As the Congressman representing Oklahoma’s Third District, it is always a privilege to invite young men and women to apply for the United States service academies. Each year, I have the honor of nominating students from the district to attend the academies, and I am very pleased to announce this year’s application process has begun.

Each academy offers a free college education at a highly-ranked, nationally-recognized institute, 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 and the Naval Academy. The fifth academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, doesn’t require a Congressional nomination.

To obtain a nomination, students must be between the ages of 17 and 23. In addition, they must be a U.S. citizen at the time the student enters the academy, unmarried with no legal obligation to support a child or dependent, and a legal resident of the Third Congressional District of Oklahoma. The deadline for accepting applications is Wednesday, October 15, 2014, and personal interviews will be held in November.

Students who are interested in applying or have questions about the process should not hesitate to contact Allison Litterell in my district office at (405) 373-1958. They can also visit my Web site at /service-academy-nominations for more information.

I believe the U.S. service academies provide a tremendous opportunity for students who want to serve our country, and it is my hope many will apply. I look forward to announcing the Third District nominees later this year.

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