Nomination question

lamplighter

5-Year Member
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Aug 18, 2013
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DD notified today that her senator did not give her a nomination because as the letter stated that he knew she already had one from another source (congressman). Since each MOC is limited to five slots wouldn't more than one nomination give a candidate a better shot at getting in? Apparently the senator figured she just needed one...Any thoughts? Do most senators decide on nominations this way?
 
There is no "most" with the NOMS. Some senators talk, some don't. Ours talk and you can not get both senator NOMS in IL, but you can get a senator NOM and a congressman NOM. It just depends on the state and the MOCs.

Yes, if you have more than one NOM, you are on 2 lists of 10 which means the academies have more choices as to where to assign your appointment. An advantage but from reading these boards for awhile, I'm not sure it's a huge advantage. But it certainly can't hurt.
 
Here in 16th district PA, you can get a nom from your MOC and Senator. It happened a few years back at a nearby school. Perhaps other districts in PA would talk with the senators and limit noms to 1, but every place is different. :smile:
 
Multiple Noms

We live in IL and last year my DS received a nom from congressman and then was flat out told by Kirk and Durbins office that they would not give him a senatorial nom because he already had congressional nom. I guess it just depends.
 
It is VERY state specific. In some regions of the country, it is possible -- and even likely -- to get 3 MOC noms to a single SA and/or to get noms to multiple SAs from the same or different MOCs.

In other areas (typically, but not exclusively, those that are competitive in that there are more qualified applicants than nom slots), some or all of the MOCs may "get together" to limit the number of noms any single candidate can receive.

That can take the form of only giving one nom period to any candidate. Some go so far as to say that, if you have a Pres nom, they won't give you an MOC nom. Or it can be more "relaxed" in that a candidate will only get one nom to a particular SA but can receive noms to mulitple SAs from different MOCs. In some cases, the limits will only apply to a single SA if, for example, that SA is extremely popular in the state/district -- so only a single nom from all MOCs to that SA but maybe multiple noms to a "less popular" SA.

Sometimes only 2/3 MOCs get together and the third is a "wild card" -- IOW, will give noms to whomever he/she wants to even if the other two MOCs "ration" the noms between them.

The practices can and will change when there is turnover among MOCs. Also, if the MOCs are of the same party, they MAY be more likely to take the same approach; however, this is not universally true and this is one area where they may "work across the aisle."

The bottom line is that every situation is unique based on the proclivities of the MOCs where you live -- and even then, they can change their approach from year to year and the approach can change when the identity of the MOC changes.

The SAs have a pretty good idea of how each state works so, if you're in an area where one nom is the norm, the SAs know this and you won't be at a disadvantage when competing against those from areas where 3 noms is the norm.
 
This method is called spreading the wealth. Some MOCs can have 700 applicants for one slate of 10 noms The demand cannot keep up with the supply and to alleviate it they decide that they will not duplicate noms.

Even if they get all 3 noms it does not mean that they are more likely to get an appointment than the candidate from a competitive state where they spread the wealth, because if everyone was duplicated on the slates of 10, theoretically they could have 7 go to the national pool, and due to the WCS system they don't get picked up. Yet, the kids that from a spread wealth state, 1 nom only, that leaves 9 going to the NWL and they could have 7 picked up from the pool due to the fact that the competition was so competitive their stats are higher than the avg candidate from multiple noms state.

The 5 charges also mean one year they may submit two slates. Even at that time, states like VA, CA, TX, MD are probably not going to duplicate because they still have more qualified candidates than slots.

FWIW, every July the MOCs are briefed regarding the number of charges they have available, the process, and drop dead dates. There actually an office in the Pentagon, at least for the AFA. They have a room that from floor to ceiling on every wall is the MOCs name. They than have color coded index cards for each year group. The charges are on there and the name of the noms are on the wall. If an MOC calls them they can just look at the wall and tell them the names.
 
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The SAs have a pretty good idea of how each state works so, if you're in an area where one nom is the norm, the SAs know this and you won't be at a disadvantage when competing against those from areas where 3 noms is the norm.

I disagree. Although SAs know how each state works, they are limited to the nominations and the size of the national waiting list.

Have a situation in Maryland, where one MOC "spreads the wealth." Many candidates that are nominated for Senators are very competitive, where some them if also nominated by their Congressmen and would be top candidates in their congressional district. Only one candidate can be appointed against the Senator's vacancy, so other candidates, without other nominations, go into the National Waiting List. Since top candidates from this MOC's district usually get Senatorial nomination, they are excluded. So less competitive candidates move up in this Congressional district and wins the vacancy. If I was a candidate, I would want to compete in my Congressional district first than National Waiting List, not National Waiting List only.

Yes, it's not fair.
 
Connecticut Senators ask that you withdraw your application from the second Senator for the ten if you receive a nomination from the first review in the draw (which they alternate each year). Congress representative is able to nominate anyone eligible from his/her district up to ten for each vacancy
 
I have been concerned about the scenario you presented. My DS received a nomination from Senator Warner in Virginia, where he received over 700 applications. Our congressman is known not to give duplicate nominations. I am sure the competition was tough for the senator's nom and some on the slate already had LOAs. I suppose he will be on the NWL. Still anxiously waiting on the mail everyday. I am thankful for this forum and the other questions I am glad someone is asking.
 
LOAs do not necessarily get charged to the MOC. They just need the nom., and USNA can than charge to another source, such as, the Supe. Additionally, VA has a lot of military applicants and some will come in from the Presidential. I don't think you will find a lot of SD or WV on the Presidential slate compared to VA,TX, CA, FL, etc. That is a twist to think about.

NoVA is very competitive academically and that helps them out from the NWL perspective. Many Fairfax county schools are always nationally ranked on USNWR, Money, Time, Fortune, etc.
~~~School profile is part of the PAR.

The NWL is national, but it is not a spread the wealth like MOC charging. If the top 75 WCS are from VA, than they will get an appointment from the pool.
 
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