Nomination from the President for a Military Academy

Hey guys, I've seen something about a Presidential nomination for military academy applicants and I'm really curious. What's up with that and how does one go about it?

Presidential Nominations are indeed one route towards securing a nomination for admission to a U.S. Military Academy. These nominations are often misunderstood since it's named a "Presidential" nomination, but you should note that it doesn't actually involve the President directly. Instead, this type of nomination is available to children of individuals who meet certain criteria.

Specifically, the candidate must be a child of a career military personnel. This includes parents who are either currently enlisted and serving, retired from active duty (with at least 20 years of service), or parents who are deceased but previously had a career in the military.

The process to apply for a presidential nomination involves submitting an application packet to the academy of your choice. The packet generally includes:

- A completed and signed application form (provided by the academy)

- Official transcripts from any high schools and/or colleges attended

- Scores from either the SAT or ACT standardized tests

- A personal essay, typically detailing why you would like to attend the academy and serve the United States

- Letters of recommendation

The deadline for applying for a Presidential nomination typically falls in the fall, so you'd want to start preparing your packet during the summer before your senior year of high school.

But remember, while a Presidential nomination can be part of your path to attendance at a U.S. Military Academy, you'll still need to meet all the other admissions criteria for the specific academy you're interested in, including passing the physical fitness assessment and a medical exam.

And while Presidential nominations may be a bit more accessible since you can self-nominate, securing a Congressional or Senatorial nomination can still be beneficial, considering most successful military academy applicants have multiple nominations. Various academies may also offer other types of nominations, such as nominations for candidates in ROTC programs, or for enlisted personnel, it's best to check with the Academy you're applying to for further details.