Service Academy Nominations

What are the basic eligibility requirements?

Each applicant for a nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy:

  • Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday
  • Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
  • Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of our Congressional District.
  • Skill / Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy.

What must be included in my nomination file?

A complete nomination file consists of the following items:

  • Current photo
  • High school transcript
  • SAT or ACT results
  • Resume of extracurricular activities
  • An essay stating why you want to attend that particular service academy
  • Minimum of two letters of recommendation

Please send completed file to:           Congressman Eliot Engel

                                                            c/o Lori Copland

                                                            3655 Johnson Avenue

                                                            Bronx, NY 10463

Nomination files must be received by the end of November. Interviews with each of the applicants takes place mid-December to mid-January and nominations are sent out at the end of January. The applicants will not receive a hardcopy of the nomination from the Congressman's office. The academy will let them know if they received the nomination or not.

Will I automatically be selected by the academy after I receive a nomination?

No. You will be placed among a select group of nominees, and the academy of your choice will make the final decision. If selected, you will receive an offer of admission (an appointment) directly from the academy.

How many academies are there?

There are five service academies. Three reside within the Dept of Defense:              
  1. U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York
  2. U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
  3. U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO

One resides within the Dept of Transportation: 

  1. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY
One resides within the Dept. of Homeland Security:
  1. U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, CT

It is not necessary to seek a nomination to the Coast Guard Academy. U.S.C.G.A. accepts candidates based on their own testing criteria.

As always, if you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.