All provisions of law authorizing appointments to the Naval Academy from various sources are collected in this section. The language is extensively changed to meet the needs of this organization of the source material. In those provisions that now authorize “appointments” by other than the President, the language is changed to indicate that the process is one of selection where the law requires selection by competitive examination, and to show that other candidates are nominated. The manner of appointing the selectees and nominees, in all cases, is covered in § 6953 of this title. In the case of nominees from States, the District of Columbia, Territories, and from Puerto Rico, the qualification that the nominees must be from the political subdivisions from which nominated is indicated. The requirement that the nominees be actual residents of the political subdivisions is contained in § 6958(b) of this title.

In subsection (a)(1) the words “armed forces” are substituted for the description of the land and naval forces. The words “including male and female members of” and “of all components thereof” are omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (a)(1)(B), the date February 1, 1955, fixed by Proclamation No. 3080 (Jan. 7, 1955; 20 F.R. 173), is substituted for the words “such date as shall thereafter be determined by Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the Congress under section 745 of title 38”.

In subsection (b)(1) the qualification that appointees must be from the sons of members of the various “regular” components of the armed forces is added, as “Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard” are so interpreted in this statute.

In subsection (c) the proviso “That all such appointees are otherwise qualified for admission” is omitted as covered by § 6958 of this title setting forth qualifications of all candidates.

The applicability to the United States Military Academy in the Act of June 8, 1926, ch. 492, as amended (34 U.S.C. 1036a; 10 U.S.C. 1091a), was repealed by section 6(c) of the Act of June 30, 1950, ch. 421, 64 Stat. 305.

The change reflects the change of the name of the Panama Railroad Company to the Panama Canal Company by section 2(a)(2) of the Act of September 26, 1950 (64 Stat. 1038).

In 10:6954(f), the word “The” is substituted for “Effective beginning with the nominations for appointment to the Academy in the calendar year 1964, the” to eliminate executed words.

Amendment of section by section 561(b) of Pub. L. 118–31 applicable to nominations of candidates and appointments to the Service Academies for classes entering such Service Academies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. See 2023 Amendment notes below.

2023—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–31, § 561(b)(1), substituted “15 persons” for “10 persons” in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 118–31, § 562(b), substituted “Five” for “Four”.

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 118–31, § 561(b)(2), substituted “200” for “150”.

2022—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “paragraphs (3) through (10)” for “paragraphs (3) and (4)”.

2018—Pub. L. 115–232, § 807(c)(1), renumbered section 6954 of this title as this section.

Subsecs. (b)(5), (e). Pub. L. 115–232, § 809(a), substituted “section 8456” for “section 6956”.

2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–328 inserted at end of concluding provisions “When a nominee of a Senator, Representative, or Delegate is selected for appointment as a midshipman, the Senator, Representative, or Delegate shall be notified at least 48 hours before the official notification or announcement of the appointment is made.”

2015—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 114–92, § 556(b)(1), substituted “Four” for “Three”.

Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 114–92, § 556(b)(2), substituted “Four” for “Three”.

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 114–92, § 556(b)(3), substituted “Three” for “Two”.

Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 114–92, § 556(b)(4), substituted “Three” for “Two”.

2013—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(f)(40)(A)(i), substituted “paragraph” for “clause” in two places in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (b)(5), (d). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(f)(40)(A)(ii), (B), substituted “paragraphs” for “clauses”.

2009—Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “Two” for “One”.

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–417, § 540(b)(1), substituted “4,400 or such lower number” for “4,000 or such higher number” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 110–229 substituted “Delegate in Congress” for “resident representative”.

Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 110–417, § 540(b)(2), struck out last sentence which read as follows: “However, no increase may be prescribed for any academic year after the 2007–2008 academic year.”

2006—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “Navy Reserve” for “Naval Reserve”.

2003—Subsec. (a)(6), (8). Pub. L. 108–136, § 524(b)(1), substituted “Three” for “Two”.

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 108–136, § 524(b)(2), substituted “Two” for “One”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 108–136, § 1031(a)(55), substituted “Superintendent of the Naval Academy” for “Secretary of the Navy”.

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–314, § 532(b)(1), inserted before period at end of first sentence “or such higher number as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy under subsection (h)”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107–314, § 532(b)(2), added subsec. (h).

2001—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–107 amended directory language of Pub. L. 106–65, § 531(b)(2)(A). See 1999 Amendment note below.

2000—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title V, § 531(b)(1)], struck out “, other than those granted retired pay under section 12731 of this title (or under section 1331 of this title as in effect before the effective date of the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act)” after “retired or retainer pay”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(C), (D). Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title V, § 531(b)(2)], added subpars. (C) and (D).

1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–65, § 531(b)(2)(A), as amended by Pub. L. 107–107, § 1048(g)(1), substituted “(a) The authorized strength of the Brigade of Midshipmen (determined for any year as of the day before the last day of the academic year) is 4,000. Subject to that limitation, midshipmen are selected as follows:” for “(a) There may be at the Naval Academy at any one time midshipmen as follows:” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 106–65, § 531(b)(2)(B), added subsec. (g).

1997—Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 105–85 substituted “Mariana” for “Marianas”.

1996—Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 104–106 added par. (10).

1994—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 103–337 substituted “section 12731 of this title (or under section 1331 of this title as in effect before the effective date of the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act)” for “section 1331 of this title”.

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–160, in concluding provisions, substituted “10 persons” for “a principal candidate and nine alternates” and inserted at end “Nominees may be submitted without ranking or with a principal candidate and 9 ranked or unranked alternates. Qualified nominees not selected for appointment under this subsection shall be considered qualified alternates for the purposes of selection under other provisions of this chapter.”

1990—Subsec. (a)(8) to (10). Pub. L. 101–510, § 532(b)(1)(A), redesignated cls. (9) and (10) as (8) and (9), respectively, and struck out former cl. (8) which read as follows: “One nominated by the Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission from the children of civilian personnel of the United States residing in the Republic of Panama who are citizens of the United States.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–510, § 532(b)(1)(B), substituted “clauses (2) through (9)” for “clauses (2)–(7), (9), or (10)”.

1989—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–189 substituted “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

1983—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 98–94, § 1005(b)(2), substituted “One nominated by the Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission from the children of civilian personnel of the United States residing in the Republic of Panama who are citizens of the United States” for “One nominated by the Governor of the Panama Canal from the children of civilians residing in the Canal Zone or the children of civilian personnel of the United States Government, or the Panama Canal Company, residing in the Republic of Panama”.

Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 98–94, § 1005(a)(2), substituted “One from American Samoa, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from American Samoa” for “One from American Samoa nominated by the Secretary of the Navy upon recommendation of the Governor of American Samoa”.

1982—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–295 substituted “The” for “Effective beginning with the nominations for appointment to the Academy in the calendar year 1964, the”.

1981—Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 97–60 added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsecs. (d) and (e) as (e) and (f), respectively.

1980—Subsec. (a)(6), (9). Pub. L. 96–600 substituted “Two” for “One”.

1975—Subsecs. (a)(1), (8), (b)(1), (c). Pub. L. 94–106 substituted “children” for “sons” wherever appearing.

1973—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 93–171, § 2(1), substituted “One from the Virgin Islands, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from the Virgin Islands” for “Five from each Territory, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from that Territory”.

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 93–171, § 2(2), struck out reference to American Samoa and Virgin Islands.

Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 93–171, § 2(3), added cl. (10).

1972—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 92–365 increased the number of midshipmen from 40 to 65 and added sons of members who are in missing status and sons of civilian employees who are in missing status as eligible for competitive examination.

1970—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 91–405 substituted “Delegate to the House of Representatives from the District of Columbia” for “Commissioner of that District”.

1968—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–374 increased from five to nine the number of alternates for each vacancy each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress, including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, is entitled to nominate.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 90–623 substituted “Commissioner” for “Commissioners”.

1966—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 89–650, § 1(1), provided for selection of cadets to the Naval Academy from sons of members of the armed forces who have a 100 per centum service-connected disability and removed the limitation to active service during World War I or World War II or after June 26, 1950, and before Feb. 1, 1955.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 89–650, § 1(2), provided for nominations to the Naval Academy by the President pro tempore of the Senate if there is no Vice President.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 89–650, § 1(3), increased the number of Presidential appointments to the Naval Academy from 75 to 100, provided for selection of eligible persons as stated in items (A) and (B), previously chosen from sons of members of regular components, and declared persons eligible under subsec. (a)(1) ineligible under subsec. (b)(1) of this section.

1964—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 88–276, § 2(1), inserted “Each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress, including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, is entitled to nominate a principal candidate and five alternates for each vacancy that is available to him under this section”.

Subsec. (b)(2), (3), (5). Pub. L. 88–276, § 2(2), reduced the number of nominees in cls. (2) and (3) from 160 to 85 and added cl. (5).

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 88–276, § 2(3), added subsecs. (d) and (e).

1962—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–663 added cl. (9).

Pub. L. 87–651 substituted “Panama Canal Company” for “Panama Railroad Company” in cl. (8).

Amendment by section 561(b) of Pub. L. 118–31 applicable to nominations of candidates and appointments to the Service Academies for classes entering such Service Academies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, see section 561(d) of Pub. L. 118–31, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–328 applicable with respect to the appointment of cadets and midshipmen to the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy for classes entering these service academies after Jan. 1, 2018, see section 566(e) of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–92 applicable with respect to the nomination of candidates for appointment to the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy for classes entering after Nov. 25, 2015, see section 556(d) of Pub. L. 114–92, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–84 applicable with respect to appointments to the United States Naval Academy beginning with the first class of candidates nominated for appointment after Oct. 28, 2009, see section 527(d) of Pub. L. 111–84, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–417 applicable with respect to academic years at the United States Naval Academy after the 2007-2008 academic year, see section 540(d) of Pub. L. 110–417, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Amendment by section 524(b) of Pub. L. 108–136 applicable with respect to nomination of candidates for appointment to United States Naval Academy for classes entering after Nov. 24, 2003, see section 524(d) of Pub. L. 108–136, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1048(g), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1228, provided that the amendment made by section 1048(g)(1) is effective as of Oct. 5, 1999, and as if included in Pub. L. 106–65 as enacted.

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–337 effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as an Effective Date note under section 10001 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–60 effective with respect to nominations for appointment to the first class admitted to each Academy after Oct. 14, 1981, see section 203(d) of Pub. L. 97–60, set out as an Effective Date note under section 7441a of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–600 effective beginning with nominations for appointment to the service academies for academic years beginning more than one year after Dec. 24, 1980, see section 2(d) of Pub. L. 96–600 set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–171 effective beginning with the nominations for appointment to the service academies in the calendar year 1974, see section 4 of Pub. L. 93–171, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–405 effective Sept. 22, 1970, see section 206(b) of Pub. L. 91–405, set out as an Effective Date note under section 25a of Title 2, The Congress.

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–623 intended to restate without substantive change the law in effect on Oct. 22, 1968, see section 6 of Pub. L. 90–623, set out as a note under section 5334 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Authorized strength of service academies not to exceed 4,000 per academy for class years beginning after 1994, and any reduction in number of appointments not to be achieved by reduction in number of appointments under subsec. (a) of this section, see section 511 of Pub. L. 102–190, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Secretary to take such action as may be necessary and appropriate to insure that (1) female individuals shall be eligible for appointment and admission to the United States Naval Academy, beginning with appointments to such academy for the class beginning in calendar year 1976, and (2) the academic and other relevant standards required for appointment, admission, training, graduation, and commissioning of female individuals shall be the same as those required for male individuals, except for those minimum essential adjustments in such standards required because of physiological differences between male and female individuals, see section 803(a) of Pub. L. 94–106, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.

Secretary to continue to exercise the authority granted under this chapter and chapters 403 and 903 of this title, but such authority to be exercised within a program providing for the orderly and expeditious admission of women to the Academy, consistent with the needs of the services, see section 803(c) of Pub. L. 94–106, set out as a note under section 7442 of this title.