Principal Nomination vs non principal

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ctuma2

5-Year Member
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Mar 20, 2011
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137
Hello,

I was just wondering whether it makes a large difference in being considered for an appointment if you are not the principal nominee. I have recently been told that I received a nomination from my Representative to USNA however I am not the principal nominee. I have also applied to both my senators and no word from either of them yet. Additionally, should I still applied for a nomination from the VP?

Thanks!
 
YES! on the VP nom! It's a contingency nom, doesn't take much effort, and could be your ace in the hole. It sounds kind of far-fetched, but I have had two candidates get appointments via that route.

A candidate designated as a Principal nominee will receive first consideration on his/her slate of noms, regardless of relative merit with the other noms on the slate. Frankly, designating principal noms is not as common as in the past. Locally the MOC's favor a competitive slate which means that there is no order in which the nominees must be considered, so presumably the best qualified rises to the top on his/her merit.
 
ctuma2 said:
I was just wondering whether it makes a large difference in being considered for an appointment if you are not the principal nominee.
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A large difference? How about "night and day"? :wink:

The difference is:

  • A qualified candidate with a principal nomination MUST be appointed. The academy has no choice - they MUST offer an appointment. It's a lock, a guarantee. It's also a Federal Law.

  • A qualified candidate with a competitive nomination will compete with the other 10 nominees on that MOCs slate, with the academy making a decision using whatever criteria they wish.

:cool:
 
Keyword -- "qualified" -- just because one is the principal nominee, in of itself, is not a guarantee offer of appointment. You need to be 3Q'd.
 
jadler03 said:
Keyword -- "qualified" -- just because one is the principal nominee, in of itself, is not a guarantee offer of appointment. You need to be 3Q'd.
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I think I posted that, perhaps I didn't emphasize it enough?
 
Luigi59 said:
A large difference? How about "night and day"? :wink:

The difference is:

  • A qualified candidate with a principal nomination MUST be appointed. The academy has no choice - they MUST offer an appointment. It's a lock, a guarantee. It's also a Federal Law.

  • A qualified candidate with a competitive nomination will compete with the other 10 nominees on that MOCs slate, with the academy making a decision using whatever criteria they wish.

:cool:
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A subtle but critical correction, if I may.

A principal nomination MUST receive an offer of appointment. Then the appointment is determined by the candidate's acceptance ... and contingent good behavior up until I Day. One point in this is that being on a list with a principal nominee does not automatically exclude the others from receiving an offer.
 
Whistle Pig said:
A subtle but critical correction, if I may.

A principal nomination MUST receive an offer of appointment. Then the appointment is determined by the candidate's acceptance
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Whether you show up on I-Day or not, you have still received an appointment. :wink:

Whistle Pig said:
... and contingent good behavior up until I Day.
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Are you certain of that? I haven't been able to find anything regarding such a requirement for a principal appointee. If that were the case, the academy could have a LOT of "judgement calls" regarding the appointment of principal nominees (thus infringing on the Federal Law that gives the MOC the right to appoint via principal nom), arbitrarily accepting some but denying others on "behavior" issues.

What constitutes "good behavior" leaves way too much interpretation for admissions, certainly way too much leeway to override the wishes of the MOC.

Whistle Pig said:
One point in this is that being on a list with a principal nominee does not automatically exclude the others from receiving an offer.
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Good point. Just because a slate has a Principal Nominee at the top, the others on the nomination list can also get appointed via other entry methods.
 
Luigi59 said:
Whether you show up on I-Day or not, you have still received an appointment. :wink:

Well, at risk of definitely quibbling, not so. An appointment is received upon acceptance of an offer of such being accepted.



Are you certain of that? I haven't been able to find anything regarding such a requirement for a principal appointee. If that were the case, the academy could have a LOT of "judgement calls" regarding the appointment of principal nominees (thus infringing on the Federal Law that gives the MOC the right to appoint via principal nom), arbitrarily accepting some but denying others on "behavior" issues.

What constitutes "good behavior" leaves way too much interpretation for admissions, certainly way too much leeway to override the wishes of the MOC.

Now I concur. "Good behavior" is incorrect. The real issue is not being discovered as being engaged in bad behavior. In theory, one could commit murder, do heroin, or rape and pillage ... and unless caught, charged, and convicted ... So the point is to be "good" or at least, don't get caught. :shake:



Good point. Just because a slate has a Principal Nominee at the top, the others on the nomination list can also get appointed via other entry methods.
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:shake::thumb:
 
Luigi,

I wouldn't have posted if I didn't think it was something to emphasize...i.e. stomping the foot on the ground or winking three distinct times. I am sure you appreciate the forceful backup.
 
On a related note, is the opposite a lock too?

If I get an LOA from USNA Admissions, will I be appointed as long as I get a congressional nomination, even if that nomination is on a competitive slate with other LOA recipients or dead last on a ranked slate?
 
nuensis said:
On a related note, is the opposite a lock too?

If I get an LOA from USNA Admissions, will I be appointed as long as I get a congressional nomination, even if that nomination is on a competitive slate with other LOA recipients or dead last on a ranked slate?
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If the contingency condition on the LOA is obtaining a nomination, yes.
 
Whistle Pig said:
A subtle but critical correction, if I may.

A principal nomination MUST receive an offer of appointment. Then the appointment is determined by the candidate's acceptance ... and contingent good behavior up until I Day. One point in this is that being on a list with a principal nominee does not automatically exclude the others from receiving an offer.
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Yes, a principal nominee MUST be appointed contingent with all that you've said above.

However, that does not mean that the other 9 appointees will be considered together. The MOC may have ranked ALL of them, from 1-to-10, thus requiring the academy to only consider them in that order. Although, from what I understand, this is quite rare.
 
chiming in here with a piggy back....

If the letter from MOC does not state anything with regards to principle or alternate. just that you have been nominated as one of his choices and you should be proud.

So, if the MOC doesn't use a principle - does the appointment go to the top candidate the MOC makes?

If yes - is there any way of gaining or judging what the competition is for the region? Is this something BGO can maybe key into? Is it worth even thinking about?

Also - does anyone have any insight on ROTC noms? Son goes to an Honor school with distinction. He received a Nom for ROTC as one of the 3 noms the school can make. Presumably that puts him into the pool for those noms.
 
raidermom2012 said:
chiming in here with a piggy back....

If the letter from MOC does not state anything with regards to principle or alternate. just that you have been nominated as one of his choices and you should be proud.

So, if the MOC doesn't use a principle - does the appointment go to the top candidate the MOC makes?
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MOCs use 3 methods:

  • Principal with unranked alternates.
  • Principal with ranked alternates.
  • Competitive

If they are unranked the academy will choose the appointment.

If yes - is there any way of gaining or judging what the competition is for the region? Is this something BGO can maybe key into? Is it worth even thinking about?
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No. No. No.

Also - does anyone have any insight on ROTC noms? Son goes to an Honor school with distinction. He received a Nom for ROTC as one of the 3 noms the school can make. Presumably that puts him into the pool for those noms.
Click to expand...

Any nom is good, but ROTC noms are limited to a total of 20 appointments.
 
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