Accepting an appointment - then withdrawing.

Dolphins2012

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This question is solely academic and has not come up with my DS: once a candidate accepts his appointment, what are the consequences if he changes his mind before I-Day (besides feeling really embarrassed)?

My DS will be receiving his appointment in the mail soon, and a while ago he said he'd sit on it for a few weeks despite being 100% positive about going. He thinks it's a more mature approach, that showing some restraint in accepting indicates that he's taking the commitment seriously. I'd like to be able to tell him to turn it in as early as he wants, and if he has an epiphany in March that he's meant to go to seminary or something, then the consequence is x, y and z. (BTW, my money says once he gets that packet in the mail, he turns it around within a week :wink:).
 
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This question is solely academic and has not come up with my DS: once a candidate accepts his appointment, what are the consequences if he changes his mind before I-Day (besides feeling really embarrassed)?

My DS will be receiving his appointment in the mail soon, and a while ago he said he'd sit on it for a few weeks despite being 100% positive about going. He thinks it's a more mature approach, that showing some restraint in accepting indicates that he's taking the commitment seriously. I'd like to be able to tell him to turn it in as early as he wants, and if he has an epiphany in March that he's meant to go to seminary or something, then the consequence is x, y and z. (BTW, my money says once he gets that packet in the mail, he turns it around within a week :wink:).

Both my sons "sat" on their appointments for about a month. Both big folders just sat on the kitchen table collecting dust. They'd wake up in the morning, move them aside, eat their cereal, and head off to school. Then we'd move the folders to the center of the table and it would continue like that, day after day. I think it was a little game we were all playing. :smile:

You can always change your mind once you accept. The polite thing to do would be to inform the academy of your change of heart so they can offer the appointment to somebody else. One candidate in our area got a call from the academy TWO DAYS before I-Day.

There are always some who simply don't show-up for I-Day for whatever reason - cold feet or a change-of-heart or ... who knows?

They can't make you attend the Naval Academy.

There are no detrimental consequences for "sitting" on your appointment. The academy is used to this. It's no big deal.
 
My son "sat" on his appointment (late January) for about two months, until he returned from his CVW (late March). He had never seen USNA and wanted to be sure. He sent in his acceptance the day he returned from his CVW.
 
I believe that there is a form in the Permit to Report package that an appointee fills out if he/she has decided against going to the academy. This packet is not sent out until after the appointment is accepted, so I would guess that it is not unusual for some to change their minds.
 
I should point out that it doesn't actually hurt anyone to ultimately decline, as there are attrition factors built into everything so that the result in four years is the number of commissions targetted for your year group.

These following numbers are fictitious, but illustrate the point:

Appointments offered: 1500
Appointments accepted: 1175
Report on I-Day: 1165
Pass Physical: 1155
Remain in Program after Plebe Summer: 1140
Graduate in 4 years: 975

If the attrition factors that historically hold change, then the top number, 1500, is adjusted accordingly to reach the bottom number, 975, which is the goal.
 
I should point out that it doesn't actually hurt anyone to ultimately decline, as there are attrition factors built into everything so that the result in four years is the number of commissions targetted for your year group.

These following numbers are fictitious, but illustrate the point:

Appointments offered: 1500
Appointments accepted: 1175
Report on I-Day: 1165
Pass Physical: 1155
Remain in Program after Plebe Summer: 1140
Graduate in 4 years: 975

If the attrition factors that historically hold change, then the top number, 1500, is adjusted accordingly to reach the bottom number, 975, which is the goal.

If you have a congrssional nomination and win your slate, accept your appointment and wait to the very last minute to decline or worse yet don't show up you hurt somebody. Somebody else on that slate of 10 would have been given the opportunity if you had declined earlier.

This isn't really the OP's case but wanted to point out somebody can get "hurt".
 
If you have a congrssional nomination and win your slate, accept your appointment and wait to the very last minute to decline or worse yet don't show up you hurt somebody. Somebody else on that slate of 10 would have been given the opportunity if you had declined earlier.

This isn't really the OP's case but wanted to point out somebody can get "hurt".

My DS all but has the appointment in his grubby hands. He has a LOA, is 3Q'd and has a senator's nomination - his BGO confirmed that the offer of appointment's "in the mail". So he most likely won't be bumping anyone off any MOCs' slates. And of course, any acceptance of a nomination and appointment can directly or adversely affect other candidates.
 
If you have a congrssional nomination and win your slate, accept your appointment and wait to the very last minute to decline or worse yet don't show up you hurt somebody. Somebody else on that slate of 10 would have been given the opportunity if you had declined earlier.

This isn't really the OP's case but wanted to point out somebody can get "hurt".
I would agree with you ONLY if the number of people who did that is MORE THAN the number who USUALLY do that. My point is that if usually 10 people do that, then this year the expect, NEED, 10 people to do it again.
 
If you have a congrssional nomination and win your slate, accept your appointment and wait to the very last minute to decline or worse yet don't show up you hurt somebody.

I disagree.

The one who earned the appointment has every right and privilege to wait as long as he needs to decide, up to May 1.

Now, if they accept a different academy appointment over another, then as soon as you accept you should immediately send in the "decline" paperwork to the other(s).

But it is every appointee's right to take all the time they need without regard to how it affects any other "possible" appointee.

Accept or decline on April 30 - it's his/her right when undecided.
 
I disagree.

The one who earned the appointment has every right and privilege to wait as long as he needs to decide, up to May 1.

Now, if they accept a different academy appointment over another, then as soon as you accept you should immediately send in the "decline" paperwork to the other(s).

But it is every appointee's right to take all the time they need without regard to how it affects any other "possible" appointee.

Accept or decline on April 30 - it's his/her right when undecided.

Luigi, I agree with you. By late I was refering to accepting and then declining well after the May 1 date. If a candidate needs upuntil May 1 to make a decision they should take that time.
 
I would agree with you ONLY if the number of people who did that is MORE THAN the number who USUALLY do that. My point is that if usually 10 people do that, then this year the expect, NEED, 10 people to do it again.

I may not understand you but you seem to be talking averages. The correct number will get in no matter what. However the 9 that do not win their congressional slate will go to the NWL and none of those 9 may get in from the NWL but one of them would have gotten in off of the congressional slate were it not for the original winner getting cold feet and changing their mind at the last minute. One of those 9 got hurt.
 
And for our next deeply deep philosophical, essentially useless discussion we'll be pondering that question baffling all of antiquity ...

How many Blue Angels can fly upside down in formation and consequently land and dance on the head of a pin? :eek:

Consequent queries taking us into the New Year include:

Are Billy's balls really made of brass? :shake:

Was the Army mule originally a jackass?:rolleyes:

Were Waves weally women and where'd they go?:confused:

This should be so much fun and deeply enriching.:thumb:
 
If you have a congrssional nomination and win your slate, accept your appointment and wait to the very last minute to decline or worse yet don't show up you hurt somebody. Somebody else on that slate of 10 would have been given the opportunity if you had declined earlier.

This isn't really the OP's case but wanted to point out somebody can get "hurt".
Nope. They will look at the slate of candidates and appoint the next qualified candidate.
Folks drop out after May 1 - most probably due to injury. If that happens someone gets a phone call. It happens.

Anyway - if you receive an appointment and then decide against it - nothing happens to you. They don't come drag you out of bed in the dark of night and haul you off to I-Day.
Each appointee has until May 1 to decide. After that date the slot will open up to someone else.
 
Nope. They will look at the slate of candidates and appoint the next qualified candidate.
Folks drop out after May 1 - most probably due to injury. If that happens someone gets a phone call. It happens.

Read the thread and try again.
 
And for our next deeply deep philosophical, essentially useless discussion we'll be pondering that question baffling all of antiquity ...

How many Blue Angels can fly upside down in formation and consequently land and dance on the head of a pin? :eek:

Consequent queries taking us into the New Year include:

Are Billy's balls really made of brass? :shake:

Was the Army mule originally a jackass?:rolleyes:

Were Waves weally women and where'd they go?:confused:

This should be so much fun and deeply enriching.:thumb:
:thumb:

:thumb:
 
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