Students interested in attending one of the United States service academies should contact my office in Washington for information and application materials. Generally, interested students should send a letter of interest to Joseph M. McDade in Washington in the spring of their Junior year or in the summer between the 11th and 12th grade.

In order to be admitted to the Department of Defense service academies, students must be at least 17, but not yet passed your 23rd birthday on July 1st of the year admitted. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy applicants may be up to 25 years old.

A service academy candidate must be a U.S. citizen at the time of enrollment. A candidate must be unmarried and have no legal obligation to support a child or children. The candidate must be in good physical and mental health and in excellent physical condition.

For more information regarding the academy nominations offered by each of the academies, you can visit each of the service academy's web sites.

United States Air Force Academy
United States Military Academy
*United States Coast Guard Academy
United State Naval Academy
United States Merchant Marines Academy


*The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, offers appointments solely on the basis of an annual nationwide competition. There are no Congressional appointments or geographical quotas involved.