Anyone know when Sen. Portman and Sen. Brown announce their nominations?
Since this is DS’s second time around I can share with you last year’s experience. I’ll toss in there what has happened so far this year – some stuff changed, some things stayed exactly the same.
Senator Brown
LAST YEAR
8/2/11 – DS (high school senior then) submitted completed application packet a couple weeks before his senior year started. The early submission was not an easy task but benefitted him in two ways 1) he could devote his time and energy to the 4 AP classes on his senior schedule, the fall sports practice and meet schedule, his work schedule, and his family responsibilities when the school year started 2) Senator Brown awarded 25 extra points to the applicant’s file if received in August (his office began accepting applications on August 1). Last year Senator Brown requested the completed application be submitted on line “as a PDF file.” DS did exactly that on August 2.
9/14/11 – DS received an e-mail requesting that he send his completed application. (Wlhat???
It was submitted, successfully – no bounce back, no undeliverable message on this end – on August 2!) DS immediately re-sent the application packet with a cover letter documenting the 8/2/11 submission.
9/15/11 – DS called to confirm receipt of app. packet. He was told to send it – via e-mail – one more time (now a total of 3 times). The coordinator told him the PDF on-line submissions were running into glitches and not to worry, his packet would receive the full 25 point early submission bonus points.
9/19/11 – DS received regular mail confirmation of application packet receipt
10/4/11 – e-mail notification of interview
10/5/11- regular mail notification of interview
10/15/11 – interview w/ Senator’s panel in Cincinnati
11/29/11 – DS called Senator Brown’s Service Academy Coordinator to ask about timing of notification –she said all interviewees will hear yes or no in writing just before Christmas. She also said that Brown confers with Portman first.
12/23/11 – “no nomination” letter received (letter dated 12/20/11)
THIS YEAR
7/31/12 – DS placed completed application packet in the mailbox here in Ohio just before getting in the car to make the 1300 mile journey out to Roswell, New Mexico to begin his USNA Foundation Prep year at the New Mexico Military Institute (report date to NMMI was 8/2/12 for the preps) PDF file/e-mail submission to Senator Brown not even an option this year – just too many glitches last year I guess. Again, two reasons for the early submission. 1) No way to devote ANY time to anything except being a RAT (Recruit At Training) as soon as his boots hit the New Mexican desert on August 2! 2) And, just like last year, Senator Brown awarded 25 extra points to the applicant’s file if received in August (his office began accepting applications on August 1 – same as last year)
8/11/12 – Here at home in Ohio a letter arrived from Brown – it was the confirmation of receipt of DS’s application packet
10/3/12 – DS received a text message out in New Mexico from Senator Brown’s office requesting him to set up a phone interview. He responded as soon as he had phone privilege. The interview was set for a Saturday in November.
11/17/12 – DS had his phone interview with Senator Brown’s panel.
As of today – still waiting for the “just before Christmas” notification
Senator Portman
LAST YEAR
6/27/11 – DS submitted his completed application packet via regular mail
6/30/11 – confirmation of receipt of application received in regular mail
9/30/11 – DS faxed Sept. 10 ACT results to Academy Coordinator
11/22/11 – DS received “no interview” letter
THIS YEAR
6/29/12 – DS submitted his completed application packet via regular mail
7/9/12 – confirmation of receipt of application received in regular mail
12/6/12 - Here at home in Ohio a letter arrived from Portman – “no interview” for DS. The letter said, “My office received more than 400 applications for a nomination this year. Out of this number, we were only able to select 150 candidates for interview for a possible 40 nominations. With such a wealth of outstanding students to choose from, the interview selection process was very difficult. Unfortunately, you have not been selected for an interview this year…etc.”
Congressman Chabot
LAST YEAR and THIS YEAR – NOMINATED DS TO THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY!!! YAY!!!!
Both letters were dated December 7 – exactly one year apart. The interviews were within two days of being exactly one year apart. And the reception to recognize all the District 1 Service Academy nominees - same date, one year apart. Crazy!
Anyway, as you can tell, I am the keeper of the files and boy, have I got the files. This is DS’s second time around. And two of my other children have gone through it as well. All three for the same service academy, but with different MOCs along the way, different states, different decades, two boys, one girl, all having wound up taking different routes from each other, but to the same goal – to serve as an officer in the United States military.
How's that for a very long answer to a short question? Sorry
