Yet Another Nomination Question
- Thread starter AshSei
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Christcorp
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Its not a matter of needing. You only need 1 nomination for an appointment. But getting a nomination doesn't guarantee you an appointment. More than 5000 nominations will be given out. But only around 1000 will be given. A senator or representative will give 10 nominations on average. Only 1 or 2 of those will receive an appointment. Same with your ROTC nomination. You won't be the only person receiving that nomination. And they won't give an appointment to all of you. There for, you want as many nominations as possible. This way, if you don't receive the appointment with one nomination, you have a chance of getting an appointment with one of the other nominations. And if none of them get you an appointment, then you compete nationally with the other thousands of nominees who didn't receive a direct nomination appointment for one of the remaining 300 or so slots to fill the class. So in a nut shell. You want all the nominations you can get. Representative, senator, ROTC, presidential if authorized, vice presidential, and any other youight be eligible for. Your alo can help you determine what your eligible for other than rep, senator, and VP.
Thank you for your response. I understand the more the better, however in the event that I do not receive a congressional or vice presidential nomination, does the JROTC instructor nomination fulfill the Academies' requirement for a nomination?
Yes it does, Ash. In terms of "counting", any nomination from a qualified (approved) nomination source counts the same for the academy. That being said, there are some things to consider...
There is a bit more to getting one of the JROTC nomination slots than just your local Instructor signing off. And I think the academy is limited to taking only 15 (???) or so cadets or so per year nation-wide based off of JROTC nominations. One of the veterans here might want to confirm that.
So by the odds, you are far more likely to get one of your MOC's (Members of Congress) nominations than you are the JROTC one. And more likely to get an appointment from it.
Go for both of course, to CC's point above, the more the better. But your MOC nominations are typically your primary target.
Just as an FYI, my C4C DS held several JROTC staff positions over 4 years up to and including Unit Commander. He won the Daedalian and other awards.... and he didn't pursue a JROTC nomination slot. Silly maybe, but he knew the MOC nomination route was his best odds.
Hope this helps and good luck!
There is a bit more to getting one of the JROTC nomination slots than just your local Instructor signing off. And I think the academy is limited to taking only 15 (???) or so cadets or so per year nation-wide based off of JROTC nominations. One of the veterans here might want to confirm that.
So by the odds, you are far more likely to get one of your MOC's (Members of Congress) nominations than you are the JROTC one. And more likely to get an appointment from it.
Go for both of course, to CC's point above, the more the better. But your MOC nominations are typically your primary target.
Just as an FYI, my C4C DS held several JROTC staff positions over 4 years up to and including Unit Commander. He won the Daedalian and other awards.... and he didn't pursue a JROTC nomination slot. Silly maybe, but he knew the MOC nomination route was his best odds.
Hope this helps and good luck!
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JROTC nominee's compete for 20 appointments.
From a letter a few years ago from USAFA/RRS to Honor Military Schools (AFJROTC Units with Distinction/Honors)
********************************************************
MEMORANDUM FOR JROTC INSTRUCTOR
FROM: HQ USAFA/RRS
2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 2400
USAF Academy CO 80840-5025
SUBJECT: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Honor Military School (HMS) Nomination Category for the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)
1. As you know, appointments to the Academy are very competitive. HMS nominations are an extra opportunity to compete for an appointment; however, only 20 appointments nationwide are available from this nomination source. Please ensure the men and women enrolled in your JROTC program know of this possibility.
*********************************************************
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
From a letter a few years ago from USAFA/RRS to Honor Military Schools (AFJROTC Units with Distinction/Honors)
********************************************************
MEMORANDUM FOR JROTC INSTRUCTOR
FROM: HQ USAFA/RRS
2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 2400
USAF Academy CO 80840-5025
SUBJECT: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Honor Military School (HMS) Nomination Category for the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)
1. As you know, appointments to the Academy are very competitive. HMS nominations are an extra opportunity to compete for an appointment; however, only 20 appointments nationwide are available from this nomination source. Please ensure the men and women enrolled in your JROTC program know of this possibility.
*********************************************************
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Pima
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CC and Flieger,
Maybe I am wrong, but I thought that number is for both JROTC and ROTC combined (20).
I only ask because IMPO, it should be something a JROTC applicant be cognizant of regarding the situation since many re-apps are college kids in ROTC. If it is, than applicants need to realize that pool is much larger than they thought. Our DS's det had 100 AFROTC freshman, typically 2 or 3 just from his det. apply every yr. There are about 2200 that commission every yr out of AFROTC. They have a much higher attrition rate than the AFA from their GMC yrs to POC (fresh/soph to jr/sr)
Second question.
I know for JROTC the det has to be distinction, but I thought any college ROTC unit can nom.
If so, than again it illustrates how big that pool can be.
Maybe I am wrong, but I thought that number is for both JROTC and ROTC combined (20).
I only ask because IMPO, it should be something a JROTC applicant be cognizant of regarding the situation since many re-apps are college kids in ROTC. If it is, than applicants need to realize that pool is much larger than they thought. Our DS's det had 100 AFROTC freshman, typically 2 or 3 just from his det. apply every yr. There are about 2200 that commission every yr out of AFROTC. They have a much higher attrition rate than the AFA from their GMC yrs to POC (fresh/soph to jr/sr)
Second question.
I know for JROTC the det has to be distinction, but I thought any college ROTC unit can nom.
If so, than again it illustrates how big that pool can be.
Christcorp
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That's a good question. Steve probably knows off the top of his head. I know I have i written somewhere. I believe you are correct that it's a combination of ROTC and Jr. But even if it wasn't, with about 144 ROTC detachments (The last time I looked), that's a lot of cadets for only 20 appointments to the academy. In jr ROTC, there are over 100,000 cadets. If 1/4 (Seniors) each year graduating, that's about 25,000. Depending on how many applied to the academy, 20 appointments to the academy is still a small number.
So whether there's 20 total combined (Which I believe it is and you are correct); or it's 20 each (40 total), that's still a very small number compared to potential applicants. That's why it's important to get every nomination you can.
So whether there's 20 total combined (Which I believe it is and you are correct); or it's 20 each (40 total), that's still a very small number compared to potential applicants. That's why it's important to get every nomination you can.
Pima
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It would be interesting to see if the 20 is for both, how many come in from the JROTC side compared to the ROTC.
I am pretty positive those numbers would be hard to find, if at all possible. I am pretty positive that the ratio would be more ROTC at a much higher rate than JROTC.
The OP should def. apply for a JROTC, but that comes back to my other question... for JROTC the unit has to be distinguished, but I don't believe ROTC does. The OP has not stated if his unit is, and if it isn't than I believe the OP needs to find out if the unit can nom. Whereas, from what I understand any ROTC unit can.
Ash,
The rule of thumb here is pretty simple.
1. Apply for ANY and ALL noms. The more noms, the more slates you will be on before you go to the national pool.
2. Apply for an AFROTC scholarship as your plan B.
~~~~ Visit the dets at the colleges. Be honest and tell them AFROTC is plan B. They will not hold it against you.
I am pretty positive those numbers would be hard to find, if at all possible. I am pretty positive that the ratio would be more ROTC at a much higher rate than JROTC.
The OP should def. apply for a JROTC, but that comes back to my other question... for JROTC the unit has to be distinguished, but I don't believe ROTC does. The OP has not stated if his unit is, and if it isn't than I believe the OP needs to find out if the unit can nom. Whereas, from what I understand any ROTC unit can.
Ash,
The rule of thumb here is pretty simple.
1. Apply for ANY and ALL noms. The more noms, the more slates you will be on before you go to the national pool.
2. Apply for an AFROTC scholarship as your plan B.
~~~~ Visit the dets at the colleges. Be honest and tell them AFROTC is plan B. They will not hold it against you.
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I should have made that crystal clear and I didn't. 
From the source:
HONOR MILITARY SCHOOLS AND AIR FORCE RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS
There are twenty appointments total for all categories. Honor military schools are designated by the Department of the Army, Marine Corps and Navy to nominate Academy candidates annually from among their honor students. Each honor unit may nominate five students to compete for the vacancies. Students should apply to their Senior ROTC Instructor for the nomination.
Members of college and high school honor Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC and AFJROTC) units may also apply in this category. Five students from each detachment may be nominated to compete for the authorized vacancies. Students should apply for a nomination to their professor of aerospace studies or aerospace science instructor who will recommend nominees to the head of the institution.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
From the source:
HONOR MILITARY SCHOOLS AND AIR FORCE RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS
There are twenty appointments total for all categories. Honor military schools are designated by the Department of the Army, Marine Corps and Navy to nominate Academy candidates annually from among their honor students. Each honor unit may nominate five students to compete for the vacancies. Students should apply to their Senior ROTC Instructor for the nomination.
Members of college and high school honor Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC and AFJROTC) units may also apply in this category. Five students from each detachment may be nominated to compete for the authorized vacancies. Students should apply for a nomination to their professor of aerospace studies or aerospace science instructor who will recommend nominees to the head of the institution.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Pima
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Thanks Steve.
I thought that was the case. It was that way when DS went through the process, but we know things can change yr to yr.
Now for reality for the OP, using my DS's HS as an example. DS was not in AFJROTC. 7 JROTC cadets applied, 3 got ROTC nom. They all (AFJROTC) also applied for AFROTC scholarship. 3 non AFJROTC students applied for AFROTC scholarships also.
In total 4 applied AFA (3 AFJROTC and our DS) with noms (candidate)
Only 1 got any MOC noms. They actually got all 3 MOC noms. ----Our DS. No AFJROTC received an MOC nom.
Only 2 got AFROTC scholarships. Our DS and another non AFJROTC student. This HS is an AF town...it exists because the base exists. 1/3rd of the graduating class are military dependents.
I am not trying to be mean, or unkind, only to illustrate that there is a lot more to this path than you realize yet. Thus, why we always say apply for everything possible.
It is a long road, it is a marathon and a huge learning curve. Keep asking questions, because the more you know, the more you will understand, and the better off you will be.
Thank you for wanting to defend this great nation. Good luck. Best wishes.
I thought that was the case. It was that way when DS went through the process, but we know things can change yr to yr.
Now for reality for the OP, using my DS's HS as an example. DS was not in AFJROTC. 7 JROTC cadets applied, 3 got ROTC nom. They all (AFJROTC) also applied for AFROTC scholarship. 3 non AFJROTC students applied for AFROTC scholarships also.
In total 4 applied AFA (3 AFJROTC and our DS) with noms (candidate)
Only 1 got any MOC noms. They actually got all 3 MOC noms. ----Our DS. No AFJROTC received an MOC nom.
Only 2 got AFROTC scholarships. Our DS and another non AFJROTC student. This HS is an AF town...it exists because the base exists. 1/3rd of the graduating class are military dependents.
I am not trying to be mean, or unkind, only to illustrate that there is a lot more to this path than you realize yet. Thus, why we always say apply for everything possible.
It is a long road, it is a marathon and a huge learning curve. Keep asking questions, because the more you know, the more you will understand, and the better off you will be.
Thank you for wanting to defend this great nation. Good luck. Best wishes.