Dear Applicant,

Thank you for beginning the application process for a nomination to one of the United States Military Service Academies. It is my honor to be a nominating authority for the State of Tennessee, and I am proud to have the opportunity to work with the young men and women who want to serve our country.

This online questionnaire is open from 3 March 2025 through 6 October 2025. The online questionnaire will not be reopened after the due date under any circumstances. All additional application materials (see list below for further details) must be submitted by midnight on Monday, 6 October 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted. To reiterate:

1. Online questionnaire: Due Monday, 6 October 2025
2. Five (5) letters of recommendation; high school transcript (and college, if applicable); SAT and/or ACT scores: Due Monday, 6 October 2025

Candidates for consideration must submit the following:

• Online Questionnaire
• One (1) Essay that accurately and thoughtfully answers the prompt, "Why do you want to attend a Service Academy?"
• The Essay portion is located at the bottom of the online questionnaire
• Five (5) Letters of Recommendation
• Official High School Transcript (and College, if applicable)
• SAT and/or ACT Scores (can be super scored)
• Submit your test scores electronically to Senator Blackburn using institution codes:
• SAT: 1696
• ACT: 7184
• Official test records may also be submitted by a candidate's school (i.e. by a teacher, guidance/college counselor, etc.) 
• A Headshot*
• *Headshots are not required, however, they are encouraged

In order to be eligible for a Service Academy Nomination, a candidate must:

• Be at least 17 years of age, but not yet 23 by July 1st of the year he or she is admitted to the Service Academy. For Merchant Marine Academy, the upper age limit is 25.
• Be a United States Citizen at the time he or she enters the Service Academy, and a legal resident of Tennessee.
• Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

Please be sure that you have opened an application file with the Academy you are applying to, and that you have completed any of their additional requirements. Remember that graduating from a Service Academy obligates you to serve at least five years of active duty.

Keep in mind that it is YOUR responsibility (not your parents' or teachers') to ensure your entire application is completed and submitted in a timely manner.

The competition for congressional nominations is high, so I also encourage you to apply for a nomination from all of your other nominating sources: U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, your U.S. Representative, and the Vice President.

If you have any questions about the application or any aspect of the nomination process, please contact our Service Academy Coordinator, Ms. Paulina Madaris, at 423-541-2939 or via email to paulina_madaris@blackburn.senate.gov.

Once again, thank you for your aspirations to serve our great country.