U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith - How Can We Help?

MILITARY NOMINATIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Because of the extremely keen competition for nominations, you are urged to apply to every nominating authority which your eligibility allows. Since the academies are able to award more appointments than are provided by Congressional vacancies and other categories, no candidate who is highly qualified needs more than one nomination to obtain an appointment. By the same token, no candidate who fails to meet academy standards will be benefitted by having multiple nominations. In order that more applicants will have an opportunity to be reviewed by the academies, please let me know immediately if you are nominated by another authority.

Each Congressional Office uses a selection process which is designed to meet its own needs and standards. The different procedures are often confusing to applicants who apply to more than one office. Last minute misunderstandings can be avoided by carefully studying and following the instructions of each office.

Certain information is required as outlined below in order for you to be considered as an applicant. It is your responsibility to submit this information and to keep it updated. The deadline for receipt of information is November 15th because there must be adequate time to assess each candidate's qualifications. Although information received after the deadline is acceptable until the selections of nominees is complete, candidates whose files are incomplete when nominations are made cannot be given consideration.

Careful thought should be given to your first choice of an academy. Second choices can be considered only in the event that there are not a sufficient number of qualified candidates in an academy category to fill a slate of nominees. This rarely happens.

II. REQUIREMENTS

Residency Applicant must be a legal resident of Oregon.

Application Form The enclosed Application must be completed and returned promptly. Formal candidacy is established in my office upon receipt of the Application. It is not necessary for you to send all required information at once, and you should not wait to file your Application if transcripts or test scores are not immediately available. If your Application is not received within a reasonable time after your initial inquiry, it will be presumed that you are no longer interested in pursuing a nomination.

Transcript An official transcript of your high school record and class rank must be submitted. This transcript must show your final junior grades and numerical class rank. If you apply before this information is available, it is your responsibility to request your guidance counselor to send an up to date transcript and to keep your records current.

College Boards The SAT or ACT are required entrance examinations by the Service Academies for candidates admitted to one of the Service Academies. Applicants are responsible for registration for tests and for requesting scores to be sent to the academy and to my office.

Four Recommendations Leadership and motivation can best be determined with honest evaluations from friends teachers and employers, of a candidates abilities and accomplishments.

Leadership Leadership potential and physical fitness are judged from the information provided on your Application Form. This information should be kept up to date. Unlike civilian colleges, the Service Academies place strong emphasis on physical training. In addition, the academies like civilian colleges and universities, place a high premium on leadership and extra-curricular activities. Therefore consideration must be given to each candidate's proven ability in these areas.

III. BASIS FOR SELECTION

Selections are made competitively on the basis of a composite of academic factors (60%) and leadership potential, extra-curricular activities, physical fitness, and recommendations (40%).

The following are included:

School records, class rank, and grade point average.

Extra-curricular activities.

College Board Scores. Normally, a competitive candidate will have SAT scores above 500 on verbal and 550 on math, and will stand in the upper fifth of their class. The higher your scores and class standing the greater will your chances for a nomination, assuming qualification in the remaining areas of consideration.

Motivation. One of the most important considerations in the selection of nominees is motivation. The candidate's desire to attend an academy. It is also the most difficult to measure. To an extent, motivation can be judged by a candidate's diligence in completing his file, which is one reason those with incomplete files are not considered for nominations. In addition, candidates are invited to write an essay on their reasons for wanting to attend an academy.

GOOD LUCK!

ALL CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE SERVICE ACADEMIES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Senator Gordon H. Smith
Attn: Jeffrey Renner
121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250
Portland, Oregon 97204