Research all the other Service Academies and related career paths, to ensure you are content to not choose those paths and can articulate your reasons. Rule them in or out of consideration, or at least be more familiar with them.
If you haven’t already done so, read every page, link and menu item at USMA.edu
Take notes. Start building out a timeline and action plan.
Think about and research your alternate plans, should you not gain an offer of appointment the first time you apply, if you decide to apply for the next cycle. AROTC is a great way to go toward an Army commission, and provides an additional nom source should you decide to re-apply to USMA. More timelines and action items for your plan.
Though it’s early for this, take a look at the pre-comm medical accession standards to ensure you are not on some medication that you have to have stopped by x age or y time before attending an SA.
Again, early, but it won’t hurt to skim the DODMERB site. Read the menu items on the left. It’s not just academic qualifications to get into a SA, it’s a medical qualification too.
Get familiar with the CFA requirement. That’s another hurdle. Info at USMA.edu, of course.
Go to your elected officials’ web pages (2 Senators, 1 Representative) and read about their nomination processes and any Academy information sessions they might have. Take notes, identify action items, add to your plan.
Work hard and finish this academic year well. Your instinct to start early and look around for action items is a good thing! The actual process of applying to an SA is a test of attention to detail, planning and execution skill, perseverance, timeliness, patience, commitment. All traits desirable in junior officers.
