International Students at US Military Colleges

I'm an international student interested in attending a US military college. Is this even possible or are there restrictions I should know about?

It's absolutely possible for international students to attend a U.S Military College; however, it does come with certain limitations and procedures. International students can attend service academies like the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy, or the U.S. Air Force Academy, and these academies have specific slots for international students each year.

However, admission for international students to these institutions is extremely competitive due to the limited available slots. For example, West Point usually admits around 60 international students in each class, which is quite small given the total class size.

International applicants are not eligible to apply through the same nomination process as U.S. students, which normally involves securing a nomination from a member of Congress. Instead, they have to be nominated by their home country's government or the U.S. Department of Defense. Therefore, you might want to contact your country's military or embassy for information on the nomination process.

It's also important to know that, unlike their U.S. counterparts, international graduates are not commissioned as officers in the U.S. military upon graduation. These graduates return to their home countries to serve in their nations' armed forces, if service is required.

Lastly, before you get accepted, you must pass the physical fitness tests, medical exams and meet the English language proficiency as set by the academy.

Keep in mind, these apply to U.S service academies and not all military-oriented schools. For instance, schools like Norwich University or the Virginia Military Institute accept international students through more typical college admissions processes.

Before deciding on this path, ensure to navigate through all these nuances and research your prospective schools and consult with your home country's military or U.S. embassy about the potential for nomination.