Could anyone give me advice on....

[In-Famous]

The Air Force Academy. I wanted to join and asked both instructors what i needed to do and how high my chances are. Any advice on making it or increasing my chances would help.
thanks.

[C/CLN]

Make sure your grades are amazing and you have devoted lots of time to extracurriculars and community service. If there's something you can do within the school, do it.

[CAPSmith]

What grade are you in?
How are your academic grades?
Have you already established contact with your local congressman?

We could provide a bit more help if you let us know a little more background on the research, etc you've done already. That way we can better tailor our advice to meet your actual needs.

[In-Famous]

Im in 11th grade
my grades are usually A's and B's
i have been on my local congressman's website and gathered information about the Air Force Academy and the application for his nomination.

sorry about that

[cyclonecadet]

I would start making sure that you are in shape. Not only do you have to pass the PT test when applying but you need to remember that USAFA is in Colorado Springs, which has a much higher elevation than most places in the US.

[C./Fields]

Have you already established contact with your local congressman?

How would you go about doing this..just tell them interest,etc.? or what?

[CAPSmith]

Entrance to a service academy requires Congressional Nomination. If you go to www.senate.gov or www.house.gov you can do a search for your senators and representatives.

On their websites, they usually have a section under "information for students" or "constituent services" about their method for getting you a nomination.

For example, Senator Judd Gregg(R-NH) has this on his webpage:


As a United States Senator, it is a great privilege to nominate students from the State of New Hampshire to our nation’s service academies. Our service academies provide young men and women with a first rate education and the leadership skills we need for our future.

Students must obtain a nomination in order to compete for admission to any of the four Service Academies and should apply for a nomination during the spring of their junior year. In addition to the Congressional nomination process, nominations may also be available to qualifying applicants from the following sources: the President and Vice President of the United States and the Secretary of each military department; Army, Navy and Air Force. Applicants are encouraged to seek nominations from all available sources.

For those New Hampshire students wishing to secure a nomination to a service academy from Senator Gregg, please send a letter requesting a nomination packet to the following address.

Office of Senator Judd Gregg
Attn: Anne Warburton
16 Pease Blvd.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
As the deadline for our office receiving your completed file is November 15th, applicants are encouraged to submit their letter of interest as early as possible to assure completion of their file prior to the November 15th deadline.

Senator Gregg accepts nomination requests for New Hampshire students only who wish to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Military Academy. For information regarding admissions requirements to these academies, please visit the following web sites:

http://www.usafa.af.mil

http://www.usna.edu

http://www.usmma.edu

http://www.usma.edu
Note: The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination for appointment. For additional information regarding the Coast Guard Academy please visit the following website:

http://www.cga.edu

Students who have questions about the nomination process should contact Anne Warburton at (603) 431-2171, or by mail at 16 Pease Blvd, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

Please note that due to the heightened security in the U.S. Capitol, mail service to my Washington, DC office is significantly delayed, therefore, we ask that all correspondence be mailed to our Portsmouth, New Hampshire Office.

Representative Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) has this:


Academy Nominations
Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Service Academies. As your First District Representative in the U.S. House, each year I have the privilege of nominating a few highly-qualified applicants to the five service academies, the Military Academy (Army), the Naval Academy (Navy and Marines), the Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy. Service academies prepare young men and women for an officer's commission in our armed forces or Merchant Marine, and offer a tuition-free education at a selective, highly-ranked, nationally-recognized academic program. In addition to their program of rigorous academic studies, leadership development, and military training, the academies stress physical fitness and require participation in athletics and sports.

The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for at least nine years -- four at one of the academies and five more years upon graduation. Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending a U.S. Service Academy and of serving our country.

To request a nomination packet for one of the other academies, please contact my office.

Please see below for more information about the U.S. Service Academies and the nomination process.



Frequently Asked Questions

What is a nomination and how do I apply?

In order to apply to four of the five U.S. Service Academies, prospective applicants must first receive a nomination. A candidate who meets the eligibility requirements may seek a nomination from any of the following:

A member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which the candidate resides
Both U.S. Senators from his or her state
A direct application to the Vice-President of the United States (American citizens residing abroad can only apply to the Vice President for a nomination.)
Application to the US Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination.


What are the basic eligibility requirements?

Each applicant for a nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of
July 1st of the year of admission to an academy:

Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of the 1st Congressional District of
Skill / Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy.

How do I request an application?

To request a nomination packet for one of the U.S. Service Academies, please write a letter to:

The Office of Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter
Attn: Heather Macneill
33 Lowell Street
Manchester, NH 03101

Note: You may always email or call for more information, but nomination packets must be requested by traditional mail only.


When should I begin the application process?

You should begin, ideally, in the spring of Grade 11; my nomination deadline is November 1, 2008 for the Class of 2013. Because you will be applying to several members of Congress as well as to the academy (or academies) of your choice, multiple applications (and sets of requirements) are involved, and the process is time-consuming. You may apply to the academy (or academies) at the same time that you apply for a nomination.


What must be included in my nomination file?

A complete nomination file consists of the following items:

Current photo
High school transcript
American College Testing Program (ACT) results and/or College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results*
Summary of extracurricular activities
Summary of sports activities
An autobiographical essay including why you want to attend a service academy (500 words or less; about 2 pages)
Minimum of three letters of recommendation
*These tests may be taken multiple times; the highest verbal and math scores, from whatever test date, are combined and used. Our office uses the minimum test scores used by the academies.


What are the academies?

There are five service academies.

Three reside within the Department of Defense:

U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York
U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs
One resides within the Department of Transportation

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York
One resides within the Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut

Are the requirements the same for all of the service academies?

No. Although many of the qualifications are similar, each academy operates under its own admissions guidelines. Visit the academy of your choice via the web sites noted for each academy's particular admissions qualifications.

Please note that the U.S. Coast Guard Academy requires applications directly from candidates. It is the only academy that does not participate in the congressional nomination process. It is therefore not necessary to seek a nomination from a member of Congress when applying to the Coast Guard Academy. The U.S.C.G.A. has its own selection criteria for candidates. Please visit its web site and apply directly to the academy.

Who should I ask to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?

Some of the people applicants typically seek recommendations from include:

Teachers
Counselors
Employer
Coaches
Clergy
Scout Leaders

Will I automatically be selected by the academy after I receive a nomination?

No. You will be placed among a select group of nominees, and the academy of your choice will make the final decision. If selected, you will receive an offer of admission (an appointment) directly from the academy.


What if I choose more than one academy? Will I be limited to a single nomination?

No. You can be nominated to multiple academies depending on how well you have competed among this year's pool of candidates. It is also possible to win multiple appointments.


Where can I get more information?

Please visit the web sites of the various service academies or contact my office.

U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York
U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York
U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut

If you don't have good access, etc, you can go to one of their physical offices (locations found on their website) and talk to the staffer their about what you need to do.

Hope that helps.