Academy Nominations

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It is an honor and a privilege to be a nominating authority from the state of Tennessee to the United States Service Academies. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the young men and women from our state with aspirations to serve our great country.

Below you will find instructions for applying to my office for a Congressional Nomination to one of the U.S. Service Academies. If you have any questions, please contact my Service Academy Coordinator at Service_Academy@hagerty.senate.gov.

Sincerely,
Bill Hagerty

What are congressional Military Academy Recommendations?

In order to attend one of the United State Military Service Academies (U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Military Academy at West Point) you must receive a Congressional Nomination from one of your State’s U.S. Senators, a U.S. Congressman, or the Vice President. Please note that the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional Nomination. The competition for a Congressional Nomination is high, so I encourage you to apply to all of your nominating sources. Be sure to check with any of the Academies you are applying to for a list of their additional nominating sources. To apply for a nomination from my office, click “Apply Here” at the bottom of this page.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be considered for a Congressional Nomination to one of the U.S. Military Service Academies, an applicant must meet all of the eligibility criteria required by the respective Service Academy, including the following:

  • Be at least 17 years of age, but not yet 23 by July 1st of the year he or she is admitted to the Service Academy;
    • For Merchant Marine Academy, the upper age limit is 25.
  • Be a United States Citizen at the time he or she enters the Service Academy, and a legal resident of Tennessee;
  • Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents;
  • Meet the minimum requirements of the Academy to which he or she is applying.
    • Candidates who do not meet the school’s minimum requirements will not receive an interview for the Service Academy.

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
  • A Headshot*
    • *Headshots are not required, however, they are highly encouraged
  • A Résumé*
    • * Résumés are not required, however, they are highly encouraged


The deadline to submit your Service Academy Nomination Application is Friday, October 11th, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Late submissions will not be considered for further review.

Please be sure that you have opened an application file with the Academy/ies you are applying to, and that you have completed any of their additional requirements. Note that graduation from a Service Academy obligates you to at least 5 years of service.

Senator Bill Hagerty’s Academy Nomination Process

My Service Academy Nomination Application for the class of 2029 is open from Monday, March 11th, 2024 through 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, October 11th, 2024. Please note that applications will not be accepted past the due date, and the application portal will not be reopened under any circumstances.

2024 Schedule

Monday, March 11 | Application Opens

Friday, October 11, 11:59 p.m. ET | Application Closes

October 14-25 | Interviews are Scheduled

October 28-November 15 | Statewide Interviews

Sunday, December 24 | Nominees Notified

questions?

My Service Academy Coordinator is available to answer candidates’ questions Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. Candidates may submit their questions via email at Service_Academy@hagerty.senate.gov or call (615) 552-8017.

Apply Here