US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 8458

Midshipmen: qualifications for admission

(a)
Each candidate for admission to the Naval Academy—
(1)
must be at least 17 years of age and must not have passed his twenty-third birthday on July 1 of the calendar year in which he enters the Academy; and
(2)
shall be examined according to such regulations as the Secretary of the Navy prescribes, and if rejected at one examination may not be examined again for admission to the same class unless recommended by the Academic Board.
(b)
section 8454(a) of this title Each candidate for admission nominated under clauses (3) through (9) of must be domiciled in the State, or in the congressional district, from which he is nominated, or in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, or the Virgin Islands, if nominated from one of those places.
(c)
section 8454(b) of this title Each candidate nominated under clause (2) or (3) of —
(1)
must be a citizen of the United States;
(2)
must have passed the required physical examination; and
(3)
shall be appointed in the order of merit from candidates who have, in competition with each other, passed the required mental examination.
(d)
To be admitted to the Naval Academy, an appointee must take and subscribe to an oath prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy. If a candidate for admission refuses to take and subscribe to the prescribed oath, the candidate’s appointment is terminated.

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 431Pub. L. 87–663, § 1(4)76 Stat. 547Pub. L. 93–171, § 2(5)87 Stat. 690Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title V, § 532(b)(3)104 Stat. 1563Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title V, § 512105 Stat. 1360Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 555(c)110 Stat. 2527Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 541(a)111 Stat. 1740Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII132 Stat. 1836(, , § 6958; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 8458 and amended , §§ 807(c)(1), 809(a), , , 1840.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

6958(a)(1)

34 U.S.C. 1047 (less 1st proviso).

June 30, 1950, ch. 421, § 2 (less 1st proviso), 64 Stat. 304.

6958(a)(2)

34 U.S.C. 1043.

R.S. 1515.

6958(b)

34 U.S.C. 1047 (2d proviso).

June 30, 1950, ch. 421, § 2 (2d proviso), 64 Stat. 304.

6958(c)

34 U.S.C. 1042.

Mar. 4, 1917, ch. 180, 39 Stat. 1182 (1st par.).

 

34 U.S.C. 1032 (less 1st 70 words).

Dec. 20, 1917, ch. 5, § 1 (less 1st 70 words), 40 Stat. 430; Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 962, § 16, 60 Stat. 1061; May 16, 1947, ch. 77, § 1(o), 61 Stat. 100.

In subsection (a) the effective date is omitted as executed. The words “at least 17 years of age and must not have passed his twenty-second birthday” are substituted for the words “not less than seventeen years of age and not more than twenty-two years of age” to remove ambiguity, and for uniformity of treatment of provisions of this type. The reference to time of examination is omitted as being included within the Secretary’s authority to prescribe regulations, which is stated in the subsection. The words “Academic Board” are substituted for the words “board of examiners”.

In subsection (b) the words “domiciled in” are substituted for the words “actual resident of” since this term has been so interpreted.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–232, § 807(c)(1)section 6958 of this title2018—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 115–232, § 809(a)Subsec. (b). , substituted “clauses (3) through (9) of section 8454(a)” for “clauses (3) through (9) of section 6954(a)”.

Pub. L. 115–232, § 809(a)Subsec. (c). , substituted “clause (2) or (3) of section 8454(b)” for “clause (2) or (3) of section 6954(b)” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 105–851997—Subsec. (d). added subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 104–2011996—Subsec. (a)(1). substituted “twenty-third birthday” for “twenty-second birthday”.

Pub. L. 102–1901991—Subsec. (c)(2) to (4). redesignated pars. (3) and (4) as (2) and (3), respectively, and struck out former par. (2) which required candidates to have served at least one year as enlisted members on date of entrance.

Pub. L. 101–5101990—Subsec. (b). substituted “clauses (3) through (9)” for “clauses (3)–(7), (9) and (10)”.

Pub. L. 93–1711973—Subsec. (b). substituted “, (9) and (10) of section 6954(a)” for “and (9) of section 6954(a)” and struck out “or Territory”.

Pub. L. 87–6631962—Subsec. (b). inserted references to American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, and substituted “clauses (3)–(7) and (9)” for “clauses (3)–(7)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

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

Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–171section 4 of Pub. L. 93–171section 7442 of this titleFor effective date of amendment by , see , set out as a note under .

Authority To Waive Maximum Age Limitation on Admission to Service Academies for Certain Enlisted Members Who Served During Persian Gulf War

section 514 of Pub. L. 102–190section 7446 of this titleFor authority to waive maximum age limitation in subsec. (a)(1) of this section on basis of service on active duty in connection with Operation Desert Storm, see , set out as a note under .