<p>Do the representatives always get contacted by USAFA regarding their candidates that recieve LOA’s? I’m wondering if maybe I should contact my senators/congressman to let them know that I recieved an LOA, but if they already know this than I don’t really need to do that. </p>
<p>Also, for all the explanaitons on here about this, I’m still a little hazy on the exact details:
Candidates who recieve and LOA do not count against an MOC’s slots AT the Academy, but each year the MOC only has a certain number of people that he can nominate TO the Academy; does the LOA recipient not count against this number as well? Hypothetically, if like 25 people in one district got LOA’s, could all of them recieve nominations from the MOC, or would he have to limit the nominations to the alloted number that he is supposed to get?</p>
<p>In my district my congressman has 5 "princple. nominations" the rest are i guess "normal" nominations so they can give me a nomination with my LOA without worrying about using up any of thier "princple. nominations"-- thats the beauty of an LOA-- but all districts are different. I would also at the interviews (mine are all this weekend starting tomrw.) just politely and humbly mention that you have an LOA in case your Senators don't have it... I'm pretty sure your MOC will have it before you do.</p>
<p>I believe the way it works is this: once you have an LOA, the MOC does not need to use up one of his 5 slots. Remember, an MOC can';t have more than 5 individuals at a service academy at one time. But he is allowed to recommend up to 10 individuals each yr. per academy. He still has to use one of his allowed 10 slots per service academy for you (LOA or not). Each MOC can choose a compeitive system (ranking those 10), or allow the service academy to choose, or to establish a "principal" nominee which I believe the academy MUST select. Few do it that way. The point is that you still need to be one of the 10, but you won't "count" toward the five slots -- which is critical to the MOC and which is why (unless you really act cocky as Benjo suggests), you should absolutely be ok. NOT TO WORRY. And congratulations -- to all of you. What a great group of kids you are. From these posts, it's easy to see why the Academy would want to have you.</p>
<p>For anyone who is wondering about this as I am, I just read on the Academy website that representatives can nominate 10 people for each slot that will be opening up at the academy, so if there are 2 slots, 20 people can get nominations, 3 slots 30 nominations and so on. Each of these groups of 10 people will compete for one slot, and LOA recipients don't count towards the number of cadets an MOC has at the academy at any given time.</p>
<p>Anyone know how common it is to get a LOA but no nomination? Does a LOA make you a sure winner of the nomination as long as you don't present yourself horribly to the interviewing panel?...</p>