During the month of August, thousands of students will pile into their cars and begin a new life at an institute of higher education.  Some will travel out of state, and some will stay here in Oklahoma.  And a select few will the opportunity to not only get a first-rate education, but to also serve their country by attending one of our nation’s service academies.

In my role as a United States Congressman, I have the honor of nominating young men and women from the Third Congressional District to attend our nation’s service academies each year.  Each academy offers a free college education at a highly-ranked, nationally-recognized institution while preparing them for an officer’s commission in one of the branches of the armed forces.  There are four service academies that require a congressional nomination, including the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, the Military Academy at West Point, and the Naval Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a Congressional nomination.

To obtain a nomination, students must be between the ages of 17 and 23, a U.S. citizen at the time you enter the academy, unmarried with no legal obligation to support a child or dependent, and a legal resident of the Third Congressional District of Oklahoma.  If you have more questions about this process or are interested in applying, please contact Lynne Hill in my Canadian County office at 405-373-1958 or you can visit my website at /service-academy-nominations. 

In addition to providing nominations to service academies, as your representative, I also provide many other services to my constituents.  I can assist you in dealings with federal agencies, help you plan tours during visits to Washington D.C., assist you with federal grants, and many other valuable services.  For more information on the constituent services my office provides, please visit my website at www.house.gov/lucas and select “Constituent Services.”