Admission to the service academies is highly competitive. Each elected representative in the U.S. Congress may have no more than five nominees enrolled in a service academy at any given time. Appointments to the Merchant Marine Academy are allocated in proportion to the state’s representation in Congress. Iowa is currently allocated four vacancies at the Merchant Marine Academy. Members of Congress are allocated at least one vacancy each year. For each vacancy, I can submit up to ten nominations for the academy’s consideration. Here’s how to apply: