Service Academy Nominations

It is one of my greatest congressional privileges and honors to nominate South Dakota’s exceptional students to the United States Service Academies.

Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. Service Academies: the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

The Academies provide students the opportunity to receive a preeminent education from some of our finest institutions on a full scholarship while training physically and preparing mentally to protect and defend our nation. The honor of attending a Service Academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

To be eligible to attend a Service Academy, applicants must be:

• a U.S. citizen;
• unmarried with no dependents;
• between the ages of 17 and 23 (on the first of July of the year they wish to be admitted); and
• of good moral character.

Additionally, you or your parents must claim domicile in South Dakota in order to apply for a nomination from my office. Proof of documentation may be required.

Instructions

First, contact the Academy directly to open a pre-candidate file.

Then, complete the online nomination application below. You may either upload the required documents below or mail them in one envelope to my Sioux Falls district office no later than Friday, October 31, 2025. The application portion must be submitted online. 

• Write 1-2 page cover letter outlining your interest in receiving a nomination;
• Provide a 1-2 page resume of your extracurricular activities and leadership responsibilities;
• Obtain a copy of your high school transcript;
• Obtain a copy of your ACT/SAT scores;
• Obtain three letters of recommendation, including at least one letter from your principal, teacher, guidance counselor, or employer; and
• Provide copies of any correspondence received from the Academy. 

My academy interviews will be held on the November 22, 2025 in both Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Applicants should reserve that entire day until they have been notified if they have been granted an interview and the time. Details are subject to change.

My office encourages applicants to apply for a service academy nomination through as many applicable avenues as possible, which may include the offices of Vice President JD Vance, Senator John Thune, and Senator Mike Rounds. Other nomination sources may include the President of the United States, ROTC/JROTC unit, Reserve Officers Training Corps unit, or if you are a child of a Medal of Honor Awardee, deceased or disabled veteran, prisoner of war, or missing in action. For more information about the qualification requirements for each of these other nomination sources, please visit the Admissions website for the Academy you are interested in.

For more general information about the nomination process, please review the Frequently Asked Questions for those seeking a Service Academy Nomination page on my website. If you have further questions about the nomination application process, please contact my Sioux Falls office at (605) 275-2868 or email me online.

To hear from Service Academy students previously nominated by me, watch the video below.