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The honor to serve the United States

Each year, Senator Casey has the privilege of nominating highly qualified Pennsylvania students to the United States service academies. This page contains detailed information about the application and nomination process.

To begin, interested candidates should first apply directly to the service academy they wish to attend (i.e., the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy). Candidates should then apply for all of the nominations for which they may be eligible, including their elected representatives in Congress and the Vice President of the United States.

To be considered for nomination by Senator Casey, you must complete the following by 5:00 PM (ET) on Friday, September 20, 2024:

  1. Complete the online application by clicking on “Academy Application” below.
  2. Submit a 500-word (minimum) essay that explains the unique challenges and opportunities that a service academy education offers, and describe how you believe it will contribute to your personal and professional growth.
  3. Attach a recent photo of yourself to the online application.
  4. Download, sign, and reattach the “Signed Statement of Intent” form to your online application.
  5. Attach to your online application an official transcript for all high schools, junior colleges, and colleges you have attended. All high school transcripts must include final junior year grades. (If your school does not issue transcripts to students, your school may submit them directly to Senator Casey's office at Academy_Nominations@casey.senate.gov.)
  6. Attach to your online application official SAT or ACT scores. If these scores are not on your official academic transcript, you may upload them to your online application or send them to Senator Casey's office at Academy_Nominations@casey.senate.gov. Senator Casey's office SAT Score Code is 5042. The ACT Score Code is 7176.
  7. Attach to your online application three letters of recommendations from individuals who know you well. One of these letters must be from a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) teacher; none can be from a family member. If your recommender(s) would prefer to submit their letter(s) directly to Senator Casey's office, they are welcome to do so at Academy_Nominations@casey.senate.gov. Your first name, last name, name of the document, and academy of choice should be on the subject line (e.g., Harfield, Kristen, Letter of Recommendation-Naval). 

All application materials must be attached to your online application by 5:00 PM (ET) on Friday, September 20, 2024. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.  Please do not mail your application materials to the office. If you are unable to upload or email your materials, please contact Senator Casey's office to make alternative arrangements.

In-person interviews are scheduled for November 12, 13, and 14, 2024, at Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville, PA. If you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by email of the exact time and date by 5:00 PM (ET), October 31, 2024. Please do not contact the office before this date to inquire about the status of your interview date and time. If you do not receive written notice of an interview by November 1, 2024, please reach out to Academy_Nominations@casey.senate.gov.

The congressional nomination process is very competitive and one that Senator Casey and his Service Academy Selection Panel take very seriously. Please understand that if you do not receive a nomination from Senator Casey, it does not necessarily mean you do not meet academy standards. Rather, it likely reflects the high caliber of candidates who applied for a very limited number of nominations.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please reach out to Academy_Nominations@casey.senate.gov. Additionally, please review the attached FAQs.

Academy Links

Additional Links