Age Requirements

[GooseWithBongos]

Hi All,

I don't know where to ask this question, but I am looking to apply for academies in my upcoming senior year. Of course, I understand that part of that application is a nomination, but that's where my issue arises. I was moved up 1 year in elementary school, so I will apply for college at 16, and enter at 17. The Nomination process requires me to be 17 to apply, but the deadline is before my birthday. Is there any special circumstances I fall under, or do I (sadly) have to take a skip year at another college?

Thank you (and sorry for the odd question)
GooseWithBongos

 

[A1Janitor]

Eligibility. To be considered for a nomination, you must be: Age: at least 17 years old, but not yet 23 (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy) by July 1st of the year of admission.

 

[GooseWithBongos]

Eligibility. To be considered for a nomination, you must be: Age: at least 17 years old, but not yet 23 (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy) by July 1st of the year of admission.

Thank you

 

[Capt MJ]

OP, I think you are mixing Nominations and Appointments. Nominations come from a variety of sources. Appointment offers come from the SAs.

The long pole in the tent is you must be at least 17 but not yet 23 (25 for USMMA, I think) as of a certain date that usually coincides or is close to the report-in date for a service academy, to execute your appointment and enter military service at the SA. Each SA website has explicit details. You do not have to be 17 to simply apply and go through the steps. If you are offered an appointment, you must fall within the specified age range by the specified date close to or coincident with report-in day.

As for Nominations, the MOC nom details can be found on their websites. Read them with a discerning eye to comprehension. They have plenty of seniors not yet 17 applying for noms. It is not unusual.

 

[Capt MJ]

Eligibility. To be considered for a nomination, you must be: Age: at least 17 years old, but not yet 23 (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy) by July 1st of the year of admission.

Shipmate @A1Janitor - perhaps you mean appointment.

 

[GooseWithBongos]

OP, I think you are mixing Nominations and Appointments. Nominations come from a variety of sources. Appointment offers come from the SAs.

The long pole in the tent is you must be at least 17 but not yet 23 (25 for USMMA, I think) as of a certain date that usually coincides or is close to the report-in date for a service academy, to execute your appointment and enter military service at the SA. Each SA website has explicit details. You do not have to be 17 to simply apply and go through the steps. If you are offered an appointment, you must fall within the specified age range by the specified date close to or coincident with report-in day.

As for Nominations, the MOC nom details can be found on their websites. Read them with a discerning eye to comprehension. They have plenty of seniors not yet 17 applying for noms. It is not unusual.

oh ok! thank you so much! I'll look into this!

 

[Capt MJ]

Let’s look at USNA:

• at least 17 years of age and must not have passed your 23rd birthday on July 1 of the year of admission;

That means if you are still 16 on July 1 the summer following your HS graduation when others are headed to service academies, you are too young to enter that USNA class of 202X and apply that cycle.

Ditto applying for noms that cycle. Don’t bother. They don’t carry over.

If it becomes clear you are too young to apply - and I recommend confirming your understanding by calling Admissions - find a college and take first-year like classes similar to your academies of interest. The courses can be found on SA websites. Just dive into the primary source, the SA website.

 

[A1Janitor]

Shipmate @A1Janitor - perhaps you mean appointment.

LMAO

That was a cut and paste directly from my Senator Gillibrand.

Edit: Actually - she is saying you won’t be considered for a nomination if you don’t meet the age requirements for the SA.

 

[Capt MJ]

And welcome new member of

LMAO

That was a cut and paste directly from my Senator Gillibrand.

Even they mix the apples and oranges up.

 

[DTT!FSA!]

LMAO

That was a cut and paste directly from my Senator Gillibrand.

That still makes sense, since the MOC is dealing with nominations, not offers of appointment. There is no point in a candidate applying for a nomination in an admissions cycle for which they will not receive an offer of appointment due to their age.

 

[Capt MJ]

And welcome new member of 42 minutes! Be sure to look for The Acronym List on the home page.

 

[Capt MJ]

That still makes sense, since the MOC is dealing with nominations, not offers of appointment. There is no point in a candidate applying for a nomination in an admissions cycle for which they will not receive an offer of appointment due to their age.

Excellent point. Now that I can see it the context of the MOC website, mirroring the SA language makes sense.