<p>Let's not get hung up on one person. </p>
<p>It seems there are lots of talented and gifted h.s. students who post here and can learn from what we have to offer.</p>
<p>Everyone is welcome to their own opinion based on the things they see people posting.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, Mister Sinister is probably correct. </p>
<p>Before we tell him that it is incorrect to contact his congressman's and senator's office personally, we should look back through the advice on this forum where that very venue has been suggested many many times. Put a face to a name and show interest, so to speak.</p>
<p>In our recent past history, our American fighting men had very few rights. The Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940 remedied much of this. One of the provisions of it and it's successors was the right to maintain a permanent residence and to have all the rights associated with the citizens of that residency area. The definition of permanent residency has involved into simply where that service member and his family intends to retire once leaving active duty. Initially it is usually the location from which the person enlisted but the servicemember can change it at any time. It does not have to be a place that a person has ever lived. The military will require some type of "proof of intent" which could mean voting, paying taxes, driver's license, some sort of address, etc.</p>
<p>So, if Mister Sinister and his father were really on the ball, they would research the midwestern districts that never fill their quotas, jump on a plane, buy a half acre lot, register to vote, get a driver's license and declare South Dakota as the family's permanent residence. He gets his nomination because he is the most qualified candidate in the district and is thusly appointed to the Academy.</p>
<p>The plot thickens. This is the year that the district does have a qualified candidate. It just so happens that MOC Jones submits a competitive list of nominations and Mr. Sinister is the more qualified of the two and the local kid was left out in the cold. For a "local" parent, might I dare state the reaction and the resulting visits and letters to the MOC? Folks, things like this happen all the time. The military member usually is income tax exempt, the MOC has very little incentive to support him, and the unpleasant picture which MS portrays, does sometimes happen.</p>
<p>"At USNA, his desire to look at every side of every issue would soon cause him to be labeled a "Sea Lawyer" and he would spend the most of plebe year with a sign stating the same hanging around his neck. That is why I am doing everything I can to get him pointed at WP."</p>
<p>"WP sends out LOAs and DodMERB packages to any potential candidate who can fog a mirror. USNA is more selective....."</p>
<p>Pretty clear to me, and I don't even have to read between the lines. Is it possible you misspoke?</p>
<p>Darn. I wrote a really long reply, but for some reason it didn't make it. But I'll sum it up.</p>
<p>I'll take care of the congressman as best as I can. The senators are cooperative, but the academy coordinator for my congrssman is leaving me in a very bad situation right now. We sent her 2 letters via postal mail, got one response asking why we lived overseas. We explained our situation, and then we never heard from her again. The first time was in Feb. The other one was more like in June. We sent her 4 emails. Some of the academy alumni that work for my dad said that it is a possibility that she no longer works for the congressman, but I checked my inbox last night... after sending her yet ANOTHER email.. and received an auto reply. I said.. "I'll be out of the office August 10" That was it. I guess there is some hope left though. The academy folks said that they'd contact admissions and let them know about this. As for my dad, he wants me to take care of my problems as best as I can. I'm actually fairly independent, and tend to get things done without his help.. besides the legal issues which he took care of himself. He won't be helping me much so that's why I sorta need some guidance. thanks.</p>
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<p>Nope. I knew what I meant. The person for whom it was intended knew what I meant. That you are clueless, since it wasn't intended for you, I couldn't care less. Get over it, quit attempting to start a fight.</p>
<p>"The Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940 "</p>
<p>If they don't allow me to compete, is that considered a violation of my rights?</p>
<p>It is now called the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act and yes, it would be a violation of your dad's rights should his dependant not be allowed to apply to the MA through his congressman.</p>
<p>Give it another week or so of emails, then call. The SC phone number is on the website. I doubt if you have any deadlines approaching so you have plenty of time. Should you not reach her by phone, you should put together a nice application package with cover letter explaining what you are doing, resume, transcripts, a copy of your dad's DD Form 2058, and all the other items normally associated with an application (use the senators as a guide), and politely explain that you are applying for a MA nomination and is there any other requirements other than the enclosed package.</p>
<p>And then mail it trackable signature required certified mail.</p>
<p>Sounds like a good plan USNA69. Thanks for the help. I'll try seeing if I can give them a phone call sometimes next week. Perhaps it'll mean a little more than juts a generic email.</p>
<p>USNA69; provide helpful advice to the candidates sans the insults to them or the USMA and we won't have an issue.</p>
<p>USNA69 has been one of the most helpful members of this community, and provides some of the best advice available here. Heck, if it wasn't for him, I would probably be stuck somewhere further back on the apps process. But there are a lot of individuals that have dedicated this thread to give me a piece of their mind.</p>
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<p>Oh, lighten up. Get over it. A little thin skinned, are we? You do know that woops and midshipmen have a lot in common. They all considered USNA as their first choice when they were applying to an academy. We all understand that WP has to take those few extra steps to get a few of the good ones.</p>
<p>USNA69, my son REALLY wanted to go to USNA, and it looked like he stood a good chance... but then they found out his parents were married BEFORE he was born! ;-) (I stole that from my husband who used it on a buddy who kept asking why he was in the army, instead of marines!)</p>
<p>Ha Ha. True story. Came home from work one night. Son, who is not normally to be found, is standing by the front door. He proceeds to excitedly inform me that he had received a letter that day from USAFA asking him to apply. I told him that I would love for him to go to the Naval Academy. I also would be very proud of him if he attended West Point. But with tongue half in cheek, not deciding which way for it to go, I told him that if he applied to the AFA, he had better get in one of them. When he asked why, I told him that if he applied to the AFA, I was cutting him off. Fourteen years later he still hasn't deciphered my unconvential sense of humor nor has he forgiven me totally for the comment.</p>
<p>Actually, the last two places I have lived, one of my closest friends has been a woop. Play golf now with one weekly. At our last reunion, we commissioned a class coin, about the size of a silver dollar. It has the class crest on one side and the USNA one on the other and is made of shiny bronze. I carried it all summer, waiting for the opportunity to mark my ball with it when it was in his direct line of flight. When I did, he walked over, picked it up, saw what it was, and proceeded to throw it, I thought, as far into the bushes as he was able. Didn't give it back to me for a month. Guess what. He had been carrying it, waiting for the opportunity to mark his ball when it was in my direct line of flight.</p>
<p>We honestly do love each other dearly and totally respect each others schools and will fight any outsider that says anything bad about either.</p>
<p>USNA69; from a post of yours submitted to another web board yesterday: </p>
<p>"....but many, if not most, high cost WP grads are just looking for a free Ivy-League-quality education"</p>
<p>I think there is no doubt what your agenda is USNA69, and despite your protestations to the contrary I understand you perfectly well. Yours was a reprehensible statement coming from any American, and even more so from a veteran who has no excuse not to know better. </p>
<p>Perhaps, USNA69, you've forgotten that over fifty West Point graduates have given their lives in the service of their country and of their fellow soldiers. I sincerely doubt that the candidates or their parents are unaware of the costs of a West Point education.</p>
<p>You sully the value of the information you provide to potential candidates and their parents with an almost infantile and seemingly uncontrollable urge to denigrate the USMA. I don't know why, but I can speculate, as can everyone else on this forum.</p>
<p>Perhaps this is a good time to ask yourself why it is that you post on these web boards.</p>
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<p>On the other forum, I was merely trying to stimulate some lively conversation. So why don't we keep things where they belong. By quoting a very small part of the post and totally out of context, what are you doing except trying to start a fight? Sorry, I won't play.</p>
<p>On this forum I made a sea lawyer analogy as a very small part of a post. You have tried to enlarge it far outside the parameters for which it was intended. You state that it is the worst insult one could make. It is not. Since you have no Navy in your background, how and why would you make such a statement? Your assumtions are totally without merit. I will continlue to ignore them.</p>
<p>There is one thing I do resent. The military is a small closed fraternity, a family. Like family members we fight, criticize, and call each other names, but we love each other and protect each other. When an outsider, such as yourself, commences calling veterans and service people squids, bubbleheads, etc., criticizing things of which you know not, you have crossed a line where you don't belong. May I ask that you cease this immediately?</p>
<p>"May I ask that you cease this immediately?"</p>
<p>No you may not. I've already stated my parameters and will stick by them; cease your insults and we will not have an issue.</p>
<p>"On the other forum, I was merely trying to stimulate some lively conversation."</p>
<p>Congratulations; you have been successful.</p>
<p>Had I made your earlier statements, and after I had stopped kicking myself for my gross ignorance, I would be apologizing to the entirety of the Corps right now, not digging myself a deeper hole.</p>
<p>I think this thread has run it's course.</p>
<p>Nobody can hide rudeness behind camaraderie and expect it to go unnoticed. And then you cannot say, "I'm done playing the game" when another person cries "foul". This board is deteriorating lately because of adults who cannot remember their manners. You are driving others away by appearing to be more concerned about being right and condemning others than by caring about the goals and objectives of this site. </p>
<p>Enough already!</p>
<p>momoftwins, </p>
<p>If you insist. I will continue (and hope that the mods have the good sense to delete this entire thread, even though there is some good gouge on it).</p>
<p>Mister Sinister obviously upset a few of the members. They were demanding his head. I think he recognized that I portrayed his situation rather correctly. In the course of my response to him, I made two, in my opinion, hurmoous comments. I don't use this forum that often and could not locate the smilies so I just typed "smilie" at the end of the two sentences. Do I not have the right to inject some humor into the forum. I get absolutely nothing out of it and only enter posts where I feel I can be truly helpful. And occassionally attempt a little barb ofhumor, more than likely at another academy. In this particular case, WPSON, knowing absolutely nothing about Naval lore and naval terminology totally incorrectly misinterpreted my comment. He then tried to wrongfully interject my reasons for posting, stating that I was insulting MS. This while another member was wrongfully accusing WP of about four items. Why don't we ask WPSON his agenda and why he is attempting to drive off knowledgable posters instead of mounting a personal agenda against them. And why the "gross ignorance" comment. He is the one who is attempting to inflame.</p>
<p>And please, I am tired of repeating myself. Let's let it die. WPSON is beyond reasonable discussion.</p>