Presidential Nominations

R.Martin95

5-Year Member
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Aug 10, 2012
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Hello, all! I am applying to West Point this year, and have recently sent in my papers to be considered for a Presidential Nomination (my father is a career military personnel currently serving in Afghanistan -Go Dad!). I have a few questions regarding the Presidential Nomination process.

1) It is my understanding that simply applying does not guarantee me a Presidential Nomination. Is this correct?

If so:
a) on what grounds are the available nominations awarded?
b) who makes that decision? (It says "Presidential," is it really the President?)
c) at what time are we told we have been chosen for a nomination?

Thank you so much!
 
1) It is my understanding that simply applying does not guarantee me a Presidential Nomination. Is this correct?

True. You must be qualified for a Presidential nomination, but all qualified candidates will receive one. However, only a set number of Presidential nominations will receive an appointment. For USAFA, the maximum number of Presidential appointments per year is 100. I am not sure about WP or the notification timing.
 
Oh, really? Wow, thank you so much! And here I was, neck-deep in applying for other nominations. That was never clear to me. Thank you!
 
Rereading your post, I get the idea I should continue on with other nomination sources, but be slightly less concerned. Would that be the case?
 
Rereading your post, I get the idea I should continue on with other nomination sources?

Apply to EVERY nomination source available to you: Vice President (on-line and easy), ROTC if you qualify, both Senators and Congressional district. You want to be on as many nomination slates as possible to maximize your chances of receiving an appointment. DO NOT just apply for a Presidential nomination.
 
I believe that blackbird covered all the bases. But to summarize:

1. If your parent is active duty, with MORE than 8 years of service, or they are retired and receiving military retirement, then you WILL receive a presidential nomination. (Guard and reserve have a formula to determine eligibility. Check with your academy counselor).

2. There can be 300, 500, or 1000 children of military parents who ALL receive a Presidential Nomination. But only a maximum of 100 will receive an appointment USING that nomination. Just like a senator or representative has a limitation on how many appointees they can have; so do presidential nominations.

3. Because of #2, you want to apply for ALL the available nominations you can. This allows you to potentially receive an appointment from that nominator's SLATE of nominees. These are the appointments given that are mandatory. If after these mandatory appointments, the academy still needs more appointees to fill the class; (Which they normally do); the academy will take the remaining nominees from ALL these slates and put them in the "National Pool", Rank them, and select them as needed to fill the class. But the priority for you should be to get the appointment from your nominating source and NOT from the national pool. So put in for presidential (If eligible), vice presidential, your representative, your senator, if involved with ROTC put in for that too, etc... Put in for ALL the nominations you can.

best of luck. Mike....
 
I understand now. I was confused as to where the selection process began: at nominations or at the appointment? I'm working on the other nominations. Thanks so much!
 
I understand now. I was confused as to where the selection process began: at nominations or at the appointment? I'm working on the other nominations. Thanks so much!

If you click on the link in my signature block, you can download the 2011-2012 air force academy brochure. There's a section in their about nominations, types, etc... (It's air force, but the nomination/appointment process is the same for army and navy too). later... mike....
 
If after these mandatory appointments, the academy still needs more appointees to fill the class; (Which they normally do); the academy will take the remaining nominees from ALL these slates and put them in the "National Pool", Rank them, and select them as needed to fill the class.
I thought I read in here somewhere that basically only congressional nominations were eligible for the national pool. At least initially and then 75% after the first 150. Is this not true?
 
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