Service Academy Toolkit · Tool 1 of 4
Service Academy Nomination Tracker
Every nomination source. Every slot count. Every deadline. Paid consultants charge $5,000–$15,000 to teach you what this page lays out for free. The only thing this tool can't do is contact your MOC for you.
The 5 truths nobody tells you
- Apply to ALL your MOCs. Both Senators and your House Rep. That's typically 3 separate applications, with 3 different essay prompts and 3 different panels.
- You can stack nominations. Service-Connected, JROTC, ROTC, and Vice Presidential applications are independent of your MOC apps. Submit every category you qualify for.
- A nomination is not an appointment. You need both a nomination AND a qualifying academy admissions file. They're scored separately.
- USCGA doesn't need a nomination — USMMA does. The two service academies most people confuse. Coast Guard is direct merit admission. Merchant Marine is congressional + state quota.
- The interview is 30–50% of your nomination score. Practice. Have a coach, principal, or veteran put you through 2–3 mock interviews before the real one.
Browse your state
19 MOCs fully sourced · 48 partial · refresh script runs quarterly. Don't see yours? It means we haven't verified that office's specifics yet — the state page links to the official directory.
AL · AlabamaAK · AlaskaAZ · ArizonaAR · ArkansasCA · CaliforniaCO · ColoradoCT · ConnecticutDE · DelawareFL · FloridaGA · GeorgiaHI · HawaiiID · IdahoIL · IllinoisIN · IndianaIA · IowaKS · KansasKY · KentuckyLA · LouisianaME · MaineMD · MarylandMA · MassachusettsMI · MichiganMN · MinnesotaMS · MississippiMO · MissouriMT · MontanaNE · NebraskaNV · NevadaNH · New HampshireNJ · New JerseyNM · New MexicoNY · New YorkNC · North CarolinaND · North DakotaOH · OhioOK · OklahomaOR · OregonPA · PennsylvaniaRI · Rhode IslandSC · South CarolinaSD · South DakotaTN · TennesseeTX · TexasUT · UtahVT · VermontVA · VirginiaWA · WashingtonWV · West VirginiaWI · WisconsinWY · Wyoming
Step 1 — Find your MOCs
You have at least 3 Members of Congress with authority to nominate you. Look each one up on the official directories below. Each office runs its own application portal — there is no single national portal.
Step 2 — Every nomination source
Filter by academy. Tap any source for full eligibility, deadline, and submission method.
Step 3 — The timeline
Month-by-month from spring of junior year through R-Day. Adjust by 1–2 months for re-applicants and gap-year candidates.
Spring of Junior Year (March–May)
- Open candidate files at all academies you're considering — costs nothing
- Take the SAT or ACT for the first time (you'll retake)
- Identify your 2 Senators and 1 House Representative — write their names down
- Start the CFA prep — running, push-ups, pull-ups, basketball throw, shuttle, sit-ups
- If you have JROTC, talk to your SAI about Honor Unit nomination eligibility
- If you have a career-military parent, gather their DD-214 or service-record letter for Presidential nomination
Summer After Junior Year (June–August)
- Apply to your academy's Summer Seminar (USMA SLE, USAFA Summer Seminar, USNA Summer Seminar) — applications open ~March, deadlines ~April
- Visit at least 1 academy in person if possible
- Begin drafting Personal Statement / essays for academy candidate files
- Begin drafting application essays for each MOC — they are usually DIFFERENT essays per MOC
- Take SAT/ACT again if scores need improvement
Fall of Senior Year (September–November)
- ★ THE CRITICAL WINDOW — most MOC nomination deadlines fall here
- Submit MOC applications to ALL eligible Senators and your Rep (typically 3+ applications)
- Prepare for nomination panel interviews — most panels happen in November or early December
- Complete the CFA — schedule with a teacher/coach proctor
- Submit Vice Presidential application if you choose (window: March 1 – January 31)
- Complete the academy candidate files (CFA, medical, essays, recs)
Winter (December–January)
- Nomination panel interviews happen — November/December for most MOCs
- MOC nomination announcements typically arrive late December or January
- January 31 is the academy candidate-file deadline for most academies
- Continue final CFA retakes if needed (highest score from all attempts is used)
Spring (February–April)
- Academy decisions arrive — typically February through April
- If you receive an academy appointment but want a different one, you may be on a wait list at others
- Reply to the academy with acceptance — usually within 2 weeks
- Make backup college plans NOW even if you expect an appointment — pivot fast if needed
Summer (June–July)
- Report Day / R-Day / I-Day — typically late June or early July
- Read the academy's recommended reading list
- Train physically — being above the average CFA is not the same as being ready for plebe summer / cadet basic / beast
- Pack the academy-issued list ONLY — anything else gets thrown away