U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) is encouraging high school students in the 3rd Congressional District to consider attending the nation’s military academies in order to serve our country.

The four armed service academies are West Point in New York (U.S. Army), the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland (U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps), the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado (U.S. Air Force), and the Merchant Marine Academy in New York (U.S. Merchant Marine). The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require congressional nominations.

The acceptance process includes a formal application to a panel of community volunteers from the district selected by Luetkemeyer; applicant interviews; and formal applicant nominations to the academies of their choice. Nominations are forwarded to the respective academies which notify students if they have been accepted.

Since 2009, Luetkemeyer has nominated 61 young people for our military service academies.

Students can contact Lori Boyken in Luetkemeyer’s Jefferson City, Mo., office for information about the academy nomination process. Boyken can be contacted at (573) 635-7232. A packet of information including various deadlines and a formal application will be sent to interested students and must be returned to Boyken no later than October 31, 2013 for fall, 2014 consideration.

The 3rd District consists of the following 13 counties: Callaway, Camden, Cole, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Lincoln, Maries, Miller, Montgomery, Osage, St. Charles and Warren.