A special report on how Congress makes academy nominations

[MombaBomba]

If the author did his research correctly, he would know that many of those applying for and receiving nominations are not yet 18 years old. Thus, their names can not just be released to the press. My son applied to both senators and our congresswoman, neither of whom we voted for never mind donated money too. My son received a nomination from one senator and our congresswoman. Only our congresswoman publically released the names of the academy nominees. She was also the only one who included a publicity release wavier in her packet. Our two senators didn't release any names this year, but they had released names in the past. This could be because some staff member forgot to include a release wavier this year as opposed to some nefarious donar plot.

So instead of infering there is something nefarious in not releasing names, perhaps he ought to have researched the why.

 

[Rocko]

Anything a politician does can be construe being political, but it doesn't have to be.

A MOC can use principal nomination to increase appointments from his district from one to two. But this is a dangerous game and hard to distinguish the true motive - try to get a "deserving" kid an appointment otherwise would not have gotten an appointment. Say the top nominee is super candidate, perfect SAT, #1 in her class, varsity sports, Girl state and also have a Presidential nomination. The next nominee is a competitive candidate who really impressed the nomination board. If the MOC just provides 10 nominees to a SA, they might just use MOC's slot to give appointment to the top nominee and don't use her Presidential nomination. Whereas if the MOC uses the principal nomination on the next nominee, he will get an appointment, assuming his is fully. And more than likely the top nominee will get an appointment via the Presidential nomination.

You bring up a good example of why they might do it that way. I'm not sure trying to play the system to get more in really gains them much though. It seems if they are qualified the Academies will find a way to get them in as long as they have a nomination.

In our district this year there were 7 candidates who accepted appointments to USAFA and I believe 9 to USMA. They obviously all didn't get "charged" to the MOC's slate so it sure seems they'll find a way to get them in if they want them as long as they do have a nomination.

 

[Pima]

Member does bring up a good point especially when you talk about LOAs. An MoC can give a principal to a non-LOA and place the LOA on their slate. Thus, two from their district will be appointed. Which now ties into the latest article USA TODAY printed...VP nomination. That LOA can actually be charged to the VP or many other sources, but that is the system.

Yesterday it was MoC nominations
Today was VP

Want to bet tomorrow will be SUPE ?

I did find it funny that between the two articles Fredreka Schouten could only find one MoC DD to use as an example of this hidden political bonus!

Hopefully Fredreka Schouten will be invited for a CVW and let her live 24 hours in their day, better yet let her participate at BCT for a week, than let's see how she perceives the perk of getting appointed! I think sitting through one meal sitting at attention and recitation of menus or facts that they need to know would make her say...ANY donor that wants their kid to endure this type of life for months on end, and uses their political influence to get them in, well Go for it, because the average 18 year old with those type of connections doesn't want it...they could go to HYPPSM ROTC scholarship!

That is the other thing she got wrong. Those kids where Mommy and Daddy can donate even 2k a year to an MoC or call VP Biden can afford to pay for college...the idea that it is a free education matters naught to them!

 

[MemberLG]

I'm not sure trying to play the system to get more in really gains them much though. It seems if they are qualified the Academies will find a way to get them in as long as they have a nomination.

Not likely, as the class size went down from 1400 to 1200, the West Point admissions office lost the flexibility to get qualified candidates in. Hence, around 3000 give or take few hundred qualified candidates, about 1400 appointment offers.

 

[FlyBoy1993]

LOlz at the notion of $171k moving the needle across the board with members of Congress.

 

[usna1985]

There were a number of letters/comments re the MOC noms article in today's (9/18) USA Today. All but one defended the current system, including comments from a number of folks who said they were members/voters of one party and the MOC from the other party gave their kid a nom.

So it doesn't appear that the article generated much negative "buzz" about the system.

 

[buff81]

So it doesn't appear that the article generated much negative "buzz" about the system.

That article has ruffled many feathers on other forums. Some have indicated that they will be writing a rebuttal to the Editor.

 

[Pima]

I found the post by Richard Hackney comical.

Basically,he states he is a former AFA cadet and in the hands of corrupt politicians.

Key word to me was former! Sour grapes much because you didn't commission for whatever reason?

He had no problem accepting the appointment, and I think if he did commission years later he would have never felt that it was corrupt.

Off to read the comments on the article written the next day regarding VP nominations.

Okay I am back.

Holy Crap Batman, if you read the Biden comments the majority of posters believe that Biden is hiding something with his VP nominations!
~ Seriously, people will accept anything in print as fact!


I love how they said Bidens' office contacted USAFA regarding one candidate that had two MOC noms. But did not disclose how that cadet was charged. The other was a track athlete that is an MOC DD recruited by USNA.

 

[fencersmother]

OK, here's the deal:

TOTAL BALONEY.

My boys are from a very conservative family and adopted the family's values as their own. Our MOC is one of the most liberal members of that august body, the US House; our one senator is only dimly aware of his own existence and is a fourth generation liberal, and the other senator (at the time) was the esteemed nowhere, Arlen Specter.

It these nominations and appointments were made on the basis of wealthy families, political insider info, or other slight of hand, very very few of the brave young men and women now at US Service Academies would be there.

I take extreme offense to the insinuations promulgated by USATODAY'S writers.