Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is urging high school students to attend Service Academy Days in Rapid City and Sioux Falls to gain insights into the U.S. service academies and the application process. Rounds expressed his commitment to nominating future military leaders, stating, “Each year, I am honored to nominate our nation’s future military leaders to U.S. service academies.”

The Service Academy Days will take place at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City on Saturday, April 20, 2024, and at the Sioux Falls Downtown Library on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Interested individuals can visit these events to learn more about the opportunities available at the academies.

Rounds highlighted the benefits of attending a service academy, emphasizing the chance to serve the nation while receiving a top-notch education. He encouraged young South Dakotans to engage with his staff for more information, stating, “I encourage young South Dakotans who are interested in more information to stop by and visit with my staff.”

Applications for the 2025-2026 freshman class (Class of 2029) are due by October 1, 2024. Nominations are open for the United States Air Force Academy, United States Military Academy at West Point, United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, and United States Merchant Marine Academy. For those seeking information on the application process, Rounds’ Rapid City office can be contacted at (605) 343-5035 or Academy_Nominations@rounds.senate.gov.

Interested individuals can access an informational packet and the application packet on Rounds’ website at https://www.rounds.senate.gov/constituents/academy-nominations.