<p>I've applied to three congressional nomination sources and the interviews are coming up. I've applied to USNA, USAFA, and USMA. USNA is listed as my first choice for all three sources. If I get a nomination from on congressman for USNA, will the next congressman go to my second choice automatically if he/she finds me qualified for a nomination? Will I have to request this? Would an MOC give a nomination for the NA to a candidate who already has one for the NA?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>at summer seminar they said the more nominations you have (to one academy) the better, so if USNA is really your first choice it would be better to get three nominations to USNA, instead of 1 to each academy. i think the policy for MOC's is normally if they can't fill their slate for an academy with candidates who have that academy as their first choice, they'll start adding second choice candidates, not sure though.</p>
<p>In our State the Senators coordinate the nomination process. They alternate their nomination periods and interviews. One year one office goes first and the next year the other. They request that someone receiving a nomination to a SA from the first interview series withdraw their name from the second interview schedule for that SA. Their reasoning is that they can give more applicants a chance at a nomination. Congressional offices don't care and will interview and nominate independently. As a result my daughter could only get a total of two nominations to a SA from our State if both one Senator and her congressional representative nominated her.</p>
<p>As stated above this will vary somewhat by state and by MOC. In our D's case the MOC's all asked for a "first choice" but from one MOC she actually received noms for both her first and second choice while the other MOC just gave her a nom for her first choice. This happened in California with a senator and a Rep so it is happening in more populated competitive states as well. Call the offices of your MOC and ask what their normal practice is. Don't just rely on a post from this board, as the experiences of candidates throughout the nation can be somewhat different. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Yes, absolutely! Call the MOC office and also check their website for their nomination procedure. Procedures do vary from State to State and MOC to MOC. For example, some rank nominations and some don't. Check with your Senators and representative.</p>
<p>Why would it be beneficial to have more than one nomination to the same Academy?</p>
<p>On those same lines, the more than one nomination being better doesn't hold if the student already has an LOA. My dd ended up with an LOA to Navy, and two nominations and an LOA and no nominations to AFA. Her staffer at the Rep's office thought that two nominations would somehow help her at Navy. Um, no, she already had the LOA. We got them to move one nomination to AFA, so she had appointments to both. And then she ended up with an early appointment to CGA and picked Navy after all! It was an interesting time...</p>
<p>My understanding is that more than one nomination gives the SA more flexibility. I think there are a lot of postings on other threads regarding the advantages??? I am sure some of the Blue&Gold can explain it.</p>
<p>"Why would it be beneficial to have more than one nomination to the same Academy?"</p>
<p>say you're on both of your Senator's slates that are sent to USNA.
if the academy picks another candidate from Senator 1's slate, then you still have a chance with Senator 2's slate, and then one more chance with your congressman's slate. but, as stated above, most senators coordinate so they can nominate as many people as possible to one service academy.</p>
<p>Ohh I think I gotcha. So with an LOA that's not an issue, right?
I have an LOA to all three. So if I get my first nomination to USNA, could I theoretically then request that the other 2 nominating sources regard my second choice as my first choice? And then if I get that, ask the third source to consider me for my third choice?</p>
<p>Perhaps - remember that it is possible for you to receive 3 nominations - one to each academy from your congressman/woman if your representative chooses to do so.</p>
<p>if you have an loa to all three then just go for one nom to each, i guess. i'm not sure on the specifics of that. so if you have an loa and you're not first on the slate, will they still pick you?</p>
<p>yes ... if you have an loa and a nom, even if not the principal, you will receive an appointment, all other items being in order.</p>
<p>Non-principal nom LOAs are thrown into the murky waters of the alternate "pool" where, if USNA admissions has truly done their job and selected only the very outstanding, they will rise to the top.</p>
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<p>It's actually possible to receive 4 nominations, since there are FOUR United States Service Academies that require them, not three. ;)</p>
<p>You know Luigi - you are absolutely correct. </p>
<p>I was directly referring to the inquirer who specifically stated that she had applied to and received 3 LOA's.</p>
<p>One more thing to Candid8:</p>
<p>I fully understand applying to multiple service academies - you probably started the process last spring. Now however, it is fall and you have essentially been accepted at all 3 -TO WHICH YOU APPLIED -
you probably should have a clear first choice.
If you can communicate that to your MOC's then you don't need nominations to the other two. Hopefully, you have a clear career choice by now - barring any DoDMERB difficulites - like waiting for a waiver.</p>
<p>sorry, can't forget the Merchant Marine</p>
<p>JustaMom...</p>
<p>first of all...ahem..I am a HE :]
secondly, I do have a first choice, but i haven't been able to visit one yet so I can't definitively say that my first choice will remain first. When I go in for interviews, I will have a definite first choice, but I recognize that that could change down the road. After all, I would really be happy at any of the Academies to which I have applied.</p>
<p>Dear Candid8,</p>
<pre><code> First of all, be considerate and kind to people who post....JustaMom meant no harm. Second of all, for success in the military it is not I will pick selection "A", your heart and soul must believe in the branch that you decide to join. I am unsure of your 3 picks and LOA'S, however, I can tell you from experience thet there is a HUGE difference in each and every branch. Visiting any of the academies should not change your first choice...that should already have been determined.
</code></pre>
<p>Candid8 - my apologies - I have 4 daughters myself - hopefully you were flattered and not offended ;).</p>
<p>Bulletandpima - is correct. Sounds like you want to attend a Service academy and you will. Remember that you need to spend at least 5 years active duty and 3 years reserve. You are really signing up for 12 years of service to a branch of the armed services.</p>
<p>I urge you to carefully research the Navy, Army and Air Force. Think of career goals and how you would like to serve. Understand the restrictions, limitations and opportunities of each branch.
They all have great websites - if you have any questions about your career goals there are current, former and retired officers on this board who can help you.</p>
<p>You are in the enviable position of having your pick of a service academy - now is the time to form a decision! Good Luck to you!</p>