<p>What is the earliest date a LOA may be issued? By what date should applications be completed to be eligible for the early LOA?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>One of the earliest LOA's I remember was Redheads I think around late September early October. Don't consume yourself by the early offer game. Try hard to have your package complete by the end of September. If you already have a nomination (Presidential usually in this case) you will likely see an offer of appointment (not an LOA) by January.</p>
<p>Remember the Academy does a massive appointment in March. This is a far more likely time frame to expect the offer. It allows all the MOC nominations to be completed, and anything in your package that might need to be addressed to be closed (DoDMERB, SAT scores, etc).</p>
<p>If you are still consumed by the LOA know that these offers will go fast in the next few months. The Academy likes to use them for recruited athletes, people with astronomical testing scores (Perfect SAT's), and things like that.</p>
<p>My recollection is that the first LOAs come out in October - nevertheless, you'll still need to obtain a nomination to close the deal. In son's case, letter of assurance (LOA) in October, two nominations secured by late November, concluding with an appointment by early December (12/7).</p>
<p>You do still need a nomination if you have a letter of assurance. However, it only needs to be an "alternate" nomination. We were stunned at the formal announcement by our congresswoman and our son was the LAST alternate. Fortunately, his ALO was there to reassure us that he was last alternate so as not to take a spot from someone else. He said he only need the alternate because of the LOA, which he received in mid-October of his senior year.</p>
<p>I think last year they went out October 15; my son received his Oct 19 - his birthday! Very nice present</p>
<p>Don't worry about LOAs. The academy only gives out a couple hundred of them. Nominations and an appointment are the goal. An LOA is a bonus.</p>
<p>Raimius is right. My son also applied to USNA and did not get an LOA. He did get the nom but not the appointment until April (I think), after he had already accepted the appointment at USAFA.</p>