Military Service Academies & ROTC

The process of applying to Military Service Academies and ROTC programs takes concentration, attention to detail and strict adherence to the prescribed timeline.

If you are interested in applying to a Military Academy, set up a meeting with your counselor in the Spring of Junior year, to prepare necessary materials and apply for nominations to multiple elected officials, ROTC programs and Summer Programs. Request teacher recommendations second semester Junior Year from two teachers, one in mathematics and one in science.

Accademy Program Links

Nomination Process

Before you can apply to Service Academies, you need to receive a nomination from an elected official during the Spring/Summer of Junior Year.

Apply to the two New Jersey Senators, your Congressional Representative and/or the Vice President of the United States. If you are NOT nominated through any of these competitive processes, you could still be placed on a national waitlist.

Nominators evaluate candidates during the summer and make decisions in early fall. Applicants need to visit each official’s website for specific nomination instructions & timelines.

Once you have submitted your nomination applications, apply to each Service Academy application through its website.

Planning your application

Start early. Applying to the Service Academies takes more time than applying to other colleges. Although the application opens in January of your Junior year, we recommend beginning your application process in late May or early June of sophomore year. You will continuously update your application over the course of the following year.

Here are recommendations for a four-year plan to follow throughout high school:

Freshman & Sophomore Years

Academics:

Earn As & Bs throughout high school.
Take challenging college-prep, Honors, and AP courses, when possible.
Take the PSAT (students will take the ACT/SAT at the end of 11th grade).

Leadership:

Position yourself to become a leader by Junior year.
Participate in clubs or organizations in your community, school, or church.
Work toward becoming a leader in the organizations to which you belong.
Ask a teacher, coach or guidance counselor to help you find ways to serve.

Physical:

Improve your physical strength and endurance.
Participate in intramural sports or join one of your school’s athletic teams.
Practice the Candidate Fitness Assessment events.
RUN!

Junior Year

Explore the Campuses:

Visit each campus to learn about cadet life. Learn everything you can while you’re there!

Attend the Summer Leaders Experience:

Apply to attend the Service Academies’ week-long Summer Program during the summer of senior year. You’ll experience firsthand what it means to be a cadet. It is possible to do multiple summer programs. Information is available on Military Academy Websites.

Academics:

Take college-preparatory and AP courses to sharpen your academic abilities.
Take the SAT/ACT in the Spring of 11th grade. The Air Force Academy will accept your highest composite test score while the Army and the Navy academies will take your Super-Score.

Leadership:

Assume leadership positions in school, church, scouting, athletics and community activities.

Physical:

Get fit.
Improve your physical conditioning through cross-country running and swimming.
Join a team sport.
Practice for the Candidate Fitness Assessment, an admission requirement.
RUN!

Senior Year

Visit Campuses:

Spend a day with a cadet.
Schedule an overnight visit.

Academics:

Continue to perform your personal best in high school academics, athletics and extra-curricular activities.
Earn As and Bs in the toughest courses you can take.
Do especially well in Pre-Calculus, Calculus, and Physics.

Leadership:

Become a leader in school government, clubs or other organization.

Physical:

Maintain peak physical strength and endurance.
Practice for the Candidate Fitness Assessment, an admissions requirement.

Monitor Your Cadet File:

Have you sent your nomination requests?
Have you sent your ACT & SAT test scores?
Have you complete the necessary forms and assessments?
Have your prepared for the Candidate Fitness Assessment?

Military Prep Schools (USMAPS, NAPS, USAFA):

Prep school candidates are students who receive a nomination to a Military Academy, but who do not meet the academic standards to attend an academy. These students may benefit from a year at prep school, with the goal of eventual admission to an academy. Attendance at a prep school does not guarantee an appointment; however, prep school graduates are often very successful in obtaining a future appointment.

Reserve Officer Training Corps Programs (ROTC)

ROTC is a program offered at more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States that prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. Military. In exchange for a paid college education and a guaranteed post-college career, cadets commit to serve in the Military after graduation.

Army ROTC
Navy ROTC
Air Force ROTC

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about ROTC programs:

What is ROTC?

ROTC is a college-based program for training commissioned officers (typically a 2nd Lieutenant) in the US Armed Forces (Air Force, Army, and Navy). ROTC students attend college like other college students but also receive basic military training and officer training for their chosen branch of service. In exchange for military service, ROTC cadets typically receive competitive, merit-based scholarships, covering all or part of tuition, room and board. These awards can range from partial to full scholarships.

Local Military Recruiters

Air Force Enlisted Recruiter, East Brunswick NJ: 732-254-0700
US Army, Somerville, NJ: 908-722-0660
Navy Medical Recruiter, Somerville, NJ: 908-231-0138
Navy Enlisted Recruiter, Somerville, NJ: 908-231-0138
Marines, Somerville, NJ: 908-722-4477
NJ Army National Guard, Flemington, NJ: 908-878-9490

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In This Section

Military Service Academies & ROTC

Accademy Program Links

Nomination Process

Planning your application

Freshman & Sophomore Years

Junior Year

Senior Year

Military Prep Schools (USMAPS, NAPS, USAFA):

Reserve Officer Training Corps Programs (ROTC)

What is ROTC?

What is different between the Service Academies and ROTC?

How do I apply?

Do I need a nomination for ROTC?

If I'm applying to the Service Academies, should I also apply to ROTC programs?

Can I apply to multiple ROTC programs?

What is my time commitment?

If I do not earn a national scholarship, can I earn additional scholarships at each college?

Do I need to do an interview?

Local Military Recruiters

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Links & Resources