<p>Yeah, I live in San Diego, California so it may be difficult to secure a nomination. I am going to try to retrieve a LOA first to help my chances.</p>
<p>Hey Prolouge- my son is there as part of the class of 2011
and we are from Escondido ;-)
He got his nomination from Brian Bilbray.</p>
<p>Wow congratulations to your son! I'm also in the 50th district, I live in Mira Mesa (Next to the Miramar Marine and Navy air base). Do you know how many applicants were there trying to secure a nomination?</p>
<p>Hey Prolouge and Klassmom, I'm also in CA's 50th District (Rancho Bernardo)!!
However, right now, my first choice nomination would be to Navy.
Just a hunch, but I'm guessing there's going to be a large number of people applying for service academy nominations. I know of at least 2 in my school.</p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p>I'm in SD too but I'm in Duncan Hunter's district (52).</p>
<p>Maybe it's not so helpful since you're in a different district, but his office told us they had over 150 applicants for all of the service academies. When I went in for my interview with his panel (he wasn't there but he had 7 people there to interview, all from different academies. actually a really cool experience), they had us all lined up and took kids one right after the other.</p>
<p>I'd imagine it's difficult to get a senator in CA, but you may as well try!</p>
<p>Edit: Obviously not ALL from different academies...you know what I mean ;)</p>
<p>I want to move out of California now ='(...There's probably more Naval Academy applicants than Air Force because look at all the Posts and threads compared to The Air Force Academy's (2 times as much). Oh well I'm going to try to prepare as much as I can.</p>
<p>P.s. I'm competing for the class of 2016 xD</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm now REALLY glad that I'm qualified for a presidential nom. I know that there's consistently about 5 applicants that get accepted into USAFA from North County San Diego and usually about 2 or 3 that accept.
All you can do is prepare and never give up.
Good Luck</p>
<p>I will call Brilbray's office and ask the number of applicants that apply for a USAFA nomination.</p>
<p>I'm sure that it varies year to year. When our son applied he had to first send in his essay, GPA, SAT scores, recommendations and then they chose the ones that were competitive and had a panel of 9 interview those applicatants. They had about 37- 40 that made the interviews, but they were not all for USAFA. Our son actually left with a nomination to USAFA ( he already had a LOA ) and a nomination to Westpoint ( which he did not apply to... ). Best of luck</p>
<p>So they actually gave your son a nomination right there? Wow that's amazing</p>
<p>It didn't happen quite like that- He had a good interview, had fun, but did not get the official nomination for about 2
weeks after the interview. He already had his LOA when he went into the interview.</p>
<p>My family is completely non military (theyre not against me joining, but no one in my family ever has) and I have a summer seminar interview coming up. I don't know any of the military procedure so I have a few questions: should I say sir after answer a question?, how can I make not having any military family members look good?, is there anything that I should do differently in this interview that in a regular interview?, the interviewer is a Major, how do I address him? Mostly I'm worried that my lack of background will make me unintentionally show disrespect or ignorance. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>usafa 13, don't worry about being from a non-military family. The interview is about your achievements, not those of your family. That being said, I would probably address him as major _____. That is how I still address my ALO because he has earned that title and respect. It is not that much differnet than a regular interview, but you may find yourself nervous in front of a major in full uniform. Just try to stay cool and answer his questions honestly, and you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Nick, not trying to sound funny, but your comment about calling the ALO "Major" instead of "Sir", is a bit humorous. Yes it is perfectly OK to call the ALO Major if that is his/her rank. Not to go off topic here, but the concept of saying "Sir/Ma'am" vs "Lt/Capt/Major" has been an unwritten issue among many Air Force members. In the military, we are taught to respect those who outrank us. However, whether you respected the "Person" or just their "Rank" and "Position" has always been a personal decision. You still had to show respect.</p>
<p>As such, it was very common that if you respected the person and the job they were doing, you said "SIRMa'am" to them. Whereas, when an officer was addressing you for whatever, and you didn't respect them as a person, you would refer to their rank. e.g. "Yes Major". Generally speaking, saying "Sir/Ma'am" was the preferred method of showing respect all around". Again, this is totally unwritten and isn't a hard and firm policy among all military members. Of course, one exception to this was addressing a lieutenant who you worked directly with. Referring to them as "L.T." as in "EL-TEE" was a term of endearment and not disrespectful. But that is only with a lieutenant that you worked directly with. You wouldn't say that to someone you didn't know passing on the street.</p>
<p>Anyway, not disagreeing with your suggestion. As an applicant, no ALO, recruiter, etc... expects any non-military person to know the little nuances that exist. Plus, these things can change socially all the time. I admit that I have been retired now for 8 years. But saying "Sir/Ma'am" is always safe. I did it with my parents; neighbors; strangers; military commissioned and non-commissioned officers (That I respected as a person); and even those who were my subordinates. In the military and even now. I say "Sir/Ma'am" to everyone I respect. Higher or Lower. Being this board is about the academy, and thus eventually officers, you will see the difference when you graduate. It's usually all about tone of voice and context. I can honestly tell you that my mother got after me with a wooden spoon more than once for saying "I LOVE YOU". You'll definitely pick up on the meanings behind the words instead of the dictionary meaning.</p>
<p>I think i might have been a little unclear in my previous post. When i was saying i addressed him by his rank was instead of saying Mr. So i would say good afternoon LTC_______ instead of Mr.______. In conversation I used sir. Sorry for the mixup, and I do agree that it would probably be a little strange if you answered his questions with a "yes major, no major" type response.</p>
<p>Just be yourself. I am not in a military family either. Only my grandfather's who were in WWII. Be respectful and you'll be fine. Sirs will go a long way. But, again, be yourself and treat them with the respect you would to a teacher or to a parent.</p>
<p>Be respectful and yourself. You don't need to say a "sir" after everything.</p>