Marshall Islands

Marshallese Eligibility for U.S. Military Academies
Section 342 of the Compact of Free Association, as Amended between the United States of
America and the Republic of the Marshall Islands enables qualified Marshallese citizens to enroll
in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Section 342 PUBLIC LAW 108–188—DEC. 17, 2003
The Government of the United States shall have enrolled, at any one time, at least one qualified
student from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as may be nominated by the Government of
the Republic of the Marshall Islands, in each of:
(a) The United States Coast Guard Academy pursuant to 14 U.S.C. 195.
(b) The United States Merchant Marine Academy pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 1295(b)(6),
provided that the provisions of 46 U.S.C. 1295b(b)(6)(C) shall not apply to the enrollment of
students pursuant to section 342(b) of this Compact, as amended.
Marshallese citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 may be accepted and enrolled if they meet all
the requirements and qualifications and are nominated by the RMI government and approved by
the U.S. Ambassador to the RMI.
At the other three military service academies, qualified Marshallese citizens are eligible to apply
for a limited number of openings each year but on a competitive basis with international
applicants from other nations
Marshallese citizens are eligible to apply to military service academies if they are not also U.S.
citizens either by place of birth or by naturalization. Marshallese holding U.S. citizenship can
apply as U.S. citizens.
As international students, Marshallese who graduate from a U.S. service academy are expected
to return to the RMI for government service. They are not commissioned as U.S. officers and are
not expected to serve in the U.S. military.
The first step in learning about military academy international admissions procedures is to visit
their respective websites:
U.S. Coast Guard Academy: http://www.cga.edu/admissions2.aspx?id=72
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:
http://www.usmma.edu/admissions/facts/foreignstudents.shtml
USMA at West Point (Army):
http://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/SitePages/Pros_Cadets_International.aspx
U.S. Air Force Academy: http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/advice-toapplicants/international-students
U.S. Naval Academy: http://www.usna.edu/admissions/stintl.htm
Information concerning application procedures for foreign nationals may be requested from the
U.S. Embassy in your home country.

2 Results Found

• 

• United States Coast Guard Academy

  Established: 1876 New London, CT

  Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Located in New London, Connecticut, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies.

  OFFICIAL WEBSITE »

• 

• United States Merchant Marine Academy

  Established: 1943 Kings Point, NY

  The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States service academies. It is charged with training officers for the United States Merchant Marine, branches of the military, and the transportation industry.

  OFFICIAL WEBSITE »