Thank you for your interest in one of the United States Military Service Academies. It is a privilege of mine to be able to nominate a limited number of young people from the 12th District of Georgia to attend four of the five Service Academies. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. I appreciate your enthusiasm and commitment to serving our great country.
To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, an applicant must meet the eligibility requirements and be nominated by an authorized person, including a member of the United States House of Representatives or United States Senate.
To be eligible, you must be 17 years of age as of July 1st in the year of admission to a service academy. You must not have passed your 23rd birthday. You must be a United States citizen, unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.
Those interested in applying for a nomination to a service academy through my office must reside in the 12th Congressional District of Georgia. If you are not sure in which district you reside or if you are a constituent of mine, please click here and provide your zip code. You must also complete the application through my office and provide all requested documentation. You should also begin the application process with the academies themselves. In order to assist you with the nomination application process, detailed information and Frequently Asked Questions are available below to help provide guidance about submitting an application to my Congressional office.
Applications will be available from July 1 - November 1, 2024. To request a Military Academy Nomination packet from my office, please complete the form below or click here to download the application. Completed application packets can be returned starting July 1, 2024 and must be received in the Augusta office by November 1, 2024 at 5 PM. No exceptions will be made.
Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending one of the U.S. Service Academies and serving our country.
God Bless,
Rick Allen
U.S. Congressman (GA-12)
NECESSARY ACTION TO APPLY TO A SERVICE ACADEMY
Please note that all applications for a nomination through Rep. Allen’s Augusta office are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, November 1, 2024. Because there is a great deal of information required by the Service Academies for a nomination, this is not a process to be taken lightly. Please understand that no applications received after the deadline will be considered and no exceptions can be made. Therefore, any delivery delays by USPS or any commercial package delivery service will not be grounds for a late submission.
Please CLICK HERE to download the Service Academy application.
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Please follow the instructions carefully for completing and submitting applications to my office. Please provide an email address on your application so that an email can be sent to you confirming receipt of your completed file. If your file was incomplete, you will receive an email outlining what is missing. If you do not receive an email confirmation, contact Paul Lynch at paul.lynch@mail.house.gov to determine the status of your application.
Please take your SAT and ACT tests as early as possible, allowing time for a retest if desired. Also, on the first page of the application, you are required to list your 9 digit zip code in the information for your address. This is required for all military academies and without it, a nomination cannot be submitted.
Your 9 digit zip code can be found on the U.S. Postal Service website at www.usps.com.
The Military Service Academy Board that Congressman Allen appointed will review all applications and select candidates that will be invited to an in-person interview. This invitation will be made in late October for a November interview date. The nomination decisions will be made and announced before the end of the calendar year. Service academies will extend offers of appointments through May of the application year.
Please submit your application packets to Rep. Allen’s Augusta office. If you have questions about the nominations process, please contact the Service Academy Coordinator:
Congressman Rick Allen
ATTN: Paul Lynch, Military Liaison
2743 Perimeter Parkway
Bldg. 200, Suite 105
Augusta, Ga 30909
(706) 228-1980 Office
(706) 228-1954 Fax
Email: Paul.Lynch@mail.house.gov
Frequently asked questions for those seeking a Military Academy nomination:
What is a nomination?
Members of Congress may nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law. A candidate may seek a nomination from the following:
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A member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which the candidate resides
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Both U.S. Senators from his or her state
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Apply directly to the Vice-President of the United States
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:
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Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday
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Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
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Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
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Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of the 12th Congressional District of Georgia.
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Skill / Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy.
Who do I contact to request an application?
You can download it here or contact my Service Academy Coordinator at (706) 228-1980 or Paul.Lynch@mail.house.gov.
When do I apply for a nomination?
My nomination application period opens July 1st of each year for those candidates who are high school juniors and will be seniors the following school year, or who have already graduated.
What is the deadline for completing a nomination file?
The deadline for submitting a nomination packet to my Augusta District Office is October 13, 2023 at 5pm. EST. Please contact my Service Academy Coordinator at (706) 228-1980 or Paul.Lynch@mail.house.gov.
What must be included in my nomination file?
A complete nomination file consists of the following items:
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Current photo
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Academic transcript
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American College Testing Program (ACT) results and/or College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results
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Three one-page essays (200 words or less for each)
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Minimum of three letters of recommendation
What happens after I have completed my nomination file?
Applicants who submit a completed nomination file will be scheduled for an interview in late October or early November.
What criteria is used in selecting candidates?
Nominations are based on a "whole person" evaluation. Factors such as academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, leadership skills, physical aptitude, character, and motivation are taken into consideration and compared with other applicants.
How many academies are there?
There are five service academies.
Are the requirements the same for all of the service academies?
No. Although many of the qualifications are similar, each academy operates under its own admissions guidelines. Visit the academy of your choice via the websites noted for each academy's particular admissions qualifications. It is not necessary to seek a nomination to the Coast Guard Academy, as the U.S.C.G.A. accepts candidates based on their own testing criteria.
Who should I ask to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?
Please make sure your letters are not from relatives. Some of the people applicants typically seek recommendations from include:
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Teachers
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Counselors
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Employers
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Coaches
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Clergy
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Scout Leaders
I do not require a specific recommendation form. A letter of recommendation is sufficient; however, the letters of recommendation must arrive in a sealed envelope or they will not be considered.
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.
What if I choose more than one academy? Will I be limited to a single nomination?
No. You can be nominated to multiple academies depending on how well you have competed among this year's pool of candidates. It is also possible to win multiple appointments.
When will I know if I have been offered an appointment by an academy?
Academies will begin to notify candidates of their admission status in February. All offers of appointment are generally sent out by May.
