Nominations

Theyellowfellow

5-Year Member
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Feb 14, 2015
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Is it difficult to gain entrance to all 3 service academies via nominations. In other words, is there some limit on how many service academies you can receive one single nomination from?
 
It depends on where you live. I've read of people who get more than one. In New York, the Senators and most congressmen will make you pick one.
 
Is it difficult to gain entrance to all 3 service academies via nominations. In other words, is there some limit on how many service academies you can receive one single nomination from?

One nomination is good for one service academy. If you apply to three service academies and want the option to choose, you will need 3 nominations (one for each). Depending on your district/state or other options for nominations (Presidential, ROTC, etc), you may or may not get more than one nomination. Some MOC "share the wealth" and only give one nomination to each candidate; therefore a greater number of candidates have a chance at receiving an appointment. Other MOCs may give you as many noms as you request (think low competition states) -- again, it depends on your competition, district, state.

So if you are applying to more than one SA (which is common), you will likely have to rank the SAs in order of preference on the MOC nomination application. If you are listing #3 but don't really want to attend, think long and hard about listing it in case that is the only nomination you receive.
 
Is it difficult to gain entrance to all 3 service academies via nominations. In other words, is there some limit on how many service academies you can receive one single nomination from?

One nomination is good for one service academy. If you apply to three service academies and want the option to choose, you will need 3 nominations (one for each). Depending on your district/state or other options for nominations (Presidential, ROTC, etc), you may or may not get more than one nomination. Some MOC "share the wealth" and only give one nomination to each candidate; therefore a greater number of candidates have a chance at receiving an appointment. Other MOCs may give you as many noms as you request (think low competition states) -- again, it depends on your competition, district, state.

So if you are applying to more than one SA (which is common), you will likely have to rank the SAs in order of preference on the MOC nomination application. If you are listing #3 but don't really want to attend, think long and hard about listing it in case that is the only nomination you receive.
Would it be a bad idea to, for example, say West Point is #1 on your MOC nomination application and then on your senator nomination applications say Air Force #1? That way if your MOC/senators shares the wealth you get a nomination to both academies instead of having 2 nominations to one.
 
There are tons of posts regarding this exact subject in previous years. Take a look at the thoughts and opinions on those. There are some who believe the scenario you mention is best and others believe to rank them in the order you want. It really comes down to what you think is best for you. Really think about what service you want to serve in during these next few months, not just I want to attend a SA. This question will come up and folks will want to hear an answer why you have all 3. It's fine if you do, just need to understand what each service's mission is and what you are interested in doing. Ask your BGO or other folks who fill these rolls and ask if they coordinate in your state.
 
It all just depends on your senators, my top four from 1-4 were USAFA, USNA, USMA and USMMA (I didnt apply to the last two) my congressman gave me one for USAFA and surprisingly I got one from one of my senators to USMMA. All my lists were the same on each application. The #1 being different may work but it depends on your area. Your ALO should be able to answer this more tailored to you.
 
There are tons of posts regarding this exact subject in previous years. Take a look at the thoughts and opinions on those. There are some who believe the scenario you mention is best and others believe to rank them in the order you want. It really comes down to what you think is best for you. Really think about what service you want to serve in during these next few months, not just I want to attend a SA. This question will come up and folks will want to hear an answer why you have all 3. It's fine if you do, just need to understand what each service's mission is and what you are interested in doing. Ask your BGO or other folks who fill these rolls and ask if they coordinate in your state.
I agree.

In the end, an SA life is 4 years where you choose to attend...if appointed, and where you choose your major. It is not 24/7/365 for 5 years, working in a position that they have the final decision, located at a base/post where they decide.

If you are okay being an Intel officer in the Army, or on a sub in the Navy or in a Missile career with the AF, than apply all 3, plus USMMA, BUT if all you want to do is fly a fighter, than maybe you should rethink the Army on the nomination rank list. If you want to fly a helo, than maybe you should rethink the AF. No flaming, I know the AF has helos, but you have a better chance in the Army than in the AF.i

The statement Service before Self will always be true in the military.

As always apply for a ROTC scholarship as plan B, because the fact is there are many that will get a nomination, but no appointment.
 
yellowfellow,
point of clarity regarding your original post.
You receive a nomination(nom) from a nominating source, MOC, ROTC, VP, President, Superintendent etc.
You need a nomination in order to qualify to compete for an appointment to USMA, USNA, USAFA and USMMA. You can receive a nomination to these Service Academies(SA) and not receive an appointment. You cannot receive an appointment without a nom.
USCGA does not require a nom.

As others have said, some MOC's share the wealth-many talk amongst themselves regarding their nomination applicants and some don't.

My DS was asked by his MOC to rank his choices 1-4, he only had 2, USNA and USAFA in that order. He was nominated for USNA and is still on wait list for 2019 so he may or may not get in this year.

I think it best to rank your choices according to your heartfelt desire to serve and the branch you want most. If you change the order on different applications, be prepared to defend your choices in your interviews as it may come up.
 
On a side note, remember, there is a difference between wanting to serve, and serving in a particular branch of service and applying to the academy.

Some individuals simply want to service. They want to attend an academy and become a commissioned office. It doesn't matter to them which academy or branch of service.

Unfortunately, there's also many who apply to ALL of the academies, when the truth is, they are looking at it more from the "Scholarship - Free Education" viewpoint than from the minimum 9 year commitment. (4 years at the academy and a minimum of 5 years with the branch of service). They take the advice of their parents, relatives, friends, and even many MOC's (Senators and Representatives); who will convince them to apply to all of the academies.

If you truly want to serve, and it doesn't matter to you in which branch of service, then by all means apply to all of them. But if you truly feel a calling, desire, partiality, passion, etc. to a particular branch(es) of service and none to certain others, then you really shouldn't apply to all of them. You could very easily wind up miserable. And if you truly want to "Serve", the academy isn't the only path there, should you not get accepted. E.g. If you truly feel a desire only for the air force, and not much for the others, then you should only apply to the air force academy. if you don't make it in, you can always try the ROTC or OCS route to receive a commission.

Just saying, I've seen quite a few individuals who dropped out or didn't make it through the academy, and a number of them admitted that that particular academy wasn't their first choice.

Along with that, realize that while this forum may be more concentrated with individuals totally interested in the academies and service in the military, not all of the 10,000+ applicants have the academy as their 1st choice for college. Many are applying to it, just like they are to 2, 3, or 4 other colleges/universities. And one of those are their #1 choice. If you receive an appointment to an academy, and it wasn't your #1 choice for college, you really need to think hard about accepting the appointment. The academies aren't like any other university or college in the world. It's a totally different life style, which totally affects your way of thinking, moral, personality, etc. Don't get me wrong. There's a lot of individuals (Enlisted and officers) who didn't come into the military as their first choice, and they wound up loving it and making it a 20+ year career. Also, I'm about as PRO-Air Force/Military as they come. Simply saying, that it's equally true that a lot of individuals get to a particular academy, and it wasn't their first choice for academies and military service. Sometimes, the military itself wasn't their first choice for college. Don't let your parents, teachers, friends, family, etc. pressure you or rationalize to you accepting an academy appointment if you aren't passionate about going. This is your life..... it has to truly be your choice.
 
Many are applying to it, just like they are to 2, 3, or 4 other colleges/universities. And one of those are their #1 choice. If you receive an appointment to an academy, and it wasn't your #1 choice for college, you really need to think hard about accepting the appointment. The academies aren't like any other university or college in the world. It's a totally different life style, which totally affects your way of thinking, moral, personality, etc. Don't get me wrong. There's a lot of individuals (Enlisted and officers) who didn't come into the military as their first choice, and they wound up loving it and making it a 20+ year career. Also, I'm about as PRO-Air Force/Military as they come. Simply saying, that it's equally true that a lot of individuals get to a particular academy, and it wasn't their first choice for academies and military service. Sometimes, the military itself wasn't their first choice for college. Don't let your parents, teachers, friends, family, etc. pressure you or rationalize to you accepting an academy appointment if you aren't passionate about going. This is your life..... it has to truly be your choice.
DS wanted Stanford 1st, USMA or USFA 2nd. He didn't get into Stanford and got an appointment to USMA and USAFA. He had no interest in ROTC. He felt that the Academy life would stretch him which is a gigantic understatement. He enjoys USAFA and everything it represents. If he knew what he knew back then, USAFA would have been his 1st choice but he still wonders about the USMA for various reasons. Soon he will be applying to Stanford for grad (medical) school. I bet he is in the AF for 20 years. Maybe longer.

Yes. That "free" education for medical school was what made him look into military life (actually I emailed him a link to USMA) and the rest it history. I don't think there is anything wrong with that unless it is your only reason.

Hands down I'm convinced he got a better UG education at USAFA. The opportunities were incredible. I'm talking small class sizes, Scholars Programs, travel, immersion opportunities, passionate instructors, scholarships, club opportunities that are unheard of, etc. I could go on for another paragraph.

So he didn't enter with an intense calling to serve. But it's bitten him. Being from a non-military family I've had my reservations. But I get it now.
 
I definitely agree there's nothing wrong with the many reasons an individual chooses to apply and attend one of the academies.

I'm simply replying to the fact that many people apply to "All" of the academies with the thought that they are all basically the same. I think they simply see 4 years of "College" and don't realize that when that's over, they have a minimum of 5 years serving. Plus, the academies themselves are different from each other in many ways. My son was positive that he wanted the air force. Thus, that is the only academy he applied to. If he didn't receive an appointment there, he would have accepted offers to one of the other universities and looked into ROTC as a means to getting into the air force. I think he probably would have not enjoyed it as much, or satisfy other goals or objectives, had he gone into the Navy or Army.

Of course, like I mentioned, some people come in thinking they'll just do their minimum time and get out; only to find they really feel right there and they wind up doing 20+ years. But the same is true the other way. An individual really wants West Point or a particular branch of the military, and they don't get accepted there and they accept one of the other academies; only to find that it's not what they were hoping for.

Simply saying, if you don't care which academy you go to and which branch of service you serve in, for whatever reasons you are applying, then by all means apply to all of the academies. But if you don't have a passion, or rather there's a noticeable lack of interest in one or more academies over another, then you really should consider not applying to them all; only apply to the one(s) you have a true interest in. Life is too short, and 9 years is a big chunk of your life to spend "Waiting" to get to a place where you're doing what you really want to do.
 
Mike and I come from the same thought process.

If you can say that being stationed at Camp Red Cloud, S Korea (Army) or Minot, N.D (AF) than apply to both, but if you say the only reason you are placing them on your list is because you want to fly, than rethink this idea because there is no guarantee you will make it through UPT, and they can decide to keep you and move you anywhere they want.

The amount of friends that we knew as young Lts. saying they were going to leave as soon as they could, and actually did were very few. Life has a habit of getting in the way. Get married, have some kids, buy a home and the economy tanks like it did in 05. Do you give up a guaranteed paycheck with no guaranteed job or do you accept the next PCS, because afterall, it is only 3 more years? You take the move, and decide you will take tuition assistance for your grad degree while on that next tour, but even at the fastest rate to get it done, it adds on 1 more year owed. (Your are now at 9 years...original 5 + 3 for PCS and 1 more for TA). They send you to Eilson AFB in AK, or maybe Ramstein for that tour. It is not easy to apply for jobs or fly to interview in Florida when you live very far away. So, instead you decide to work that next assignment to get you back to Fl. However, while assigned there you come up for O4, and now you are looking at 13 years in before you can bolt. Do not accept the promotion? If you do, your commitment owed increases again. Do you not stop and say, 2 more tours and I get 50% base pay for the rest of my life? Remember now you are 35, and thinking in 7 years it would be nice to have that retirement pay as an O5.

I just took you to 20 with a blink of an eye because of something you never saw happening. You are way too young to remember 9/11 and how airlines stopped hiring for over a decade...if you want to go pilot. Too young to remember 2005 when the housing market crashed and created a downward spiral from an economic perspective. I doubt the class of 2003 when they started the application process in 1998 thought that the economy would be horrible in 2008. I doubt they thought that airlines still would not be hiring in 2013 when they could bolt. However, that is true.

Just saying, if you think that you can get a free education and only owe 5 years, please rethink this idea. Yes, many do, but just as many don't. If that is your true goal, start researching what you want to do after, and how to do it before you submit your career field.

I also agree with Mike, I have seen officers resent where they are stationed, and how it is bad for them. Their anger for being stationed at BF Egypt makes them outcasts in a squadron. To them that is more proof of why the AF sucks. They never saw it as their fault. Never understood nobody wants to hear them whine/complain. They were blameless in their eyes, and it was the bad Big Blue that created this situation.
~ Squeaky wheel will get oiled, but squeaky wheels, at least in the fighter world, becomes persona non gratis.

Just saying, when you are stationed somewhere for 4 years that you never even thought of, you know those crappy places, like Mt. Home, Alamogordo, Cannon, Del Rio, Dyess, etc. than ask yourself was the free education worth it?

I am someone that their DS only asked for USAFA for all 3 MoCs. He got all 3 noms. He did so because he said he had no desire to be in a tank, or land a plane in the middle of an ocean. He thought about life after commissioning, and being a military brat realized that they had the final decision.
 
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