JOHNSTOWN — The death of former U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha has had an impact on the number of young people from this area applying to attend U.S. military academies.

Murtha and his staff used to handle hundreds of requests each year.

But Murtha died in February and his successor, Mark Critz, was not elected until May.

As a result, the 12th Congressional District office has received “a handful” of applications, Critz’s office said.

“Between the time of Congressman Murtha’s passing and the date I was sworn in to complete his term, the office was not able to consider candidates for nominations to the various service schools because during that time period the 12th Congressional District did not have representation in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Critz, D-Johnstown.

“Unfortunately it was the end of the school year when I was sworn into office,” Critz said, “and we were unable to alert students before they went on summer break.”

Each year, a congressman has the opportunity to nominate 10 candidates per vacancy at each of the four military academies.

Candidates must be within the member’s district for appointments to the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.; the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md; or the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., falls under the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration and accepts nominations from any member of Congress for any resident of the member’s state regardless of their place of residence.

The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., is an institution of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Nominations are not accepted there because it is a nationwide competition.

Matt Mazonkey, a former Murtha aide and now Critz’s chief of staff, said that although it’s up to the academy to offer the appointment, a nomination is necessary.

It’s also necessary for a student to have a good academic record and participate in extracurricular activities. The student must also be physically fit.

“They want to make sure that the students are well rounded,” Mazonkey said.

Although it’s not easy to gain admission into a military academy, it is a valuable education.

“Southwestern Pennsylvanians have a long tradition of proud service to our country,” Critz said.

“Our nation’s military academies offer students a premier education, a chance for personal growth and the entrance into the military on a leadership path.”

Murtha took great pride in the young men and women he helped get into military academies, and he sent more than 400 from 1974 until his death in February.

“Over the years we have been told by the academies that kids in the 12th Congressional District are among the best and brightest in the nation,” Critz said.

Mazonkey said that although Murtha’s death contributed to the declining number of students requesting appointments, the trend started after the terrorist attacks in 2001.

“We had hundreds of candidates prior to 9/11 and each year it drops more and more,” Mazonkey said.

Since a student younger than 18 must have a parent’s permission, Mazonkey said it is often the parents who have reservations about military service.

But Jeffrey Urbanchuk, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, said his office has seen steady interest in appointments to the academies.

“We’re seeing the reverse trend in the 9th,” Urbanchuk said. “We currently have 35 requests on hand being processed through our office.

“We usually have about 20-25 academy requests by this time, so we are actually higher this year than we have been in the past couple years.”

Although appointments can be made to anyone 18 to 25, Mazonkey said the best time to apply is in the spring of a junior year of high school.

“Recently, we sent a letter to all high school superintendents and principals alerting them of the nomination process and encouraging them to promote this excellent opportunity to their students,” Critz said.

“It’s critical that students who are interested in one of the academies contact my office right away to begin the nomination process.”

Service academies



The five United State service academies:



United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. Founded in 1802.



United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Founded in 1845.



United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Founded in 1876.



United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. Founded in 1942.



United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Founded in 1954.



For further information on applying for an appointment to a military academy, contact the offices of U.S. Reps. Mark Critz, 535-2642 or (800) 289-2642; or Bill Shuster,

(800) 854-3035.