In honor of Memorial Day, here are the guidelines and steps for applying to one of the five United States military academies (Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines). If you have a college-bound teen that’s interested in one of these academies it’s IMPERATIVE that they start early with their preparations.

MILITARY ACADEMIES

Attendance at one of our nation’s military academies is a very competitive process and should be undertaken well in advance of the senior year.There are five military academies that the Department of Defense maintains for the preparation of officers for the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Merchant Marine. You must request an application from each academy. Your chances of being accepted to a service academy are enhanced if you apply to more than one and if you attend the summer session at the academy of your choice in the summer between your junior and senior years.

Application Process

The application process begins in the spring of your junior year. You should call or write to each academy at the end of April and request a Pre-Candidate Questionnaire. The brief pre-application is easily completed and returned the same day you get it in the mail. You must complete this form in order to receive a formal application. The official Candidate Application consists of several components, including the application, a physical aptitude test, a personality test, a personal statement, recommendations and various printed materials. You should fill out and return as many of the application materials as soon as possible. You may send in the various components of your application separately. Each academy will set up an admissions file on you as soon as they receive part or all of your application. You could be notified as early as November of your senior year of your admittance, although the normal date for notification is after mid-April.

You must be prompt in arranging your DODMERB (Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board) Physical if you expect to be admitted on schedule. Many potential candidates have been denied admission because their physical was not completed on time. Successful completion of the DODMERB Physical is absolutely essential before admission can be granted. Schedule your physical as soon as you get your application. Keep in constant contact with the Admissions Board of the Academies to which you are applying to determine if there are delays in the receipt of application materials.

When you start your senior year, you should write letters to both your representative in the House of Representatives and to both California Senators requesting a nomination to each academy to which you are applying. Most nominations are given by the representative in your area. They will schedule you for an interview as soon as they receive your letter of request. Failure to schedule an interview can cost you your chance for admission.

Admissions Process

Successful appointment to an academy is based on the successful completion of your application, your physical, and a receipt of nomination. Candidates in the top 10% of their class, who have strong SAT scores, and who have demonstrated leadership in school or community activities are the strongest candidates for admission. Admission to the Academies is extremely competitive and only excellent students, who have demonstrated superior leadership skills, are granted admittance. A typical profile of a successful applicant would show a student with outstanding grades in the most difficult courses offered by the school; who has scored very well in the SAT; and who has been involved in school sports, student government, Boy Scouts, and community-based organizations. Students who do not gain admittance can be offered an appointment to an Academy Prep School for a year and then be admitted the following year. Most of the slots in Academy Prep Schools are reserved for recruited athletes or enlisted persons in the military.

Final Thoughts

Do not apply to a military academy unless you desire a career in the military! The lifestyle at each academy is very rigorous and only individuals who are strongly committed to a life in the military will be motivated to complete such a strenuous educational experience. The students interested in attending either one of the military academies or applying for the ROTC Scholarship program must begin early to insure they receive full consideration. Students serious about attending a military academy should contact the academy liaison officers or the academies directly for the Pre-Candidate Questionnaire no later than the spring of their junior year. The academies are located at:

Air Force Academy: Colorado Springs, CO 80840

Coast Guard Academy: New London, CT 06320

Merchant Marine Academy: Kings Point, NY 11024

Military Academy: West Point, NY 10996

Naval Academy: Annapolis, MD 21402

ROTC applications can be obtained from:

H2 AFROTC Recruiting Division, 551 E. Maxwell Blvd., Maxwell AB, AL 36112-6106, www.airforce.com

Navy-Marine Corps ROTC, Navy Recruiting Command Code 314, 801 N. Randolph St., Arlington, VA 22203-9933, 1-800-NAV-ROTC or www.nrotc.navy.mil/

College ARMY ROTC, Gold Quest Center, P. O. Box 3279, Warminster, PA 18974-9811, 1-800-USA-ROTC or www.armyrotc.com/

Costs:

None. Full US Government scholarships are awarded which cover tuition, room and board. Each student also receives a stipend ($400-600 per month) to meet cost of books, supplies, clothing and personal expenses.