2026 State Nominations Thread

KB7801 said:
Congrats to your DD on nomination and appointment to USNA! My DS also received a nomination from Scott to USNA. He’s part of the civilian prep program so appointment will likely be late in the cycle.
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Thank you very much. Best to your DS
 
Can anyone tell me how long it typically takes a nomination to show in the portal (USAFA)? My son got 2 (12/22 & 12/23) but nothing in the portal. One was principal. Thank you.
 
Pluto said:
Congrats, as a fellow NY-er I will mention that both Senators ASK, that should you/your child receive a nomination from your MOC, you withdraw your application from their offices. I rescinded my own applications from Sen. Gillibrand's and Schumer's offices upon notification. They both should've mentioned this during the interview.
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Same….my son had to withdraw from Schumer as well.
 
2026 said:
Same….my son had to withdraw from Schumer as well.
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Doesn't this seem weird to anyone? Not from NY, so let me use MI as an example. We have 14 districts, so arguably, MOCs are going to nominate the top 10, maybe less, from each area. That's gives us 140 total possible and what should be the top kids from each district. If they all remove their names from the Senator nomination, aren't the senators each then nominating potentially the top 10 kids for the state out of a pool of the 11th place or "worse" finishers in each district? If that MOC, chooses to do a principle nom, that also really hurts the chances for 2-10 in that district.

To me this would only work the other way around, Senators select first, then MOC's pick the best 10 from their area, and that could be 1-10, or 2-11, and so on, depending on how many from their area are selected by the senator as the states best candidates.

IMO, they should all just select the best candidates period for their respective areas and states. And if people get multiple noms, then they must be really good candidates and probably deserve it.

The rules are the rules, and they are being followed here, so it's not like they're doing anything wrong. When I step back and look at it though, it just seems like someone doesn't understand the true impact. Interested to hear feedback, as of course, I could be analyzing this wrong.
 
HopefulDad2026 said:
Doesn't this seem weird to anyone? Not from NY, so let me use MI as an example. We have 14 districts, so arguably, MOCs are going to nominate the top 10, maybe less, from each area. That's gives us 140 total possible and what should be the top kids from each district. If they all remove their names from the Senator nomination, aren't the senators each then nominating potentially the top 10 kids for the state out of a pool of the 11th place or "worse" finishers in each district? If that MOC, chooses to do a principle nom, that also really hurts the chances for 2-10 in that district.

To me this would only work the other way around, Senators select first, then MOC's pick the best 10 from their area, and that could be 1-10, or 2-11, and so on, depending on how many from their area are selected by the senator as the states best candidates.

IMO, they should all just select the best candidates period for their respective areas and states. And if people get multiple noms, then they must be really good candidates and probably deserve it.

The rules are the rules, and they are being followed here, so it's not like they're doing anything wrong. When I step back and look at it though, it just seems like someone doesn't understand the true impact. Interested to hear feedback, as of course, I could be analyzing this wrong.
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I think in PA, the Senators do the top picks, and then the MOCs ensure the rest are offered the nominations. Not often multiple noms in PA unless a district doesn't have enough qualified candidates, then the MOCs also select those candidates for a nom.
 
jaglvr said:
I think in PA, the Senators do the top picks, and then the MOCs ensure the rest are offered the nominations. Not often multiple noms in PA unless a district doesn't have enough qualified candidates, then the MOCs also select those candidates for a nom.
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Based on my experience with my MOC, I believe that the same is true in CT. Senators go early and then the MOCs know the lay of the land.
 
HopefulDad2026 said:
Doesn't this seem weird to anyone? Not from NY, so let me use MI as an example. We have 14 districts, so arguably, MOCs are going to nominate the top 10, maybe less, from each area. That's gives us 140 total possible and what should be the top kids from each district. If they all remove their names from the Senator nomination, aren't the senators each then nominating potentially the top 10 kids for the state out of a pool of the 11th place or "worse" finishers in each district? If that MOC, chooses to do a principle nom, that also really hurts the chances for 2-10 in that district.

To me this would only work the other way around, Senators select first, then MOC's pick the best 10 from their area, and that could be 1-10, or 2-11, and so on, depending on how many from their area are selected by the senator as the states best candidates.

IMO, they should all just select the best candidates period for their respective areas and states. And if people get multiple noms, then they must be really good candidates and probably deserve it.

The rules are the rules, and they are being followed here, so it's not like they're doing anything wrong. When I step back and look at it though, it just seems like someone doesn't understand the true impact. Interested to hear feedback, as of course, I could be analyzing this wrong.
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In general, this rule is applied to crowded states. This mutual withdrawal agreement is in place in NY, CA, and VA as far as I know. The idea I believe is to get as many kids up for appointments as possible, and technically because you can only use one nomination, the Senators logically find it better to seek other candidates. If the senators nominate the top kids from the state (who would theoretically be also nominated by their MOC), then the top kid from each district would be appointed, and appropriately charged to that congressman. Now, you will have wasted all of your nominations in theory as a senator. This is a theoretical scenario where everything is perfect, and of course, such is never the course, but nonetheless, its a gamble that pays off more often than not. The senators gamble that the candidates they would pick anyways will be appointed via their respective MOC's nominations and therefore ask them to withdraw their applications from their offices so they can nominate those runner-up picks that equally deserve appointments. Please someone correct me if I misunderstand the situation
 
HopefulDad2026 said:
Doesn't this seem weird to anyone? Not from NY, so let me use MI as an example. We have 14 districts, so arguably, MOCs are going to nominate the top 10, maybe less, from each area. That's gives us 140 total possible and what should be the top kids from each district. If they all remove their names from the Senator nomination, aren't the senators each then nominating potentially the top 10 kids for the state out of a pool of the 11th place or "worse" finishers in each district? If that MOC, chooses to do a principle nom, that also really hurts the chances for 2-10 in that district.

To me this would only work the other way around, Senators select first, then MOC's pick the best 10 from their area, and that could be 1-10, or 2-11, and so on, depending on how many from their area are selected by the senator as the states best candidates.

IMO, they should all just select the best candidates period for their respective areas and states. And if people get multiple noms, then they must be really good candidates and probably deserve it.

The rules are the rules, and they are being followed here, so it's not like they're doing anything wrong. When I step back and look at it though, it just seems like someone doesn't understand the true impact. Interested to hear feedback, as of course, I could be analyzing this wrong.
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You are assuming the NY senators' primary consideration is merit and not social engineering.
 
8th Wing Refugee said:
Based on my experience with my MOC, I believe that the same is true in CT. Senators go early and then the MOCs know the lay of the land.
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I'm not especially well-versed in the process, but for what it's worth, I heard from Sen. Blumenthal before my district representative. When I got the call from Sen. Blumenthal's office, they didn't ask me directly to withdraw my application from Sen. Murphy, but they did say my nom from Blumenthal was the reason why I hadn't heard from Murphy's office for an interview - so essentially the same thing.
 
Pluto said:
In general, this rule is applied to crowded states. This mutual withdrawal agreement is in place in NY, CA, and VA as far as I know. The idea I believe is to get as many kids up for appointments as possible, and technically because you can only use one nomination, the Senators logically find it better to seek other candidates. If the senators nominate the top kids from the state (who would theoretically be also nominated by their MOC), then the top kid from each district would be appointed, and appropriately charged to that congressman. Now, you will have wasted all of your nominations in theory as a senator. This is a theoretical scenario where everything is perfect, and of course, such is never the course, but nonetheless, its a gamble that pays off more often than not. The senators gamble that the candidates they would pick anyways will be appointed via their respective MOC's nominations and therefore ask them to withdraw their applications from their offices so they can nominate those runner-up picks that equally deserve appointments. Please someone correct me if I misunderstand the situation
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Colorado told my son the same as well, that if you got a nomination from your congressman you had to inform the nomination and withdraw.
 
BBMomma said:
Colorado told my son the same as well, that if you got a nomination from your congressman you had to inform the nomination and withdraw.
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Really anywhere that has a high awareness of the academies should be doing this. It may seem hurtful to the individual candidates, but it leads to greater diversity of cadets/midshipman, which IMO is superior
 
Pluto said:
Really anywhere that has a high awareness of the academies should be doing this. It may seem hurtful to the individual candidates, but it leads to greater diversity of cadets/midshipman, which IMO is superior
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Exactly!
 
It's crazy to me that the staffers from MOC and Senators don't all get together to try to "maximize" the nominations. I know they do this in some states and it seems to work rather well. Granted it's typically states from what I've heard that don't have too many MOCs to try to coordinate.
 
Korab said:
You are assuming the NY senators' primary consideration is merit and not social engineering.
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Good point, but they’re still limited to 11th best in each district if in fact they ask for withdrawals of the top 10 per district, right?

Unless they ask everyone to withdraw but don’t technically exclude all of the withdrawals.
 
hopefulUSNAmom'26 said:
It's crazy to me that the staffers from MOC and Senators don't all get together to try to "maximize" the nominations. I know they do this in some states and it seems to work rather well. Granted it's typically states from what I've heard that don't have too many MOCs to try to coordinate.
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Agree 100%, this would make the most sense for sure.
 
Pluto said:
Really anywhere that has a high awareness of the academies should be doing this. It may seem hurtful to the individual candidates, but it leads to greater diversity of cadets/midshipman, which IMO is superior
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Can you elaborate on this, in my example you already have 140 possible candidates from each district, which by itself create diversity of all kinds at least in Michigan. (Race, wealth, urban/suburban/rural, etc). Which I agree is very important.

I don’t understand how picking from the 11th beat in each, adds to an already diverse population?
 
Pluto said:
In general, this rule is applied to crowded states. This mutual withdrawal agreement is in place in NY, CA, and VA as far as I know. The idea I believe is to get as many kids up for appointments as possible, and technically because you can only use one nomination, the Senators logically find it better to seek other candidates. If the senators nominate the top kids from the state (who would theoretically be also nominated by their MOC), then the top kid from each district would be appointed, and appropriately charged to that congressman. Now, you will have wasted all of your nominations in theory as a senator. This is a theoretical scenario where everything is perfect, and of course, such is never the course, but nonetheless, its a gamble that pays off more often than not. The senators gamble that the candidates they would pick anyways will be appointed via their respective MOC's nominations and therefore ask them to withdraw their applications from their offices so they can nominate those runner-up picks that equally deserve appointments. Please someone correct me if I misunderstand
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HopefulDad2026 said:
Can you elaborate on this, in my example you already have 140 possible candidates from each district, which by itself create diversity of all kinds at least in Michigan. (Race, wealth, urban/suburban/rural, etc). Which I agree is very important.

I don’t understand how picking from the 11th beat in each, adds to an already diverse population?
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I guess for the most part here I’m saying with these rules let’s say you have an underrepresented population in a district, would you rather want to take #1 and #11, or #1 and #2, all else being equal from a diversity standpoint.

Since the academy’s can only take 1 for each nom slot. This method seems to pigeon hole you into #1 and #11.
 
BBMomma said:
Colorado told my son the same as well, that if you got a nomination from your congressman you had to inform the nomination and withdraw.
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Also from CO and that is not the case broadly. Perhaps for some MOCs, but not all. And senators have not requested that.
 
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