Let me clarify a couple things. This is coming from my Chain, so unless steve (Flieger) corrects me, (He receives the same info as me), I am sticking by this.
You don't need to have the medical exam finished to be considered for early action, but everything else needs to be completed.
You must have your application 100% complete prior to 1 November. That includes having taken your DODMRB physical. The DODMRB may not have sent in all the results, but you must have taken it. Remember: You must be 100% QUALIFIED to get an appointment. That means medically too.
Another question: if you are offered an appontment in January, would they have an earlier acceptance deadline then the previous one (have I read, in the previous years you must accept or decline by May 1st?)
I don't have a definitive date on an acceptance deadline, but there will be a deadline. They aren't going to let you hold out until may. Even last year, where they DID offer appointments as early as Jan-Feb, (They didn't call it EA), those individuals had an acceptance date they had to meet. So yes, there will be a date you must accept by.
So if I can turn in SAT scores after November 1st, then what is the deadline? Also, say I join the early action program and then find out that I cant do my DODMERB medical exam in time. Can I resign from the program or will my application not be looked at because it missed the deadline?
You can continue to submit SAT/ACT scores any time. There is no deadline. Your scores are "Super-Scored". If the academy uses the existing scores and offers you an appointment or you simply stay in the national pool and the new scores are added, is not important. The academy will take any new scores up to the NORMAL cutoff date. (Which I think is Jan 15 - Don't hold me to that). As for being IN the EA program and RESIGNING, there is no such thing. Matter of fact, there's NO enrollment or disenrollment.
Which brings me to an earlier question asked about WHO is eligible. According to admissions, (The people I report to), ANYONE who is put into the "CANDIDATE" status, PRIOR to October 1st 2013, is are automatically eligible.
Just so everyone knows, there's 2 parts of the CANDIDATE phase. Phase one is how I mentioned earlier. You get a nomination, OR the academy deems you qualified because of your stats such as GPA, ACT/SAT, etc... THEIR CALL!!!!
Part 2 is when you've completed AT LEAST 3 PARTS of the application. THEN, and ONLY THEN, will you enter the 2nd part. At that time, your name and info will be sent to DODMRB for scheduling. You will also be given to your ALO so they can do their evaluation/interview of you. The academy gets too many people who seem interested, and we spend a lot of time and money getting your physical done and doing interviews, only for the applicant to change their mind.
So, in summary: If you are a candidate prior to 1 October, you are EA eligible. If you complete your application 100% (That doesn't include nominations), you are EA eligible. IF you get your nomination, and the academy wants you, you'll be offered the appointment early. If not, you'll either go to the national pool, OR, you'll be told THANKS BUT NO THANKS.
One last thing to remember. The reason for waiting until January for notification; like Pima said, is because all the nomination have to be completed. And something most new people DON'T KNOW, and many older people FORGET, is that the MOC Senator/Representative has the power. MOST ALLOW the academy to choose the appointee. But if the MOC says: "This person is my #1 choice, and they are qualified", then the academy has ABSOLUTELY NO CHOICE!!! They MUST give that person an appointment. So, the academy has to wait until january to see how many appointment they DON'T HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT. Then they can start giving out appointment.
Sorry for writing a book. Hopefully this answers all questions and this topic can go to sleep. Best of luck. Mike...