I would like to encourage young people in Missouri's Fourth Congressional District to take a look at the opportunities available at the U.S. Service Academies -- the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, or the Coast Guard Academy.

My office is still accepting applications from students interested in entering one of next year's academy classes in June 2006. The deadline for submitting applications is October 31, 2005. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is unique from the other four federal service academies in that there is no congressional nomination involved. The deadline for submitting preliminary applications to the Coast Guard Academy is Dec.15, 2005.

I have an Academy Selection Committee which assists in making recommendations of young people qualified for a nomination. Each Member of Congress may nominate up to 10 applicants for an appointment each year. The academies make the ultimate appointment decisions.

Basic application requirements are as follows: the applicant must be a U.S. citizen; a legal resident of the Fourth Congressional District; at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday; and unmarried and having no legal obligation for support of a child or dependent. The overall qualifications to determine selection of nominees are based on character, scholarship, leadership, aptitude, physical and medical fitness, personal goals, and motivation.

These factors are part of the "whole person" evaluation used by each of the academies in making selections.

All of these qualities are required of an individual in order to meet the challenges encountered at the academies and following graduation as professional officers.

Those wanting to apply for a nomination to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, or the Merchant Marine Academy should write to my Sedalia office at the following address: Congressman Ike Skelton, 908 Thompson Boulevard, Sedalia, MO 65301. If you would like to call my office regarding the application process, please ask for Berna Dean Nierman of my staff at (660) 826-2675.

More information on all five U.S. Service Academies is also available through links on my Web site at http://www.house.gov/skelton.