Applications are being accepted by the office of U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D–La Crosse) from individuals interested in attending one of the nation’s service academies.

Students must submit their applications by Friday, Oct. 18.

“I am always impressed by the motivated, disciplined young men and women that seek to attend our nation’s military academies,” said Kind. “Each year I am able to nominate outstanding students from western and central Wisconsin to become the military leaders of the future, and I’m looking forward to meeting this year’s applicants.”

A congressional nomination is required for students wishing to enter the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.; the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo.; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y.

The application process is open to any U.S. citizen who will be a high school graduate. Generally, high school students entering their senior year apply for admittance the following year.

Interested applicants can obtain the necessary forms and information by contacting Mark Aumann in Kind’s Eau Claire office, (715) 831-9214. More information on the nomination process is at Kind’s official Web site, www.kind.house.gov.