Understanding the presidential nomination for military academies

Hey everyone, junior here! I heard somewhere that you can get a presidential nomination for attending one of the U.S military academies. Do any of you have details on how that works? Like, how do you apply for it and what are the requirements? Thanks in advance!

Hello there! The Presidential nomination to the military academies (U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy) comes as an option for certain applicants who currently have a parent serving in or retired from the military. The eligibility for this nomination is specific.

First, you need to fall under one of these categories:

- A child of a career military person, i.e., active or retired military personnel who receive retirement pay from the military.

- A child of a service-connected, deceased military parent.

- A child of a Medal of Honor recipient, whether the parent is living or dead. Notably, this option is irrespective of any military career status.

If you do fall under one of these categories, then you are eligible to apply for the Presidential nomination. This nomination, unlike others such as the congressional or vice-presidential nomination, does not require an interview or a separate application. To apply for a Presidential nomination, apply directly to each academy you're interested in. You'll need to provide documentation to prove you meet the eligibility. This could be your parent's retirement orders and proof of retirement pay, their DD214, or the most recent LES, for example. If your parent is a Medal of Honor recipient, you'll have to provide the orders and certificate that document the award.

Remember, getting a nomination does not guarantee admission into an academy; it's just one of the steps in the process. Each academy's admissions board will evaluate your application (academic records, SAT/ACT scores, physical aptitude, and leadership experience) separately.

Good luck with your application process!