good idea or overachieving?

navy2016

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2009
Messages
609
Would it be a good idea to type up a cover letter for my nomination application packages?
 
Just fill out whatever they want. If they ask for a resume and you already have one with a cover letter, that's fine. If not, it probably won't matter either way. Just extra effort that may not show any results on your part.
 
On the application for my MOC, you can attach additional sheets that partain to the info on the form. I'm going to attach a resume' because I have a lot of awards and stuff I'd like to mention, but there is no space on the form to include it.
 
Just extra effort that may not show any results on your part.

You've got the wrong attitude on this Jett. If you REALLY want an appointment, you need to be doing everything possible with maximum effort including writing a cover letter for your nomination packet. You may be correct in that it may not result in anything but on the other hand it may be the thing that puts you ahead of the next candidate. EVERY pushup, pullup, point on the ACT, correctly spelled word on your essays, etc. counts. Times are tough. Budgets are down, applications are up. Come next year, MANY qualified candidates will not receive an appointment and there will be disappointed and upset people on this forum. Some will have let themselves down by not putting out the maximum effort. Your choice. . .
 
That's fair enough. Where I'm from, a cover sheet on any resume is seen as pretentious. Blame it on my upbringing, I guess.
 
I am given the opportunity to attach a resume- even that wasn't mandatory. In fact the 2 reccomendations were also optional. This is SC, where historically we are not the most competitive state.

Nevertheless, I want to aim for the principal nom vs going on the national waiting list.
 
Put your best foot forward. Look at this like your most important job interview. you are dealing with the staff or appointed person from a member of Congress' office. My DS attached a cover sheet to everything he mailed. It didn't wax poetic his qualifications, but just introduced himself and listed what was included in the envelope. DS had a very cordial email relationship with the appointment director for this MOC. It paid off in the end, because DS had an injury along the way that almost sidelined everything. She helped him through it.
 
Some MOCs are very clear that they only want you to submit exactly what they ask for. Others will allow "extras." If the instructions are not clear, feel free to call the nominations contact person at the MOC's office.
 
Remember, the package will be setting in front of every member of a board. Many, if not most, of these board members will be military in some way, shape, or form. The ability to follow orders determines the ability of every one who has ever been a part of the military, to succeed. While some staff member that you have called might see nothing wrong with padding the package with a few extra sheets of paper, they don't necessarily have to digest a dozen or so of them some morning, one every 15 minutes or so. I would be very very hesitant to do anything other than exactly what is published, no more, no less.
 
Remember, the package will be setting in front of every member of a board. Many, if not most, of these board members will be military in some way, shape, or form. The ability to follow orders determines the ability of every one who has ever been a part of the military, to succeed. While some staff member that you have called might see nothing wrong with padding the package with a few extra sheets of paper, they don't necessarily have to digest a dozen or so of them some morning, one every 15 minutes or so. I would be very very hesitant to do anything other than exactly what is published, no more, no less.

I think I will go with your advice.
 
While every member of the nomination team are associated with the military in some shape or form, we fully understand that for the most part, those that are applying are not. We as a team are looking for the best PEOPLE. Not Robots.

Our job is not to train the people, but to find the best in our MOC District for the Service Academies.
Being a little glib, aren't we? Of course, the board's job is not to train. However, the board's job is to weigh certain attributes and ascertain their validity in the probability of success at the SAs.

With that said, I have seldom heard another board member wax poetic about a candidate while each and every example of not being able to follow instructions is definitely pointed out. Gray area instructions are another matter and the board should ensure that these areas are cleared up for future applicants.
 
I have seldom heard another board member wax poetic about a candidate while each and every example of not being able to follow instructions is definitely pointed out

Isn't that a leap to assume that a candidate had a cover letter they were unable to follow instructions when there were no instructions on the MOC's directions?

DS's MOC's were vague and he submitted a cover letter. I don't know if they copied the cover letter with his resume, or the POC for the MOC ripped it off and just submitted his resume.

He got all 3 MOC's. Should we have contacted the MOC 1st, in hindsight, yes, but to say that it pointed out they were unable to follow instructions when the instruction did not say NOT to include is a little bit over the top IMPO.

I agree with TPG, not every candidate has military experience and this issue is not like they submitted 20 recs., and the MOC asked for 1 or they wrote a 500 word essay when only 250 were stated on the application.

Read TPG's response.
For my MOC, our instructions are a little gray in this regard.
He was speaking about the MOC board he sits on.
 
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