Do MOCs know?

C

cylee1208

5-Year Member
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Feb 2, 2010
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I received an LOA recently, and based on what I've heard, MOCs get copies of my LOA from the academy. Is this true?
 
cylee1208 said:
I received an LOA recently, and based on what I've heard, MOCs get copies of my LOA from the academy. Is this true?
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Not sure if they receive an actual copy. However, they are notified that you have received one somehow! Congratulations!:thumb:
 
Check the bottom of your LOA letter - it will say where copies were sent.
 
That may or may not help. MOCs are tied into the on-line CIS/BGIS system and they will definitely find out that way.
 
osdad said:
Check the bottom of your LOA letter - it will say where copies were sent.
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So the bottom of my letter is as quoted, "Copy to : The Honorable Cathy McMorris CR WA 5...." along with the other MOCs. Is that what that meant? I interpreted it as an imperative statement. :biggrin:
 
Hey, congratulations on your LOA!
Yes, mine said that they were also copied. But dont let that deceive you. I went to three MOC interviews, not one knew of the LOA. And I live in Florida, which gets a little competitive apparently.
Since everyone was saying "dont mention your LOA right off the bat", at the end of the interview, they cordially ask you if you want to ask any questions.
I asked if I could make a closing statement, and then I recapped of how USNA is where I wanted to go since forever, etc. Then I explained if they gave me a nomination, I would definitely utilize it, and they seemed confused, and I explained, "because I ahve a LOA" at which time I pulled out a copy for each panelist to see before them.
They seemed impressed that I had not only the LOA for each of them, but also I was organized enough to present them new material before them (noone knew, or they acted like they didnt know).
But anyways, this is just a suggestion.
Good luck, and congratulations again.
 
^^^Thanks for your advice! And congrats to you too! :thumb:
I think I might actually include a photo copy of the LOA in each of my nomination packets (I have yet to submit them) and see what happens.
 
Mongo said:
They knew.
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Or maybe they should have known?:rolleyes::smile:

I would hope that they wouldn't lie and tell you they had no idea when they actually had knowledge. To be fair, I could see something getting lost b/t the MOC's office and the folks conducting the interview.
 
usna1985 said:
Or maybe they should have known?:rolleyes::smile:

I would hope that they wouldn't lie and tell you they had no idea when they actually had knowledge. To be fair, I could see something getting lost b/t the MOC's office and the folks conducting the interview.
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MOCs for USNA have a version of CIS/BGIS of which I cannot remember the acronym right now but without which they cannot operate. The LOA information was available to the staff SA individual. The board is only aware of whatever this indiviual passes on to them. I suppose it is conceivable that the staff individual was unaware of the importance of the information and failed to pass it on. However, many MOCs wish that their boards be independent of SA influence, want the board to arrive at their own decisions, and not be influenced by input from USNA. My guess would be that the staff individual chose not to pass on this information.
 
Mongo said:
MOCs for USNA have a version of CIS/BGIS of which I cannot remember the acronym right now but without which they cannot operate. The LOA information was available to the staff SA individual. The board is only aware of whatever this indiviual passes on to them. I suppose it is conceivable that the staff individual was unaware of the importance of the information and failed to pass it on. However, many MOCs wish that their boards be independent of SA influence, want the board to arrive at their own decisions, and not be influenced by input from USNA. My guess would be that the staff individual chose not to pass on this information.
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You're probably correct in your assessment. I suppose the distinction is that the MOC's office has this info. Whether they choose to share it with the committee members and/or whether those members disclose to candidates that they know about LOAs are separate issues.
 
IMHO

IMHO...although the SA's took the liberty to inform the MOC about one's LOA. I believe they (the MOC board) may choose not to pass this info along to the interview panel so as not to influence the nomination process.

Remember the premise here, (as was explained to us by our ever-helpful BGO), was for several independent decision making bodies choose/select a candidate based on their own set of merits.

Now why would you want to influence albeit unfairly the MOC panel just because you have an LOA?
Would that be fair to your other fellow candidates?
Doesn't being a Naval Officer start before you get into the USNA?
Fairness and Justice and all that good stuff.

If you are confident of your own personal merits and achievements, then an LOA is moot is it not?

An LOA is there to help you make a decision to choose an SA over any other college that wants you.
It is not there to influence the MOC to give you the NOM!

GO NAVY!:wink:
 
2014-scada said:
An LOA is there to help you make a decision to choose an SA over any other college that wants you.
It is not there to influence the MOC to give you the NOM!
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Some other opinions:
usna1985 said:
If an LOA comes before the MOC submits his/her slate, he/she might make a change -- up to the MOC. I would certainly ensure the MOC knows about it.
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Memphis9489 said:
I heartily agree with this advice. Both my sons got an LOA and, although the letter was "copied" to each of the MOCs, both my sons wrote a letter to each MOC to point out that they had received an LOA.
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aglages said:
Then what is the purpose of the SAs sending copies of the LOAs to the MOCs?:cool:
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The SAs want the MOCs to know b/c (IMO, at least) they hope that MOCs will take this into consideration in giving noms. Here is why . . . the SAs believe their LOA candidates are very highly qualified -- hence the LOA. Thus, they are pretty sure that these candidates will qualify for an appointment (assuming CFA and medical are ok). So telling the MOCs has the potential benefit (to the SAs) of helping ensure MOCs nominate well-qualified candidates. Remember, if an MOC nominates an "unqualified" candidate, that nom is essentially "lost," which is in no one's interest.

AND, some -- maybe most -- MOCs want to know b/c quite honestly, some MOCs (such as ours) want to appoint LOA candidates for the same reasons above.

Some MOCs may want to see whom their committees select without having the "benefit" of knowing about the LOAs. It is ENTIRELY up to the MOCs how to proceed.

We can all debate (let's not :smile:) whether it's good or bad for the MOCs and/or their committees to have the LOA knowledge but our views won't change the approach.

As I have said, I know of LOA candidates who did NOT get a nom despite the fact that the MOC was aware of the LOA. So, those of your w/o LOAs, please do not despair. First of all, it may be that no one in your district or even state has an LOA. Second, the MOC may not consider it. Third, you may blow away the nom committee (on paper or in person). Regardless, you can only control your own "performance" -- dwelling on things beyond your control isn't a productive use of your time.
 
aglages said:
Then what is the purpose of the SAs sending copies of the LOAs to the MOCs?:cool:
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Exactly!

DS's experience was that when he made contact with the MOC staffers with some final questions he asked if he needed to include a copy of his LOA in the application.

Every MOC staffer immediately changed tone, one checked and mentioned they already had it in his file. The other two thanked him for letting them know, and yes, to include a copy.

All three said "we'll definitively be scheduling an interview with you" or similar as soon as the LOA came up. IE: The existence of an LOA appeared to bypass an initial screening review.

DS's read: It's all in the attitude you bring to the discussion. If you are sincere and come across as just wanting to do the best job at the application & interview you can, they seem OK with it. Bring an expectation of entitlement, or attitude, and it could backfire.

And the LOA does somewhat let them know you should be (on average) competitive for at least once academy. And that comes through in how the MOC staffer verbal body language changes on the phone. Apparently, sorting through many, many non-competitive applications is a major time issue for them, especially senator teams.

How that information is used in the interviews, is it passed to the committees, etc, unless they tell you there is no way to know. And the advice previously given to approach the interviews as if you do not have an LOA seems the best approach. (Especially if you are applying for more than one academy)

There is an issue with some MOC's that an LOA may mean you are not considered for nomination for other academies, especially if your LOA for your stated first choice. At least one of our senators does the interviews by branch, running multiple committees in parallel.
 
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