United States Service Academy Congressional Nomination Application

United States Service Academy Congressional Nomination Application - Class of 2030

Office of Congresswoman Diana DeGette
WELCOME & OVERVIEW:

Congresswoman Diana DeGette is pleased to learn of your interest in serving our country and representing Colorado's First Congressional District at a United States Service Academy.

As you know, there are five (5) Service Academies, including: the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy. Each institution has its own rules and procedures that govern appointments; therefore, you are strongly encouraged to visit each Academy's website for complete information regarding the appointment process, including Congressional nominations. Currently, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is the only Service Academy that does not require a Congressional nomination for appointment.

An appointment to a United States Service Academy is a high honor. Accordingly, the process is rigorous and competitive, often requiring many steps, including competing for a nomination from a recognized nominating authority, such as your U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator.

The instructions and deadlines that follow pertain to Congresswoman DeGette's nomination process only. Keep in mind that each nominating authority reserves the right to structure their process, including application questions and deadlines, differently. Therefore, you should consult each authority's website for complete information and make every effort to comply with their instructions.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Congresswoman DeGette's nomination process, please contact the Service Academy Coordinator in the Denver District Office at (303) 844-4988.

Congresswoman DeGette wishes you much success as you continue this process and work towards your goal of serving our country.

Eligibility:
To be eligible for appointment to any United States Service Academy, an applicant must meet the following statutory criteria:
- American citizenship;
- At least 17 years of age and not yet 23 years old by July 1st of the year the applicant would enter an academy (exception: 25 years old for the USMMA);
- Unmarried;
- Not pregnant and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents.
In addition to statutory requirements, each academy has established academic, physical and leadership requirements for admission. Specific requirements in each of the academic, physical, and leadership categories vary by academy and are revised regularly. However, generally, candidates for appointment to each academy must:
- Demonstrate comprehensive academic preparation;
- Demonstrate leadership, athletic ability and participation in extracurricular activities;
- Take the SAT or the ACT assessment;
- Be in good physical and mental health;
- Pass a comprehensive medical examination; and
- Pass a physical aptitude examination.
Lastly, candidates seeking an appointment to a United States Service Academy are required to obtain a nomination from a recognized nominating authority, such as a U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator (note that the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination). Due to the time constraints, these processes must occur in parallel so that the applicant is both applying to the academy for appointment and seeking a nomination at the same time.

The nomination guidelines outlined in this application pertain to Congresswoman DeGette’s office only.

NOTE: Applicants Must Apply to Service Academies Separately

In addition to competing for a nomination from a Member of Congress or other nominating official, an individual seeking appointment to a service academy must separately apply to each service academy in which he or she seeks to be appointed. Each academy requires the submission of a preliminary application to initiate the admission process. Preliminary application materials are available from each academy website listed below:

United States Naval Academy
USNA Candidate Guidance Office
Annapolis, MD 21402-5018
http://www.usna.edu/Admissions

United States Air Force Academy
Admissions Office
USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025
http://academyadmissions.com

United States Military Academy at West Point
Admissions Office
600 Thayer Road West Point, NY 10996-9902
https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions

United States Merchant Marine Academy
Admissions Office
Kings Point, NY 11024-1699
https://www.usmma.edu/admissions

United States Coast Guard Academy (*NO Congressional Nomination Required)
Admissions Office
New London, CT 06320
https://uscga.edu/admissions/

Instructions:
Please read these instructions carefully before you proceed with the nomination application. Additional information can be found on Congresswoman DeGette's website: https://degette.house.gov/nominations

To be considered for a nomination from Congresswoman DeGette, all required application materials must be submitted by 11:59pm MT on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Letters of recommendation, school transcript, and completed school recommendation form should be sent to Congresswoman DeGette's district office:

Congresswoman Diana DeGette
ATTN: Service Academy Coordinator
600 Grant Street, Suite 850
Denver, CO 80203

NOTE: The school recommendation form, transcript, and letters of recommendation may be emailed to Grayson.Moore@mail.house.gov or faxed to (303) 844-4988. If choosing the email option, it must be sent directly by the person providing the document – such as a recommender or school counselor – not by the student.

Required Material For Congressional Nomination:
- Must be a resident of Congressional District 1
  - You can confirm your district here.
- Completed Application Form by the deadline
  - Please note that resumes may not be submitted in place of the official application
- School Recommendation Form
  - Please note that the form is downloaded in this application
- Official High School Transcript
  - Must include an official seal or stamp, or the signature and title of a school official
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
  - Letters must come from individuals who know you well, such as a teacher, principal, school counselor, employer, coach, extracurricular advisor, community or church leader, or scout/CAP/JROTC leader.
  - Please note that these are in addition to the counselor/principal information on the School Recommendation Form
- Wallet-Size Photograph (2” x 3”)
  - A recent photo appropriate for inclusion with your application
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
- Your completed application, including all required materials, must be submitted by 11:59pm MT on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
- Visit https://degette.house.gov/nominations for information and instructions regarding the service academy congressional nomination process.
- For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the District Office at (303) 844-4988 or Grayson.Moore@mail.house.gov.

Candidate Information:
Full Name:

First nameMiddle nameLast name
Date of Birth:

MonthDayYear
Date
Place of Birth:
Permanent Mailing Address:

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Temporary Mailing Address: (if different than above)

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Primary Phone Number:

Area CodePhone Number
Secondary Phone Number:

Area CodePhone Number
Email Address:
example@example.com
Full Name of Parent/Guardian 1:
First, Middle, Last
Permanent Address of Parent/Guardian 1:

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Full Name of Parent/Guardian 2:
First, Middle, Last
Permanent Address of Parent/Guardian 2: (if different from above)

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Eligibility:

Please respond to the following statements. If you answer NO to any of the statements, please call Congresswoman DeGette's office at (303) 844-4988 at your earliest convenience.
1. I am a United States citizen or will be by the date of induction into the Academy.

YesNo
2. I am a resident of the First Congressional District of Colorado.

YesNo
3. I am unmarried and have no dependents.

YesNo
4. I am between the ages of 17-23 or will be by the date of induction into the Academy.

YesNo

Academic Information:
Date of High School Graduation: (MM/YYYY)
Name of High School Principal or Academic Dean:
Name(s) and Address(s) of High Schools/Colleges Attended:

Academic Performance:
Class Rank: (most recent)
e.g.: 5 in a class of 350
Unweighted Cumulative Grade Point Average: (current)
e.g.: 4.5 on 5 point scale

School Recommendation Form:

Please click arrow in top right corner of form to download.

Resume:
Please identify all awards and honors (whether academic, athletic, professional or extracurricular) earned since beginning high school.
Please identify all school-related extracurricular activities that you have participated in since beginning high school. Include years of participation; 1 = Freshman, 2 = Sophomore, 3 = Junior, 4 = Senior.
Please identify all community activities that you have participated in since beginning high school. Include duration and hours per week.
Please identify all work experience that you have participated in since beginning high school. Include duration and hours per week.
Please identify all military experience (e.g. JROTC, Civil Air Patrol) that you have participated in since beginning high school. Include duration and hours per week.

Essay(s):

Please respond to the following essay prompt(s). While there is no suggested word limit, your response should fully and satisfactorily respond to the question. Also, you should proofread your work, paying close attention to spelling, grammar, content and organization, as these will be considered in your overall evaluation. Use a separate page to write your essay(s).
REQUIRED: Why do you wish to attend a United States Service Academy, and how would an appointment impact your long-term goals? (max: 1 page, double-spaced)

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OPTIONAL ADDENDUM: If there are circumstances related to your application that you feel may adversely impact your candidate evaluation, please explain. (max: 1 page, double-spaced)

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Please Upload a Photo of You for Identification Purposes:

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Signature:
I have read and understand the application instructions and procedures for competing for a Service Academy nomination from Congresswoman DeGette's office.

YesNo
I understand that it is my responsibility to submit all required materials to Congresswoman DeGette’s District Office by 11:59pm MT on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

YesNo
All the information I have provided in this application is truthful, accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

YesNo
Signature*

Clear
Date Submitted:

MonthDayYear
Date
NOTE: Information submitted with your application cannot be returned. Information submitted with your application is subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. Section 552(a), as amended, and to the Freedom of Information Act, Section 552, as amended.
Should be Empty:

United States Service Academy Congressional Nomination Application - Class of 2030

Eligibility:

Instructions:

Candidate Information:

Eligibility:

Demographic Information:

Service Academy Preference:

Academic Information:

Academic Performance:

School Recommendation Form:

Resume:

Essay(s):

Signature: