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Service Academy Nominations

Attending a service academy comes with the commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez may nominate candidates for appointment to all the service academies except for the Coast Guard Academy, which does not require a congressional appointment. 

Nominations for the academic year starting Fall 2024 are complete. Applications for Fall 2025 are due by November 1, 2024. If you would like to be considered for a nomination to a service academy, we will be posting our nomination form in June 2024.

The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

Each applicant for a nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to the academy. These requirements are set by the academies, not our office:

  • Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday (25th birthday for the Merchant Marine Academy)
  • Be a U.S. citizen or national
  • Be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
  • Reside within the boundaries of the 14th Congressional District of New York
  • Meet the medical, physical and academic requirements of the Academy

Nominations are based on a "whole person" evaluation. Factors such as academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, leadership skills, character and motivation are taken into consideration and compared with other applicants.

Please note that in addition to applying for a nomination from our office, you MUST also apply directly to the academy of your choice. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s nomination does not automatically result in selection by the service academies. Selection to each academy is ultimately decided upon by the academy to which the appointee has applied.

For further questions, please visit this Frequently Asked Questions or contact my district office at (718) 662-5970 or via email at aoc.nominations@mail.house.gov.