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College & Career Planning » Military Information

Military Information

Military Information

All students interested in joining the military must take the ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.  More information on the ASVAB Here

US Army

US Navy

US Marines

US Air Force

US Coast Guard

US Army National Guard

Interested in joining the military but also going to college?  Check out ROTC: Reserve Officers’ Training Corps!  More Information on ROTC here

Military Service Academy & ROTC Information

Before you can apply to Service Academies, you need to receive a nomination from an elected official during the Spring/Summer of your Junior Year.

Apply to the two New Jersey Senators, your Congressional Representative and/or the Vice President of the United States. If you are NOT nominated through any of these competitive processes, you could still be placed on a national waitlist. Nominators evaluate candidates during the summer and make decisions in early fall. Applicants need to visit each official’s website for specific nomination instructions & timelines.

Senator Cory Booker
Senator Andy Kim

Whitehouse Service Academy Nomination Process

Once you have submitted your nomination applications, apply to each Service Academy application through its website.

  • Military Academies 

Service Academy & ROTC

Start early! Applying to the Service Academies takes more time than applying to other colleges. 

Here are some things to keep in mind that the service academies/ROTC may be looking for:

  • Academics:
      • Earn As & Bs throughout high school.
      • Take challenging college-prep, Honors, and AP courses when possible.
      • Take the PSAT in the fall of sophomore or junior year and take the SAT/ACT in the Spring of 11th grade. The Air Force Academy will accept your highest composite test score, while the Army and the Navy academies will take your Super-Score.
  • Leadership:
      • Position yourself to become a leader by Junior year (school, athletics, clubs, church, etc.).
  • Physical:
      • Improve your physical strength and endurance.
      • Participate in intramural sports or join one of your school’s athletic teams.
      • Practice the Candidate Fitness Assessment events and RUN!
  • Attend the Summer Leaders Experience:
      • Apply to attend the Service Academies’ week-long Summer Program during the summer of senior year to experience firsthand what it means to be a cadet. Information is available on the Military Academy Websites.
  • Visit Campuses:
    • Spend a day with a cadet or schedule an overnight visit!
  • Monitor Your Cadet File:
    • Have you sent your nomination requests?
    • Have you sent your ACT & SAT test scores?
    • Have you complete the necessary forms and assessments?
    • Have your prepared for the Candidate Fitness Assessment?

Military Prep Schools (USMAPS, NAPS, USAFA):

Prep school candidates are students who receive a nomination to a Military Academy, but who do not meet the academic standards to attend an academy. These students may benefit from a year at prep school, with the goal of eventual admission to an academy.

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC):

ROTC is a program offered at more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States that prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. Military. In exchange for a paid college education and a guaranteed post-college career, cadets commit to serve in the Military after graduation. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about ROTC programs:

  1. What is ROTC?
    1. ROTC is a college-based program for training commissioned officers (typically a 2nd Lieutenant) in the US Armed Forces (Air Force, Army, and Navy). ROTC students attend college like other college students, but also receive basic military training and officer training for their chosen branch of service. In exchange for military service, ROTC cadets typically receive competitive, merit-based scholarships, covering all or part of tuition, room and board. These awards can range from partial to full scholarships.
  2. What is different between the Service Academies and ROTC?
    1. Although they award the same rank of 2nd Lieutenant, ROTC allows for a more traditional college experience compared to a military academy.
  3. Do I need a nomination for ROTC?
    1. No, nominations are only required for the Service Academies.
  4. If I’m applying to the Service Academies, should I also apply to ROTC programs?
    1. Yes. If you are applying for the Service Academies, it is strongly recommended that you also apply to ROTC, since ROTC students will receive financial aid and a commissioned officer rank. Each college should have a webpage with specific information about its ROTC programs.
  5. I’m applying to multiple colleges; do I have to apply to each college’s ROTC program?
    1. No, once you apply, you can list up to 10 colleges on the application. Add your top 3 or 4 colleges in order. You may be selected to your second or third choice over your first choice, based on academy needs. All students must apply to at least one public state university, but it does not have to be in New Jersey. Please verify this information with your specific college.
  6. Can I apply to multiple ROTC programs?
    1. Yes, you can apply to Army ROTC, Navy ROTC, and Air Force ROTC.
  7. If I do not earn a national scholarship, can I earn additional scholarships at each college?
    1. Yes, if you do not earn a national scholarship, you can interview at each university and possibly earn a university-specific scholarship, especially if that university is your first or second choice.
  8. Do I need to do an interview?
    1. Yes, you need to interview at your nearest ROTC office, even if you are attending an ROTC program at another university or in another state.