Military Academy Appointment Review Board

Senator Domenici established the Military Academy Review Board to provide each candidate the opportunity for a personal interview. The Review Boards are composed of New Mexicans who were selected because of their outstanding character, community spirit and interest in the continuance of our high caliber of military leadership. This procedure is designed to give each applicant from New Mexico an equal opportunity to be selected as a nominee to one of the United States service academies.

Senator Domenici is currently accepting applications for this year's competition. Each Member of Congress may have five cadets or midshipmen in each of the academies, with the exception of the Merchant Marine Academy, which is allowed two. The Review Boards will select ten nominees per vacancy to be submitted to the Air Force, Army and Naval Academy for the upcoming year. In the case of the Merchant Marine academy, a total of ten nominees may be submitted by each Member of Congress to be considered for the two vacancies allotted to their State. From the ten applicants nominated for each vacancy the academy will make the final decision as to which of the ten will be offered an appointment.

Prior to a candidate's interview, each Review Board member will be handed a personal packet of information on that candidate; this packet will consist of an application sheet, two letters of recommendation, statement of reasons, high school transcript and a recent photograph. Each candidate will be allotted 15 minutes for an interview. The questions asked of the candidates during the interview will be at the discretion of the Board. Suggested for judging prospective nominees are: character, scholarship, leadership ability, physical aptitude, medical fitness and motivation.

Remember, we will be reminding you of the date of the Review Board meeting, but it is your responsibility to contact the appropriate Regional Office that handles your county to arrange the exact time of your interview. (Use the Regional Office finder to determine which office to contact.) Although an interview is very beneficial in selecting nominees, you would not be precluded from an appointment if you have a valid reason for not attending the Review Board meeting. Surely you will find this process to be a meaningful one, offering an equal opportunity for each individual to receive a nomination.

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