Officer Development: Critical Thinking, Innovation, Peer Influence, the Highest Ideals
Thank you for wanting to serve as a military officer. Our freedom lasts because you are willing to defend it and help our nation remain a leader on the world stage. At a Service Academy, you will lead teams before most of your friends land their first job and graduate with experience others won’t get for a decade. You will be surrounded by peers who share your excellent work ethic, morals, and patriotism to earn a tuition-free, world class education. It is the utmost privilege to nominate Tennessee’s strongest young leaders for appointments to The United States Military Academy at West Point, The United States Naval Academy, The United States Air Force Academy, and The United States Merchant Marine Academy.
You will be part of a core group of innovative officers with the ability to exert positive peer influence, think critically, and uphold values that are essential to the long-term readiness and success of our armed forces.
Are Nominations Required for an Appointment Offer?
Yes. You will not be considered without securing one from an official source. Nominations were established by Congress (Title 10, U.S. Code) to ensure a merit-based selection and representation from the brightest, most promising young Americans. If you are not selected for a nomination or appointment offer on your first try, you may absolutely apply again the following year.
Eligibility
While my process is competitive with a pool of strong candidates across the state, I strongly urge you to please apply. Prior military experience is admirable, but certainly not required. Several candidates each year earn nominations who have been Eagle Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys/Girls State delegates, class officers, assisting their parents as primary caretakers for their families, team captains, employees, and weekly mentors. My goal is to offer the Service Academies the most well-rounded scholars, leaders, and athletes to refine with leadership skills that will last a lifetime. You offer a unique set of experiences that will help our military remain strong.
The application for the Class of 2031 will open on February 16th, 2026 and close on October 2nd, 2026. This is a strictly enforced deadline. Other guidelines for admission are below:
-Between the ages of 17 and 23 by July 1st of the year you enter an academy
-Unmarried, not pregnant, no legal dependents
-A legal resident and domicile of Tennessee; a legal citizen of the United States
-A desire to serve and an understanding of the commitment: at least nine years of military service (four at the academy, minimum of five after graduation)
Application Requirements
In addition to these eligibility standards, candidates must submit the following application materials to be considered for a Congressional Nomination:
-Online Questionnaire
-One (1) Essay that accurately and thoughtfully answers the prompt, “Why do you want to attend a Service Academy?”
-The Essay portion is located at the bottom of the online questionnaire
-Minimum of three (3) and maximum of five (5) Letters of Recommendation
-At least one letter must be written by an academic source, such as teacher or school administrator;
-At least one must be written by a non-academic source, such as an employer or athletic coach;
-Letters of Recommendation may NOT be written by family members, regardless of their affiliation with the armed services or otherwise.
-Official High School Transcript (and College, if applicable)
-SAT and/or ACT Scores (can be super scored)
–Submit your test scores electronically to Senator Hagerty’s institution codes:
SAT: 1987
ACT: 7183
-You will need to directly submit your CLT scores to Senator Hagerty by arranging through the test’s website using service_academy@hagerty.senate.gov.
-Headshots are not required, however, they are highly encouraged
-Résumés are not required, however, they are highly encouraged
Committed to Your Success
Since the nominations process is competitive, please also apply with every available source: Vice President J.D. Vance, Senator Marsha Blackburn, and your U.S. Representative (confirm your district at house.gov by entering your address). You only need one nomination from one congressional source to earn an appointment offer to the academy of your choice. If you are torn between multiple academies, I am committed to helping you discern long-term goals and ask you to be transparent. You may also earn a service-oriented nomination (ROTC, active duty, military dependent) however Service Academies are required by law to cap service-oriented nominees.
Once again, thank you for your selfless desire to lead our nation’s military and represent the great state of Tennessee. All candidates who complete my application packet will be contacted with an interview date following the deadline. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to email my office at service_academy@hagerty.senate.gov.
All the best,
