DS called the offices of the late Senator Lautenberg and was told that there will be NO nominations from his office or from the temporary sitting Senator Jeffrey Chiesa for 2013 (class of 2018). Has anyone else heard this? If this is true, then the people of NJ are being unfairly treated. Anyone who might have heard this and substantiate this news, please post. Anyone who has heard differently, please also post. This is a big deal for our children.
Re: NJ Nominations for 2013 - very troubling
- Thread starter Navypops
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It seems like an odd answer, but I believe technically correct. I suspect that since the temp senator will be replaced in the special election to be held in October (I think its October) the new (2014) nominations will occur under the name of new Senator, who ever that is. It will surely be a quick step for them to get it all together in a few short weeks. Assuming I am correct, whomever answered your question could have probably cleared it up if they explained a bit more. I'd guess they didn't really understand themselves.
One may consider calling the academy person in Menendez's office to see if they have any insight...The offices work very closely on Noms (hold interviews together, etc) and are physically close (different floors of same building). The Lautenberg noms staff person could have probably answered the questions, but they are probably no longer working there since the temp is an R and Lautenberg was a D.
One may consider calling the academy person in Menendez's office to see if they have any insight...The offices work very closely on Noms (hold interviews together, etc) and are physically close (different floors of same building). The Lautenberg noms staff person could have probably answered the questions, but they are probably no longer working there since the temp is an R and Lautenberg was a D.
Thanks for the reply JMS. Yes, it is complicated. I did call Menendez's office and there wasn't much help there, either. An October (or November?) official election/appointment will do little to help the applicants, I believe. The point is that 30 spots (to all academies) will be lost if they don't have a plan. You are right about the D versus R issues that will probably have some kind of effect on future applicants. With the change in districting, Lautenberg's passing, and Menendez's recent bad press and/or personal legal/ethical problems, NJ is a bad place to seek a nomination. Texas (and the south in general) seems to have this process under control when you look at how many people receive acceptance to academies from that part of the U.S. Thanks again.
I believe the nominations are not due until mid-January. Thus, while it will be a quick step for the new office to work through it, I suspect they will get it done. I doubt any nominations will be 'lost.'
While the 'R' vs 'D' thing may have dramatically affected the office staff and their expertise, the new staff will learn quickly from their counter parts in other offices. In my experience with my DS, there is no 'R' or 'D' distinction concerning the applicants. All the offices had interview panels that were all former military. They seemed keen on finding good candidates. Indeed, the Rs and Ds coordinated their nominations. The entire process was all pretty straight forward... particularly since all of the offices I'm acquainted with give the academies an unranked list. Don't get hug up on the politics of this senator or that rep. It does not matter in this process and doing so is going to cause you to take your eye off the ball.
I suggest your son simply anticipate submitting an application to the new Senator, when those are invited. He can prepare most of a packet in advance using the lists supplied from the other Sen and Reps. The new Senator will not likely be asking for anything different then the other offices. Your son will then be ready to do a few final touch ups (like get the name and address right, or tweak his writing to address specific questions) and send it in.
While the 'R' vs 'D' thing may have dramatically affected the office staff and their expertise, the new staff will learn quickly from their counter parts in other offices. In my experience with my DS, there is no 'R' or 'D' distinction concerning the applicants. All the offices had interview panels that were all former military. They seemed keen on finding good candidates. Indeed, the Rs and Ds coordinated their nominations. The entire process was all pretty straight forward... particularly since all of the offices I'm acquainted with give the academies an unranked list. Don't get hug up on the politics of this senator or that rep. It does not matter in this process and doing so is going to cause you to take your eye off the ball.
I suggest your son simply anticipate submitting an application to the new Senator, when those are invited. He can prepare most of a packet in advance using the lists supplied from the other Sen and Reps. The new Senator will not likely be asking for anything different then the other offices. Your son will then be ready to do a few final touch ups (like get the name and address right, or tweak his writing to address specific questions) and send it in.
Pima
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If I am correct the special election will be 10/18. MOCs have until Jan 31st to submit their slates. NJ has always been a late submitter, typically in Jan.
It may be that they will delay the date for applicants until Nov 15th. They may decide not to talk to other MOCs, not hold interviews and just have the committee decide based on their resumes.
Our DS in NC had a due date of 9/30. He had his 1st MOC in hand 30 days later. That MOC did not interview. His last was Jan. because that MOC did interview. The 2nd came in right before Xmas (no interview). MOCs typically do NOT sit on the committee. The committee decides, and the MOC approves. The new MOC twist is that they would need to get a committee up and running very quickly. They may decide to have multiple committees. I.E. when DS interviewed his committee had AF connected personnel. The USMA candidates met a different committee that same day, just in another room.
They also can decide not to nominate anyone at all. The rule is 5 at any time charged. Every yr there are MOCs that do not submit nom lists. They may decide that they are too new and hold off until next yr. to nom anyone. It could be they already have 5 charged under Lautenberg (Sen 1 or 2). They may say hold off for a yr. and next yr submit 2 slates. (I.E. 1 may graduate this yr, leaving 2 for next yr to make the 5 max)
If you do call the office, make sure you ask for the SA person, not just anyone. For example, in NC the person in charge of the nom process for Burr is not in DC, but actually in NC. Calling their DC number will not help.
PS OBTW it would be 40, not 30.
10 for USAFA, USMA, USMMA and USNA. Only USCGA does not require a nom.
It may be that they will delay the date for applicants until Nov 15th. They may decide not to talk to other MOCs, not hold interviews and just have the committee decide based on their resumes.
Our DS in NC had a due date of 9/30. He had his 1st MOC in hand 30 days later. That MOC did not interview. His last was Jan. because that MOC did interview. The 2nd came in right before Xmas (no interview). MOCs typically do NOT sit on the committee. The committee decides, and the MOC approves. The new MOC twist is that they would need to get a committee up and running very quickly. They may decide to have multiple committees. I.E. when DS interviewed his committee had AF connected personnel. The USMA candidates met a different committee that same day, just in another room.
They also can decide not to nominate anyone at all. The rule is 5 at any time charged. Every yr there are MOCs that do not submit nom lists. They may decide that they are too new and hold off until next yr. to nom anyone. It could be they already have 5 charged under Lautenberg (Sen 1 or 2). They may say hold off for a yr. and next yr submit 2 slates. (I.E. 1 may graduate this yr, leaving 2 for next yr to make the 5 max)
If you do call the office, make sure you ask for the SA person, not just anyone. For example, in NC the person in charge of the nom process for Burr is not in DC, but actually in NC. Calling their DC number will not help.
PS OBTW it would be 40, not 30.
10 for USAFA, USMA, USMMA and USNA. Only USCGA does not require a nom.
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Thanks Pima and JMS. All great advice and obvious knowledge of the process. I guess my simple mind sees all this "waiting for a name game" as moot anyway. If I were in any way a part of the process in this instance, I would simply make an announcement that academy nomination packages should simply be addressed to the sitting senator (Chiesa), with the understanding that he might not be senator in October. The team of new people would then be able to run with the submitted applications and disregard the salutations to any specific person. Let's face it, the senators don't read the letters themselves. And even if they did, there is no personal relationship between the candidates, the nominators, and the senator. In fact, the salutation could simply be "Dear Senator" period. Nothing would change in any of the letters anyway. This is a special situation and these candidates have a lot on their plates. To be able to complete these packages during the summer would be a great weight off the beginning of senior year (or college in some cases). The candidates would like it. The recommenders would appreciate not being chased in October-November-December, and the new team of senatorial volunteers and administration could start their work and not waste a month ripping open envelopes and filing. That's the way I see it. Waiting for a name, that's all they're doing at this point. Why not just get on with it?
OOOPS, meant USMMA. Also, a great academy. For some reason, I get Merchant Marines mixed up with Coast Guard. Go figure.
usna1985
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It is indeed an odd situation. The easy way to handle it would be for the sitting Senator to collect packets from interested students and then, if he is not elected in the special election, hand them off to the new Senator to make a decision. Whether that happens or not is an entirely different question.
Another alternative is for the new Senator to request applications be submitted after he/she takes office; he/she has until Jan. 31 to turn in a slate.
I'm no expert on NJ politics so I have zero idea who is running, who is likely to win, etc. My guess is that the current Senator can only say that he isn't prepared to select a slate until he sees how things turn out on 10/18 because, if he isn't elected, his slate is toast in that the new Senator is not in any way bound to it especially given the more than 3 months before the slate is due.
The R/D thing is irrelevant. Every MOC wants to choose the "best" candidates and politics doesn't factor into that equation. Whether the new Senator is of the same or different party than the person currently holding the office shouldn't make a bit a difference in which candidates are selected for nomination. Also, it's not unheard of for a new Senator (especially in this circumstance) to keep the current nomination coordinator for the current cycle. Even if that doesn't happen, the job isn't rocket science and the SAs work closely with MOC staffs.
Another alternative is for the new Senator to request applications be submitted after he/she takes office; he/she has until Jan. 31 to turn in a slate.
I'm no expert on NJ politics so I have zero idea who is running, who is likely to win, etc. My guess is that the current Senator can only say that he isn't prepared to select a slate until he sees how things turn out on 10/18 because, if he isn't elected, his slate is toast in that the new Senator is not in any way bound to it especially given the more than 3 months before the slate is due.
The R/D thing is irrelevant. Every MOC wants to choose the "best" candidates and politics doesn't factor into that equation. Whether the new Senator is of the same or different party than the person currently holding the office shouldn't make a bit a difference in which candidates are selected for nomination. Also, it's not unheard of for a new Senator (especially in this circumstance) to keep the current nomination coordinator for the current cycle. Even if that doesn't happen, the job isn't rocket science and the SAs work closely with MOC staffs.
Apparently, the situation is this (according to the latest update): The deadline for applicants is now Monday, September 23, 2013 at 5 PM for Senator Chiesa - the nominations will be determined before October 16, 2013. I don't know whether or not a R/D thing is in play, but obviously Senator Chiesa wants to make the decisions before leaving office. Senator Menendez's deadline for completed (full) applications is Monday, October 4, 2013 by 5 PM. There is no specific date regarding when decisions will be made. I assume that Menendez will be making his decisions during November (usually by third week of November). As far as Congressman Lance, I guess the deadline is as stated: October 18, 2013 by 5 PM. Again, the decisions are usually made during the second or third week of November. This might be of interest to this year's candidates. Good luck all!
Question about the nomination packets for NJ Senators. For the essay questions, must they be completed with in the box on the online form? Is there anyway to expand these boxes? I did my questions separate, and just realized now that I cannot fit them in. Please help!
Pima
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When in doubt it is always best to contact the MOCs office for more info.
If it is an online app., than I would suspect that they want it done in that box, without it being expanded.
Many MOCs have hundreds of applicants, thus they want to limit the size of the essay, be it characters or words. They are looking to see that you can get your point across in a limited space.
If it is an online app., than I would suspect that they want it done in that box, without it being expanded.
Many MOCs have hundreds of applicants, thus they want to limit the size of the essay, be it characters or words. They are looking to see that you can get your point across in a limited space.