Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Service Academies.  As your Representative in Congress, each year I have the honor and the privilege of nominating a select group of young men and women from the Second Congressional District to four of the five U.S. Service Academies.Our U.S. Service Academies provide a first-rate education, and teach the leadership, discipline and communication skills necessary to become a successful officer in our nation's military.  Appointment to the United States Military, Naval, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine Academies is a highly competitive process, with only a select number of students nationwide admitted to the Academies each year. Please note that the Coast Guard Academy is the only Academy that does not require a nomination from a Member of Congress. 

The Nomination Application Process

Interested applicants must follow a twofold process to apply to a Service Academy:

  • An applicant must apply for a nomination through one or all of the following: a member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the Congressional district in which the candidate resides, either or both U.S. Senators from his or her state; and where applicable,  the Vice-President of the United States.
  • Applicants must also contact the Academy that they are interested in attending and begin the Academy appointment process.

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

  • 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 the 2nd Congressional District of Massachusetts;
  • Skill / Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy.

Once a completed nomination application is received in my office, each qualified applicant will be scheduled for an interview with our Academy Review Panel, which comprises select members of my staff with experience and expertise in this area.  Interviews with the Panel will occur over two Saturdays in November. I will nominate qualified individuals to each Academy based on the Panel’s recommendations and my own review of the applicant’s files.  Nominations are based on a holistic evaluation of the applicant. Factors such as academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, leadership skills, physical aptitude, character, motivation and community service are taken into consideration and compared with other applicants. Please note that a nomination does not guarantee admission to a U.S. Service Academy, but is required for your application to be considered by the Academy.  Due to the competitive nature of this process, I encourage applicants to apply for a nomination from all sources available.

How to Apply for a Nomination

Begin by downloading a Service Academy Nomination Application Packet. Complete the requirements of this packet and return all required materials to my Worcester office no later than 5:00PM EST on the 3rd Friday in October.

To learn more about the nomination application process, or if you have any questions, please contact my Nominations Coordinator, Jon Niedzielski (jon.niedzielski@mail.house.gov) for further information.

For more information, please review my page of Frequently Asked Questions for those seeking a Military Academy Nomination.