Congressman Chris Smith’s
Academy Information Page
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CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH
is proud to present a
SERVICE ACADEMY INFORMATION NIGHT
For students from New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District
who are interested in applying to a United States Service Academy.
Parents and Counselors are welcome to attend.
WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026
Doors open 4:30 p.m. ~ Session from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Registration is required: Registration form.
Location: Ocean County Resource Center
1005 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08754
Click here to download the Academy Info Night Flier
ABOUT SERVICE ACADEMY NOMINATIONS
Click here to download Congressman Smith’s
2026 Service Academy Nomination Guide and Application.
Throughout my tenure in Congress, I've had the honor and privilege of nominating over 1,000 outstanding men and women for acceptance into our nation's elite service academies. Our service academies consist of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Each institution plays an integral role in training young men and women to become tomorrow's uniformed leaders.
Many students begin learning more about the process as early as their freshman year in high school, and they start the application process as early as the spring of their junior year. Generally, applications are submitted in September/October of a student’s senior year in high school; however, college students may also apply. To learn more about the process, I suggest applicants attend one of my Service Academy Information Nights.
Residents of New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District who meet the below criteria can seek my nomination to one of four of the service academies. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination—all other Academies do. To attend, students must be:
- Between ages 17 and 23 (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy)
- U.S. citizens
- Single with no dependents
To be considered for a nomination, applicants must download my Service Academy Application and Nomination Guide (above) and return the completed application along with the requested supporting documentation by the October deadline.
Interviews will be conducted in December, and final nominations will be made by January 31.
For more information about competing for my nomination to one of the U.S. Service Academies, please call my district office at 732-504-0567.
