Service Academy Nominations

Idaho has many promising young leaders, and nominating deserving young Idahoans to United States military academies is one of our great honors.  We are holding annual Service Academy Days this month to provide information to young women and men interested in receiving an excellent education while developing leadership abilities and serving our country through attending service academies. 

In addition to the Academy Day we hosted in Boise earlier this month, we are hosting two Academy Days in north Idaho.  The Lewiston Academy Day will be held on Thursday, April 21, from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM, at Lewiston High School, 1114 9th Avenue.  Attendees are asked to please RSVP by April 18, to Frances_Hasenoehrl@Risch.Senate.gov or (208) 743-0792.  The Coeur d'Alene Academy Day will be held on Thursday, April 28, from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at North Idaho College, Student Union Driftwood Bay Room, 1001 West Garden Avenue.  Attendees are asked to please RSVP by April 21 to Judy.Morbeck@mail.house.gov or (208) 667-0127. 

Each Service Academy Day offers students, parents and counselors the opportunity to meet with academy liaisons, cadets and midshipmen from each school to ask questions and receive information.  Staff from Idaho's Congressional Delegation are also on hand to answer questions about the application process for receiving a nomination to the academies.  This year, the United States Military Academy at West Point; the U.S. Naval Academy; the U.S. Air Force Academy; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy are represented at each event.  While a congressional nomination is not needed to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, representatives will also be in attendance.

Acceptance into these academies provides students with a tuition-free, four-year undergraduate education.  Graduates have jobs after graduation, as they are commissioned as officers and spend a minimum of five years on duty.  Additionally, their education and training make them competitive for graduate programs and future jobs.

High school seniors interested in attending an academy should submit completed application packetsby November 15, 2016.  In addition to the short application, an essay, three letters of recommendation, ACT/SAT scores, a transcript and class rank at the end of the applicant's junior year of high school, and a completed principal/guidance counselor form are required.  Applicants are also encouraged to apply to all offices involved in academy nominations, including both of your U.S. Senators, your U.S. Representative and the Vice President.  The application and complete packet must be in by November 15 ^thof the applicant's senior year of high school.  High school graduates who are 17 years old, but not yet 23, can apply by July 1 of the year they would enter an academy.  

Attending a Service Academy Day is an opportunity, but not the only opportunity to learn more about the benefits of attending a service academy and the application process.  Students who wish to learn more about applying for a military academy nomination but are unable to attend one of the Academy Day events can access information regarding the application process on our websites and are invited to contact any of the following Academy coordinators for information:

Karen Roetter, (Senator Mike Crapo), (208) 664-5490, Karen_Roetter@Crapo.senate.gov;  

Frances Hasenoehrl, (Senator Jim Risch), (208) 743-0792, Frances_Hasenoehrl@Risch.senate.gov;

Linda Culver, (Congressman Mike Simpson), (208) 734-7219, Linda.Culver@mail.house.gov;

Judy Morbeck, (Congressman Raúl Labrador), (208) 667-0127, Judy.Morbeck@mail.house.gov.

A nomination is not an acceptance into an academy.  It is the first step.  Individual academies make the decisions about actual acceptances.  Those completing a nomination application must also open a file with the academies.  We wish all those who are interested in this path the best in the process. 

You may access each delegation member's website through the following links:  https://www.crapo.senate.gov/; http://www.risch.senate.gov/; http://www.simpson.house.gov/; and http://www.labrador.house.gov/.

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