Restrictions on nomination sources for service related candidates?
I have a question about something that I don’t clearly understand, and it seems like different sources give me very different message about this. Not being able to find something specific, I’ll try to be very specific here:
1. This regards USMA only
2. This regards prior service or service related nomination
3. Even more, I’m looking for clarity on high schoolers who enlist in the Guard with the specific intent of garnering their commander’s recommendation and get a nomination as prior service from that source
4. Most specifically, regulations regarding candidates in this approach
That said, I hear basically two camps:
1. Go for EVERY possible nomination you can qualify for (MOC, etc.) as well as service related
… or …
2. Don’t apply for any other nomination except for one you qualify for from prior service
It’s that second one that I’m puzzled over. I can’t find a specific regulation that explicitly prohibits anyone from applying for any/all possible sources of a nomination, and yet now and then I run across the sentiment that if you are applying as prior service, you (a) cannot or (b) should not apply for anything else as a nomination source, either because it isn't "needed" or you are just never going to get one anyway.
So, the question for me is this: Is there a specific prohibition against applying for all possible nominations that I (as a parent, not formally involved in the process) might normally consider, especially prohibiting or even inhibiting a member of the service, specifically the Army National Guard, from seeking all possible nominations? Or might it be a local preference/policy/practice where the MOCs have a history of filtering out candidates with a service related nomination so there simply is no practical purpose to seeking a MOC or VP nomination? Or can someone enlighten me as to how this practically works out?
Thanks in advance, and please fill in any blanks that seem pertinent.
RLTW