Senator Sherrod Brown

Am I qualified to be considered for a nomination to a military service academy?

To qualify for Senator Brown's nomination, you must be a United States citizen and a resident of the State of Ohio. In addition, the service academies require the following:

• For West Point, Annapolis and the Air Force Academy, you must be at least 17 years old, but not yet 23 years old on July 1, 2009. The Merchant Marine Academy has the same minimum age requirement but accepts students who are not yet 25 years old on July 1, 2009.
• You must not be married, pregnant or have any legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

When should I request an application for nomination from Senator Brown?

You may request an application through Senator Brown's website during the spring of your high school junior year or any time thereafter. If you are a high school freshman, sophomore or junior in your first semester, you may call Senator Brown's Academy Coordinator at the Cleveland office (888-896-6446) to obtain information and ask questions about the application and nominations process.

Can I only be considered for one academy?

You may ask to be considered for any or all of the academies; however, you can only receive a nomination to one academy. The application asks you to rank your academies of choice by order of preference.

When is the application packet due?

The application packet must be postmarked or delivered to Senator Brown's Cleveland office between August 1, 2008 and October 1, 2008. The packet must include the following:

• The completed four-page application.
• An essay of 500 words or less detailing the challenges you expect to encounter at a service academy and how you have prepared yourself to meet these challenges.
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who are not members of your family. One letter should be from an adult. The other from a peer (friend, classmate or teammate). These recommendations must be included with your packet. Late letters of recommendation and additional letters of recommendation will not be considered.
• An unofficial high school transcript.

Must I meet certain medical requirements to receive a nomination?

A service academy medical examination must be passed before a candidate can receive an appointment. The examination is scheduled by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB). Please carefully review the medical information on the academy websites and contact the academies directly if you have any questions or concerns about disqualifying medical conditions.

How is a candidate selected for a nomination?

Prior to applying for a nomination from Senator Brown, please contact your academy or academies of choice to start the application process. Each academy will apprise you of any special physical, medical or academic requirements specific to that institution. Each Member of Congress and U.S. Senator may have no more than five appointees in each of the service academies. Senator Brown uses the competitive process which permits him to nominate ten students for each appointment available. A nomination does not guarantee acceptance to a service academy. The Academy's Admissions Board ultimately decides who receives an appointment. You are encouraged to also seek a nomination from as many sources as possible, including the Vice-President, Senator Voinovich and your Member of Congress, and for certain candidates, the President. Senator Brown will appoint a Service Academy Selection Advisory Committee which will be comprised of volunteers who are former and active members of the military and/or local community leaders. All applications will be reviewed to determine which students are most qualified for consideration. Those students who are deemed "highly- qualified" will be interviewed by Advisory Committee members or their designees. Those who receive nominations will be notified by mail before January 31, 2009.

What do interns do?

Interns work with my staff in an administrative capacity to address constituent requests and concerns. In Washington, DC a typical day could include talking to constituents on the phone, greeting constituents visiting the office, sorting mail, attending hearings/briefings, and leading tours of the capitol. In the Ohio offices interns will spend time speaking with constituents on the phone or at special events, and assist the staff with casework requests. Also, two interns in the Washington, DC office are selected each term to assist the communications office in daily activities such as answering phone calls, speaking with media contacts, and drafting press releases.

How old do you have to be to be an intern?

Our internships are designed primarily for the educational benefit of students currently enrolled in college. Applications from high school students and rising college freshmen are not accepted.

Is the internship paid?

No, internships in my Ohio and Washington, DC offices are unpaid.

Can I get college credit for my internship?

That will depend on your college or university. We will work with you to gain college credit if it is offered through your school.