USNA Class of 2028 Waiting and Speculating

IronmanDaremo said:
What conditions were listed?

My kid's LOA had similar language (without the parade picture) in hos physical letter we got in the mail. He had a few conditions to meet.

If no conditions, then it seems like a weird thing to send. Unless they sent that out before the medical follow-up??
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It was sent the morning of the follow up appointment. No items were listed.

All other required items were in and checked off in the portal.
 
JD Hopeful Dad said:
Is this what everyone means by an LOA? My DS received this on Monday, not long after he finished a DodMERB requested test, which he passed with 'flying colors' according to the doctor. (His doctor for this test was a USNA grad himself and chatted with DS and my wife for a while after the test.) So with this test out of the way he should be 3Q.

He has received the principal nomination from our MOC, so I don't know if this is a LOA or a conditional appointment (or if those are even the same thing).

Crossing fingers and toes for the lad, but keeping plans B,C, and D going until the BFE arrives.


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Because I’ve been spending a lot of time trying to read tea leaves and our applicant has her follow up appt tomorrow morning, did your kiddo submit documentation from their appointment before that email arrived? Just curious- thank you!
 
JD Hopeful Dad said:
Is this what everyone means by an LOA? My DS received this on Monday, not long after he finished a DodMERB requested test, which he passed with 'flying colors' according to the doctor. (His doctor for this test was a USNA grad himself and chatted with DS and my wife for a while after the test.) So with this test out of the way he should be 3Q.

He has received the principal nomination from our MOC, so I don't know if this is a LOA or a conditional appointment (or if those are even the same thing).

Crossing fingers and toes for the lad, but keeping plans B,C, and D going until the BFE arrives.


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Yep, congratulations!!!
 
hopefulhockeymom said:
Because I’ve been spending a lot of time trying to read tea leaves and our applicant has her follow up appt tomorrow morning, did your kiddo submit documentation from their appointment before that email arrived? Just curious- thank you!
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No, email came earlier that morning, but I will add that the appointment was tied to a request for prescription history and that went in a few days prior. So maybe that helped move the email along.

DS never received a written LOA earlier in the cycle, so we had no idea what the email indicated, and I hope others understand my original post.

Not looking to take a victory lap on the forum, was just wondering where we were on the road.
 
I'm thrilled to admit that I've been accepted into the Merchant Marine Academy just this week. This early acceptance from the USMMA leads me to hope that I'll be hearing from the Naval Academy soon. I can't wait!

Come June 27th, my username might just fully represent my aspirations. Emphasis on the "Naval", not the "Baygel".😂
 
USMC Crayons said:
I didn't say a nomination was deserved. I just think a nomination to potentially receive a half a million + education at the governments expense should be a little less secretive. We are in an extremely competitive district, you can't really be naive enough to think there are not favors granted on a yearly basis. We know of several over the last couple of years that didn't pass the sniff test.
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Okay deep breaths. I can appreciate the passion that your post implies and that you want nothing more for your kiddo than their Plan A, or B. I have been there.

There are many competitive districts in the US. Arguably every district is. Admittedly some more than others. But the rule still remains the same. How does your application rack and stack against those competing for that spot your admission cycle.

Also, the education and training received at any service academy is not at ‘Government Expense’. It is at tax payer expense. And to be sure, at the expense of the life and service of the man or woman taking the oath and committing to that service. The tragic loss of Captain Nava USNA 2017, and his crew is a perfect example of this.

In my experience as a parent and now as a BGO, there haven’t been ‘favors granted’. I voted for the opponent of two of three of our son’s nominations. We never saw the MOC until their press day. They weren’t part of the process. They entrusted their SA panels to do what they do best with their knowledge, experience and expertise.

In reference to your remark about the ‘sniff test’. While stats are something all candidates and parents can use as metrics, they are just one part of the puzzle. None of us know what the teacher evaluations stated. None of us can truly know how an interview was received even if the candidate thinks they nailed it. None of us have access to the personal statements the candidate submits. And even as a a parent if we did, our view would be subjective.

There are pieces of building a class and selecting candidates that parents and applicants may never agree with or understand. And that’s okay. We don’t know what they know. I trust they have almost 200 years of experience selecting the right candidates in the right moment.

That doesn’t negate the quality or potential of those who aren’t selected. Not at all.
 
Heatherg21 said:
Okay deep breaths. I can appreciate the passion that your post implies and that you want nothing more for your kiddo than their Plan A, or B. I have been there.

There are many competitive districts in the US. Arguably every district is. Admittedly some more than others. But the rule still remains the same. How does your application rack and stack against those competing for that spot your admission cycle.

Also, the education and training received at any service academy is not at ‘Government Expense’. It is at tax payer expense. And to be sure, at the expense of the life and service of the man or woman taking the oath and committing to that service. The tragic loss of Captain Nava USNA 2017, and his crew is a perfect example of this.

In my experience as a parent and now as a BGO, there haven’t been ‘favors granted’. I voted for the opponent of two of three of our son’s nominations. We never saw the MOC until their press day. They weren’t part of the process. They entrusted their SA panels to do what they do best with their knowledge, experience and expertise.

In reference to your remark about the ‘sniff test’. While stats are something all candidates and parents can use as metrics, they are just one part of the puzzle. None of us know what the teacher evaluations stated. None of us can truly know how an interview was received even if the candidate thinks they nailed it. None of us have access to the personal statements the candidate submits. And even as a a parent if we did, our view would be subjective.

There are pieces of building a class and selecting candidates that parents and applicants may never agree with or understand. And that’s okay. We don’t know what they know. I trust they have almost 200 years of experience selecting the right candidates in the right moment.

That doesn’t negate the quality or potential of those who aren
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You know you are absolutely right, there is no way things aren’t on the up and up. All is well and who wouldnt want to be in a competition where you don’t know who the winners are.
 
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Across multiple congresspersons for our district, neither the nominees nor those receiving appointments are made public. Our senators no longer make nominees or appointees public either. Is this public information? Seems like it is. I have no idea why this is the practice. Also, our MOC and senators do not call or write letters or emails to congratulate appointees. It’s kind of weird.
 
A1Janitor said:
How do you know they were principal moms or even assigned to that MOC?
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Because it was our MOC that nominated them and posted it in the news release for our candidates. We are a small town. Everyone knows everyone, including the MOC and House of Rep for our district. Not only that, but the majority of the candidates in our district have contact. They have seen each other on multiple occasions, spoke to one another about the process, and even hung out at the interviews just discussing their futures. The candidates in our district seem to all encourage one another and want to stay informed on everyone’s progress.

Everyone seems to be getting jumpy at this point in the process. We are just relaxing and pushing through with all backup plans. I think I’m going to stop posting and reading these forums at this point.
 
1. The news and/or candidates said they had principal noms?

2. How do you know they were assigned to those nominating slates, even with principal noms?
 
Heatherg21 said:
In my experience as a parent and now as a BGO, there haven’t been ‘favors granted’. I voted for the opponent of two of three of our son’s nominations.
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Same here. The two different MOCs who granted multiple noms to DD and DS (including a principal nom) never once got our votes. We couldn't disagree more with their political positions. And after the noms were granted -- as appreciative as we were -- we didn't vote for MOC 1 when he ran for higher office and we didn't vote for MOC 2 when he ran for reelection. (Aside: Both MOCs held recognition events for their noms, and they couldn't have been more gracious or personable.)

Heatherg21 said:
In reference to your remark about the ‘sniff test’. While stats are something all candidates and parents can use as metrics, they are just one part of the puzzle.
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I'm a bit miffed by the desire to have nominees made public. Good governance is, of course, enabled by transparency. It's also guarded by a need-to-know doctrine. In a democratic society, citizens have a right to know -- but it's rightfully not applied to all information, much of which doesn't need to be made public.

I believe that information is only as good as what you do with it. So I ask my myself, what would I do with the list of SA nominees? Would I contact them to congratulate them? Would I contact those I know who didn't make the list to console them? Would I examine their credentials -- incomplete as my view would be -- to take measure of my own application? Would I scrutinize their credentials to point out inputs that are somehow wanting and inferior to my own?

Seems like the latter two are the most likely scenarios. One feels like self improvement. The other feels like self aggrandizement. Of course, YMMV.
 
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USMC Crayons said:
I think everyone is missing the point, and going on the attack without reading (which I realize is normal in 2024)
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First, I apologize if you think I was "going on the attack," certainly not my intent.

Second, I do get your point , and frankly don't disagree.. IMO , for what its worth, there is no reason a MOC shouldn't celebrating the nominations by publicly announcing them. I suspect that most do, and your district /area is an anomaly.

I recognize that my suggestion that you make a FOIA request or attack on the political front are largely theoretical due to repercussions, but the fact is that is your only recourse. I don't think USNA or another Service Academy is going to want to cross swords with a MOC. (Well, they may "want" to, but they have the same issue of repercussions as an individual).

Bottom line, I get it... but not much can be done about it.
 
ders_dad said:
Across multiple congresspersons for our district, neither the nominees nor those receiving appointments are made public. Our senators no longer make nominees or appointees public either. Is this public information? Seems like it is. I have no idea why this is the practice. Also, our MOC and senators do not call or write letters or emails to congratulate appointees. It’s kind of weird.
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Do the SA’s publish appointee names?

It all sounds like a privacy issue, to me. They are (often) kids when nominated. They are members of the military when appointed.

Maybe some Mocs have a better understanding of this whole nom/appointment/charging process than others, and don’t want to disclose unless an appointment is charged to them. Idk. Truth is I just don’t think it all matters.
 
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It could be prematurely celebrating or announcing to the public if the appointee eventually decide not to attend SA. Our MOC also asked nomination applicants to list other civilian colleges they applied for besides SA. So it is likely some applicants choose civilian colleges over SA (I know some picks SA over Stanford/Harvard -- the other way is also possible)
 
I don’t think nominations should be public. It’s one step in an application, not an award or acceptance. If someone were to get a nomination and declined from an academy, it would be embarrassing to have a press release and publication with my name all over it. I’m happy I have a nom and I’m happy to not know who else has one.
 
MidCakePa said:
Same here. The two different MOCs who granted multiple noms to DD and DS (including a principal nom) never once got our votes. We couldn't disagree more with their political positions. And after the noms were granted -- as appreciative as we were -- we didn't vote for MOC 1 when he ran for higher office and we didn't vote for MOC 2 when he ran for reelection. (Aside: Both MOCs held recognition events for their noms, and they couldn't have been more gracious or personable.)


I'm a bit miffed by the desire to have nominees made public. Good governance is, of course, enabled by transparency. It's also guarded by a need-to-know doctrine. In a democratic society, citizens have a right to know -- but it's rightfully not applied to all information, much of which doesn't need to be made public.

I believe that information is only as good as what you do with it. So I ask my myself, what would I do with the list of SA nominees? Would I contact them to congratulate them? Would I contact those I know who didn't make the list to console them? Would I examine their credentials -- incomplete as my view would be -- to take measure of my own application? Would I scrutinize their credentials to point out inputs that are somehow wanting and inferior to my own?

Seems like the latter two are the most likely scenarios. One feels like self improvement. The other feels like self aggrandizement. Of course, YMMV.
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At the end of the day, it needs to be standardized. We can't make an argument for "privacy" or "need to know" when the next district over (which is way less competitive) not only announces nominees, but has pictures of them up holding nomination certificates, newspaper releases, insta posts, etc. Come next door to us, and there is radio silence. You can't find a thing...almost like it didn't happen. If somebody can't see how that potentially doesn't sit well (even if everything is above board) I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. When you see candidates in our district that have a family relationship with a Rep and even appear in campaign ads and voila, a nomination is granted it doesn't sit well with candidates that are trying to make their best effort. Was that candidate one of the best to apply? Possibly. But in a Navy town where there was easily 100+ candidates for Annapolis alone, I find it more unlikely than likely that this candidate was one to be on the slate. We know the candidate that is now a midshipman, are we know the family. How is that not at a bare minimum a potential conflict of interest? There are several other scenarios like this that we know of (and we know the candidates personally). Ultimately, I know nothing will change (If we can't stop MOC's from insider trading to enrich themselves in the stock market, the nomination process is definitely not changing)I also know that getting a nom was potentially not going to happen. I just think it's fair that if this is more political than it should be, then people should be aware so they don't waste their time. It's easy for most of you commenting to brush this off as a non-factor, but your kid(s) actually gained admission to Annapolis and I am sure they are great Mids (or Officers at this point). I would love to see your perspective if you were on the other side of the equation.
 
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