Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today announced the date of his United States Service Academy Information Night, which will take place on Wednesday, April 22^nd from 5:00—6:30 PM at the Ocean County Resource Center (1005 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ 08753).

                “Over the years, I’ve had the honor and privilege of nominating many outstanding young men and women for acceptance into our Nation’s Service Academies,” said Smith.

                “Many, if not all, of the students I nominated attended one of the Service Academy information sessions hosted by my office. The upcoming Service Academy Information Night offers a comprehensive venue for prospective students to learn more about the nomination process, as well as all the great resources and possibilities that these institutions offer.”

                The event will provide important information and resources for high school and college students, who reside in New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District and are interested in competing for one of Rep. Smith’s congressional nominations to the U.S. Service Academies. Parents and educators are also welcome to attend this valuable information session.

                Residents of New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District between the ages of 17 and 22 (17-25 for the Merchant Marine Academy), who are U.S. citizens and single with no dependents, can seek a nomination to one or more of the Service Academies through Rep. Smith’s office. Interested candidates can start the application process as early as the spring of their junior year of high school.

                Nominations are available to those who reside in the Fourth Congressional District, regardless of where they attend[ed] high school or college. The Fourth Congressional District encompasses 21 municipalities in Ocean County and 19 municipalities in Monmouth County, including:

Ocean County:

Bay Head Borough, Beachwood Borough, Berkeley Township (part), Brick Township, Island Heights Borough, Jackson Township, Lacey Township (most), Lakehurst Borough, Lakewood Township, Lavallette Borough, Mantoloking Borough, Manchester Township, Ocean Gate Borough, Pine Beach Borough, Plumsted Township, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough, Seaside Heights Borough, Seaside Park Borough, South Toms River Borough, Toms River Township.

Monmouth County:

Avon-By-The-Sea Borough, Belmar Borough, Brielle Borough, Colts Neck Township, Eatontown Borough, Farmingdale Borough, Freehold Township (part), Howell Township, Lake Como Borough, Manasquan Borough, Middletown Township (part), Ocean Township, Sea Girt Borough, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Spring Lake Borough, Spring Lake Heights Borough, Tinton Falls Borough, Wall Township.

                Advance registration is required for this event. Please visit Rep. Smith’s website at ChrisSmith.house.gov and click “Constituent Services” > “Service Academy Nominations,” or call his Constituent Service Center at (732) 504-0567 for the registration form.

                The U.S. Service Academies prepare, train, and educate our young men and women to become the best officers and commanders in our Nation’s armed forces. These institutions offer students an incredibly prestigious and high-quality collegiate education experience, completely free-of-charge—provided, of course, that the student graduates and fulfills his or her service obligation.

                The U.S. Service Academies are:

• The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York;
• The U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland;
• The U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado;
• The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York; and
• The U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut.*

*The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination. Students may apply directly to the Academy.

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