Federal Service Academies
Looking for an affordable education and a challenging career in the military? Attend
one of the six colleges that the U.S. Military has designated as federal service
academies:
-
United States Military Academy,
West Point, NY
-
United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
-
United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs,
CO
-
United States Coast Guard Academy,
New London, CT
-
United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point,
NY
-
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences,
Bethesda, MD
Federal service academies are the training grounds for the United States' top military
officers of the future. They have strict acceptance policies, including the requirement
that future students receive a "nomination," usually from a member of the U.S. Congress
from their home state. Members of Congress may nominate as many as 10 individuals
for each vacancy in their state.
The application process is challenging and includes a written application, letters
of recommendation, and an interview. When enrolling in one of these academies, you
are not only committing to a very challenging curriculum and lifestyle, but you
are also committing to a specific term of service as an officer in that branch of
military. The term of service for most graduates is five years in the active-duty
military and an additional three years in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).
Federal service academies are free to attend, with all costs of attendance being
paid by the branch of military that operates the academy. But the financial benefits
of attending a federal service academy should be seen as secondary to the sense
of achievement you will feel when graduating. A diploma from a service academy shows
that you have succeeded at one of the most highly regarded colleges in the nation.
Notable graduates of these academies include U.S. Presidents, members of Congress,
many of our military's top-ranking officers, famous athletes, and business leaders.