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Thank you for your interest in serving our country! As your Senator, I am honored to select outstanding young New Jersey residents for nomination to the service academies: the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the United States Military Academy, and the United States Naval Academy. Each year it fills me with great pride to see the hundreds of patriotic and driven young women and men from New Jersey who wish to serve our country.
The deadline to apply for a nomination from Senator Booker to enter an academy in the fall of 2020 is October 18, 2019.
To be considered for an academy nomination, you must be:
- A legal resident of the State of New Jersey
- At least 17 years old but not yet 23 years old on July 1st of the year you would enter the academy, and less than 25 years old for the Merchant Marine Academy
- A graduate of high school before July 1st of the year you would enter the academy
- Of high academic standing
- Unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation for the support of a dependent
- An avid participant in community service and extracurricular activities which demonstrate your leadership abilities
If you have any questions, please contact our office by phone at (973) 639-8700 or by email at nominations@booker.senate.gov. This application is solely the responsibility of the person applying, and as such, we expect to hear exclusively from the applicant. If students need to call during school hours, we suggest that they visit their guidance counselor’s office for assistance.
Due to the high volume of applicants and limited number of permitted nominations per member of Congress, all candidates are strongly encouraged to also apply for a nomination from Senator Menendez, their U.S. Representative, and other possible nomination sources such as Office of the President and Office of the Vice President, and the Secretary of Army, Navy, or Air Force. Applying to other offices will not affect your chances of securing a nomination from Senator Booker.
To be considered for admittance to a service academy you must be selected by the admissions committee of your chosen service academy, receive a congressional nomination, pass the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA), and a medical exam. Some academies also prefer coursework with a demonstrated interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Service academies consider a candidate’s whole application, including: class rank, standardized test scores, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and athletics.
There are five service academies that offer appointments to highly qualified individuals who meet eligibility requirements. Additional information on how to apply to the service academy of your choice can be found at each school’s website, links to which are provided below:
*Please note the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination.
Admissions Representatives
We strongly recommend contacting your chosen academy’s state admissions representatives. These individuals are a great resource to provide additional information on their application process, and to assist prospective cadets and families.
Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officers
Academy Summer Programs
Some service academies offer summer programs to high school juniors to provide potential candidates an insight into life at their prospective academy. If you would like to gain more exposure to academy life, you may consider applying for a summer program. Attending a summer program is not necessary to secure a nomination from Senator Booker.