Who can nominate me for a military academy?

Hi, everyone! I'm considering applying to a military academy and I'm still a bit unclear about who can nominate me for this. Is it only Congress members or are there others who can nominate me as well?

In the nomination process for a military academy, the majority of nominees are indeed selected by members of Congress. Each Senator or Representative can have up to five appointees in each military academy at a time, so they typically nominate about ten individuals each year to keep those spots filled.

However, there are other sources of nominations. For example, the Vice President of the United States can nominate applicants on a nationwide basis, without geographic constraint.

If you are a child of a Medal of Honor recipient, you can receive a Presidential nomination. Additionally, children of career military personnel can also get a Presidential nomination.

Furthermore, in certain cases, nominations can come from military-connected sources. This includes children of deceased or disabled veterans, or if your parent is a Prisoner of War or Missing in Action. Also, enlisted members of the military and ROTC/JROTC units have separate nomination sources.

While applying, remember that the process is competitive. All candidates should apply for all nomination sources for which they are eligible. This includes reaching out to both of your state's U.S. Senators, your U.S. Representative, and the Vice President, in addition to the other sources mentioned. All the best!