice President has the same nominating authority as a Member of Congress, but can nominate from the United States at-large (an application can be made directly to the Vice President).
Physical/Medical Examinations
Each candidate is required to take the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) to determine his/her readiness to undertake the rigorous sports and physical education programs at the Academies. The test is designed to measure such qualities as strength, endurance, agility, and coordination. Achievements on this test are evaluated and included in the Military and Air Force Academies' overall scoring of the candidate.
In addition, all potentially qualified candidates are required to take a Service Academy Qualifying Medical Examination. All candidates take the same examination no matter which service's medical facility conducts the test.
Scheduling and evaluation of the medical examination is accomplished through the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB), located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. You may be scheduled at an Army, Air Force, Naval, or civilian facility near your home. DODMERB will forward your medical test results to you.
Nominees not found to be scholastically qualified will not be scheduled for medical examinations. However, an applicant's medical status is often not evaluated until after the nomination process is complete. The sooner you provide the academy with the information it requires, the sooner you are likely to be scheduled for a medical examination, if you qualify scholastically.
Questions and Web Links
If you have any questions about the nominating process, please feel free to call my office directly at: (401) 943-3100 and ask to speak with Mr. David Foehr.
There are five U.S. Service Academies: The United States Military (USMA), Air Force (USAFA), Naval (USNA), Merchant Marine (USMMA), and Coast Guard (USCGA) Academies.
Nominations are required for all but the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, to which appointments are made on the basis of an annual nationwide competition.
U.S. Military Academy
West Point, New York
Admissions Page: http://admissions.usma.edu/U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Colarado
Admissions Page: http://academyadmissions.com/:U.S. Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland
Admissions Page: http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, New York
Admissions Page: http://www.usmma.edu/admissions/
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
New London, Connecticut
Admissions Page: http://admissions.uscga.edu/i2e/admissions/
