Military Academy Nominations
The application process for Military Academy Nominations for the Class of 2031 will open on a rolling basis starting April 15th, 2026.
The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. For more information, please review the page of Frequently Asked Questions for those seeking a Military Academy Nomination.
Representative Hinson may nominate up to fifteen individuals for each vacant academy slot allotted to our district. Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending one of the U.S. Service Academies and serving our country. The deadline for all applications is Friday, October 23rd, 2026 at 5pm CT.
Eligibility Requirements
Each applicant for a nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy:
- Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
- Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
- Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of the Second Congressional District of Iowa.
- Skill / Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy
Submission Requirements
A complete nomination file consists of the following items:
- Current photo
- High school transcript
- American College Testing Program (ACT) results and/or College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results
- Resume of extracurricular activities, non-school related activities and groups, employment history, and a personal statement (1 to 2 sentences) stating why you want to attend a service academy
- Essay (500 words or less) Talk about a time when you experienced great adversity. What was the situation and how did you respond? What did you learn about yourself from that experience?
- Minimum of three letters of recommendation, one must be from a teacher
To submit
To apply for a nomination, please email your complete application to Mary.Lindstrom@mail.house.gov. Click here to view the full application.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to academy coordinator, Mary Lindstrom, with any questions. She can be reached by phone at 319-364-2288 or email at Mary.Lindstrom@mail.house.gov.
*Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.