Military Academy Nominations

Background and Information

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.

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

A candidate may seek a nomination from the following:

A member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which the candidate resides
Both U.S. Senators from his or her state
Apply directly to the Vice-President of the United States

Congressman Goldman may nominate a select number of individuals for each vacant academy slot allocated to District 12. A nomination is not an indication of acceptance or admission to a service academy.

Please see the information below on application guidelines, how to submit a completed application packet, and the general nomination process timeline. Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending one of the U.S. Service Academies and serving our country.

Application Guidelines

Eligibility Requirements:

Be at least 17 years old, but have not passed their 23rd birthday
Must be a U.S. citizen
Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
Must currently reside within the boundaries of the 12th Congressional District of Texas.
- Exceptions will be made for students enrolled at military preparatory schools with immediate family ties to congressional district 12
Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy

The eligibility requirements must be met as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy.

Application Packet Requirements:

Application Form (Download HERE).
Current photo
High school transcript/ college transcript (if applicable)
- If you are taking college courses through a community college or career technical school in conjunction with your high school courses, both transcripts are required
American College Testing Program (ACT) and/or College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results
- Screenshots or a PDF of your results are required. All scores are verified for accuracy with the College Board before interviews
- Per the Service Academy recommendations, you are highly encouraged to take the ACT or SAT early and often to show progress and score improvement, should you need it
Resume
- Resumes should include your full address, contact email, contact number, latest GPA, and the school you are attending
- It is best to highlight your academic achievements, leadership abilities, community involvement, athletic involvement, and extracurricular activities
An essay stating why you want to attend a service academy (500 words or fewer)
Minimum of three letters of recommendation

Important Deadlines

Applications open May 15th of every year for candidates who are high school juniors going into their senior year, or who have already graduated

A complete application packet MUST be received IN FULL by the application deadline, Friday, October 16th, 2026, at 5:00 PM CT to be considered for an interview with our selection committee

Submitting your Application Packet

Please send your full application materials as individual PDF attachments to: TX12DistrictOffice@mail.house.gov with the subject line Your Last Name, First Name – Service Academy Packet

Additionally, please DO NOT submit your service academy nomination packet to our office IF YOU HAVE NOT begun your admissions application with the service academies. The nomination process with our office and the admissions application to a service academy are concurrent with one another. You cannot receive a nomination if you have not completed an application for admission.

Applications submitted by parents or guardians without direct contact from the applicants will not be accepted or considered complete.

General Nomination Timeline

Questions

If you have any questions about this process, please email TX12DistrictOffice@mail.house.gov or call (817) 806-9474.