As your United States Senator, I have the honor of nominating outstanding young individuals to attend our nation’s prestigious military service academies. These institutions prepare students to serve as commissioned officers in the United States Armed Forces, while also providing them with a world-class education. This is an extremely competitive process; a Maryland Senate office typically receives between 400-450 applications each year for the 15 nominations available for the Naval, Military, and Air Force Academies and 10 nominations for the Merchant Marine Academy.

The four service academies that require a congressional nomination are:

• U.S. Military Academy – West Point, NY
• U.S. Naval Academy – Annapolis, MD
• U.S. Air Force Academy – Colorado Springs, CO
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy – Kings Point, NY

Please note: The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Service Academy

To be considered for an Academy nomination, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be at least 17 years old but not yet 23 by July 1 of the year of admission (not yet 25 for Merchant Marine Academy)
• Be unmarried and have no legal obligation to support a child or other dependents (DOD regulations)
• Be a resident of the State of Maryland
• Meet the academic, physical, and character requirements of the Academy.

My application process:

My application for a service academy nomination for the Class of 2030 is available HERE.  For my online application, you will be asked to provide the following:

1. Applicant Basic Information
2. Applicant Essay questions
3. A personal statement: Outlining your goals and reasons for wanting to attend a service academy
4. A resume: Be sure to include leadership roles, employment, and community service/extracurricular activities.
5. An official high school transcript
6. Standardized test scores(SAT or ACT)
7. Three letters of recommendation:
   1. Letter of recommendation #1: from a science or math teacher
   2. Letter of recommendation #2: from a person who can attest to your character, leadership abilities, and your intellectual curiosity. Letters from a member of your family or a relative will not be accepted.
   3. Letter of recommendation #3: from an organization or an individual where you have provided community service.

Recommendation letters may be on personal, professional, school, or organization letterhead, must provide the recommender’s contact information (email/phone number), be typewritten, and should clearly provide the following information:

1. Name of the recommender
2. Relationship to the applicant (teacher, counselor, etc.)
3. Recommender’s title, if applicable (e.g., calculus teacher, biology professor, etc.)
4. Recommender’s affiliated school or organization

Reminders:

• Start Early: The service academy application process is rigorous and includes many steps. Give yourself enough time to complete the application AND the applications for each service academy to which you are applying.
• Consider all sources of Nominations: In addition to seeking a nomination from my office, you may concurrently seek nominations from Senator Van Hollen, your Member of Congress, and the Vice President.
• Complete Service Academy Applications: Completing my nomination pp is not sufficient for entry into the academies. You must apply to the individual service academies in addition to applying for a nomination from me.
• You may only apply for a nomination for one service academy

DEADLINE:

Applications must be received by October 1, 2025, at 11:59PM (EST). Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

SELECTION PROCESS

Nominations are based on a competitive evaluation of academic achievement, leadership potential, extracurricular involvement, character, and commitment to military service. Receiving a Congressional nomination does not guarantee an appointment.  However, it is a required step in the admissions process.

After my service academy team reviews your application, eligible candidates will be invited to interview virtually with my service academy board on November 17^th  and November 18^th. I will submit my slates of nominations after interviews are completed. Applicants will be notified of my decision by January 31, 2026.

Contact:

If you have any questions, please contact my team at: service_academy@alsobrooks.senate.gov   

Office of Senator Alsobrooks
100 South Charles Street, Suite 1710
Baltimore, MD 2120
(410) 962-4436

SERVICE ACADEMY CONTACT INFORMATION

United States Air Force Academy

Director of Admissions
HQ USAFA/RRS
2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 2300
USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025
Tel: 1-800-443-9266
www.academyadmissions.com

United States Military Academy at West Point

Director of Admissions
Official Mail and Distribution Center
646 Swift Road
West Point, NY 10996-1905
Tel: 845-938-2040
www.westpoint.edu/admissions

United States Naval Academy

Dean of Admissions
52 King George St
Annapolis, MD 21402
Tel: 410-293-1858
www.usna.edu/Admissions

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Director of Admissions
300 Steamboat Road
Kings Point, NY 11024-1699
Tel: 1-866-546-4778
www.usmma.edu/admissions