Last Chance: Military Academy Night

From Congressman Gerry Connolly's Office:

Congressman Gerry Connolly will join with Prince William County Schools to host a “Military Academy Night” information session for local students interested in attending one of the U.S. Service Academies.  Students and their families can also learn about scholarship opportunities from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

The event will take place on Monday, May 21, in the Edward Kelly Leadership Building located at 14715 Bristow Road, Manassas, VA 20112. The program will begin at 7 p.m. and will include presentations from Academy Liaison Officers and ROTC representatives, as well as a detailed explanation of the congressional nomination process. In addition, the service academies and ROTC programs will have representatives on hand to answer attendees’ individual questions. 

“Northern Virginia is home to the nation’s best and brightest students,” said Connolly in a statement.  “This makes for a highly competitive academy nomination process.  I am proud that each year the 11th District of Virginia is recognized for its excellence by the service academies, and is consistently one of the top Congressional Districts to place students.”

Nominations to the service academies are made by the President, Vice President or a Member of Congress, including Congressman Connolly. 

There are five service academies: The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), The United States Naval Academy (USNA), The United States Military Academy (USMA), The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), and the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA). Nominations are required for all but the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, to which appointments are made on the basis of an annual nationwide competition. 

Congressman Connolly has a panel of current and former military officers, many of them service academy graduates, who evaluate the qualifications of student applicants seeking appointments to the service academies.  The panel makes the merit-based recommendations to Connolly for appointments.

“These young men and women are answering the call to serve, and I hope that this partnership with Prince William County Schools gives them the information and tools they need to be successful applicants to the service academies,” Connolly said.