PNG to admit cadets to US Acedamy

The U.S. Embassy and the Defense Attaché Office in Suva, Fiji are pleased to announce that Papua New Guinea has been selected by the U.S Departments of Defense and State to nominate up to six (6) candidates to compete for admission to the United States Military Academy (USMA) Class of 2020, which enters on 27 June 2016.

Papua New Guinea candidates may therefore compete for an appointment to the United States Service Academies: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, and U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London. Completed applications for the Class of 2020 must be submitted to the appropriate service academy by due date listed below: Military Academy: no later than February 29, 2016 Naval Academy: no later than March 31, 2016 Coast Guard Academy: no later than February 1, 2016. A successful international candidate will attend the service academy as a full-time student and graduate with a Bachelor’s degree based on a stressful, demanding curriculum that will challenge each individual intellectually, militarily, and physically in an environment that promotes the development of character. Foreign students get the same training, pay, and allowances as U.S. citizens, and are subject to the same rules and regulations. However, they will not serve in the U.S. military or take an oath of allegiance to the United States. Appointees from Papua New Guinea will sign a contract with the PNG Defence Forces to return and serve as officers in the PNG Defense Forces for a specified period of time.   

Nominations. Papua New Guinea, like each selected country, is authorized to nominate from one (1) to six (6) candidates to compete for admission to the US. Service Academy Class of 2020. Cadets will be competitively appointed from those candidates found to be best qualified. No country however, may have more than three (3) cadets enrolled at one time. Nominations for the Class of 2020 should be submitted to the U.S. Service Academy no later than 31 January 2016. Nominations of Papua New Guinea international candidates must be submitted formally by the Government of Papua New Guinea to the U.S. ambassador who will clear the nominees for security, indicate approval of the nomination, and have the Defense Attaché forward the nomination directly to the Director of Admissions of the selected service academy. Requirements. a. Age: Candidates must be at least 17 and not yet 23 years of age on 1 July of the year of admission. b. Marital Status: A candidate must not be married, pregnant, or have a legal obligation to support a child or children. c. General Academic Qualifications: All academic work done at a level equivalent to a U.S. high school freshman or higher must be sent on an official transcript to the USSA. High school and college records are closely examined. A strong indicator of academic competitiveness is the candidate’s rank in class (if available). Most admitted international candidates are in the top ten (10%) percent of their secondary school class. A candidate must have knowledge of the principles of the English language with sufficient fluency to comprehend college level instruction. 

A candidate should also have completed the equivalent of high school mathematics in algebra, plane geometry, trigonometry, and pre-calculus. d. Standard Academic Test Required: 1.) All candidates must complete either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT) by the application deadline. Test scores should be sent directly to the USSA utilizing the ACT Code or SAT Code on the registration form. Test centers are already established in many foreign countries, and candidates should be encouraged to register in time for the tests. Most candidates take the SAT. The mean SAT scores for international cadets admitted to the Military Academy this year were 470 for Verbal and 620 for Mathematics and the mean ACT scores were 23 for English, 29 for Math, 23 for Science reasoning, and 27 for Reading Comprehension. Scores must be verified and sent from the testing agency in order to be used for the application. The Essay must also be included. For SAT Essay, it can be downloaded from the SAT site on the individual’s homepage. 

It is found under the “My Organizer” link and then “How to Understand Test Performance.” It is normally a packet of 8-10 pages that breaks sown each section in detail. Save as PDF. The Port Moresby International School on Bava Street in Boroko administers the SAT in Papua New Guinea. You may contact the school at: Port Moresby International School, PO Box 276, Boroko NCD, Papua New Guinea, Phone: +675 325 3166 • Fax: +675 325 4439, Email: enquiries@pmis.iea.ac.pg. 2.) All international candidates must submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as part of their application. A copy of the TOEFL score must be submitted to the Service Academy utilizing the correct service academy Code. The mean TOEFL score for international cadets admitted to the Military Academy this year was 94 out of 120. The TOEFL is now offered through the University of Papua New Guinea’s Student Services Office. Additional testing information may be obtained by contacting: ACT Registration: Box 414, Iowa City, Iowa 52243 USA SAT, Admissions Testing Program: CN 6200, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6200 USA TOEFL Program Director: Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08541 USA e. Leadership: The purpose and mission of the United States Service Academies is to educate and train young men and women to be "leaders of character." It is imperative that international candidates seeking admission to a service academy exemplify strong leadership potential through: 1.) Active participation in extracurricular activities; 2.) 

Accomplished performance in varsity and/or intramural/community athletics; and, 3.) Strong endorsements/recommendations from high school/college faculty members. f. Physical Aptitude: Physical condition and stamina are vital to successful completion of the USSA Physical Education and Military Programs. All international candidates must submit a verified Candidate Fitness Assessments (CFA) with their application for USSA. g. Medical Fitness: When nominating candidates, each country should apply medical and dental standards that will assure completion of the strenuous training at the Military Academy and successful careers as officers in the Papua New Guinea Defense Force. 

A statement from a qualified physician stating that the candidate is free from all communicable diseases and has no known medical, mental, or dental issues that would prevent them from completing the service academy curriculum is required. A follow-up medical check will be conducted upon a selected candidate's arrival to the academy prior to reception day. All persons must meet the height and weight requirements for admission set forth in the Military Academy Catalog and must be free from obviously disfiguring or incapacitating defects or diseases. Selected candidates must conform to all academy grooming, dietary, and conduct standards while in attendance. For additional information, contact the U.S. Embassy’s Military Liaison Office through the Public Affairs Section: PDPortMoresby@state.gov.