Military Service Academies are a great way to serve your country, acquire skills and training, obtain a degree, and graduate debt-free. Their goal is to train commissioned officers for the Armed Forces. This option is not for everyone, but if you are interested in one of the five Academies, you should acquaint yourself with the requirements and opportunities available. I recently attended a workshop sponsored by Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office on Service Academies and was amazed at what they offer.
The Five Academies Are:
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY (USMA)
- United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD (USNA)
- United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (USAFA)
- United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY (USMMA)
- United States Coast Guard, New London, CT (USCGA)
With the exception of the Coast Guard, all of the Academies require congressional nomination and ACT or SAT scores. Students will graduate with a BS degree and serve five years plus another three years in Reserves. Students at the Military Academy, Air Force and Coast Guard are known as Cadets. Students at the Naval Academy and Merchant Marines are known as Midshipman.
Eligibility
To be eligible to enter an Academy, you must be:
- A Citizen of the United States
- Of Good Moral Character
- Unmarried With No Dependents
- At least 17, but less than 23 years of age by July 1 of the year you plan to enter
- Meet medical, physical, and academic requirements
Congressional Nomination Timeline
Each congressional office timeline is different, so it is best to check their individual websites. Each member of congress is permitted five appointees in each service academy. The President can nominate children of career military personnel, deceased, or disabled veterans, missing military or civilians, and medal of honor recipients. The Vice-President is allowed to nominate five individuals from across the U.S. The Secretary of the Army, Navy, and Air Force can nominate members of the regular military, reserves, and ROTC participants. Students can apply to more than one nomination source before the November 1 deadline.
If you have a desire to serve in the Armed Services, this option may be a good fit for you. Good luck.