H.R. 5046 — Restoring Merit in the Military Service Academies Act

This section revises the appointment process for cadets at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), where the Corps of Cadets is authorized at 4,400, to prioritize selections in order of merit as determined by candidate composite score rank—a uniformly calculated score weighted at not less than 60% for academics (including standardized tests at not less than 45% of the overall score), not more than 10% total for subjective components, and with any subjective adjustment limited to 10% of the pre-adjustment score. (1) For 65 slots reserved for children of certain deceased, fully disabled, or missing service members and civilians, replaces selection by competitive examinations with composite score rank; (2) increases each nominating official's alternates per vacancy to 14 ranked or unranked (from 9 ranked), with unranked selections made by composite score rank; (3) requires annual appointment of 300 alternates by composite score rank from qualified congressional, territorial, and other non-selected nominees; (4) converts fixed slots in other categories to "up to" limits selected by composite score rank—President (to 100 from 100), Vice President (to 85 from 85), American Legion (to 85 from 85), and ROTC (to 20 from 20)—and eliminates the JROTC category; (5) requires the Secretary of the Army to submit an annual report to the Armed Services Committees detailing minimum composite scores and college entrance examination ranks (CEERs), all waivers granted (with scores and rationales), and four-year status updates on waived cadets; and (6) prohibits consideration of an applicant's race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in admissions determinations. This section also revises additional appointee provisions (10 USC 7443) to clarify eligibility for those who competed unsuccessfully for other nominations and to update cross-references.