cadet85, thank you very much for the info! Of course, I will apply for all potential nominations, and do my best in the process, but I'm not entirely sure what you are trying to say in this portion. What's the difference between a primary nomination and a regular nomination? Does a primary nomination = instant appointment (being fully qualified, of course)?
Thanks again!
Primary nomination (or something like that), or the Primary Vacancy winner for your MOC's slate (both are the same thing essentially) is the #1 spot:
Your MOC can choose to select one candidate he or she deems fit for the slot, and since each MOC gets at least 1 (depending on circumstances) or sometime more slots per class, that candidate, if fully qualified, will automatically be offered an appointment due to the rules of the acceptance process.
However, some MOC's choose to select 10 candidates that they deem fit for an appointment and supply USMA with that list. After USMA is given the list of 10 candidates, the admissions board will rank order each candidate from 1-10 respectively based on file strength, 1 being the strongest and so on. As in my case, and many others, I was ranked #1 out of the 10 submitted on my Congressman's slate, giving me the title of "Primary Vacancy Winner" and the corresponding offer of appointment. This meant that, since I was fully qualified, I would receive an appointment due to my situation.
Either way, it is an automatic appointment, and it is what everybody is trying for. If you are not #1, or next in line should somebody turn down the offer, then you will go on the NWL for later selection or denial.
Side note: Candidates are not informed of their position
until they are offered an appointment. So you will not know, but it is the goal you are working for, because it secures the offer of appointment.
(I think, of course it is a complicated process, but this is how the process was explained to me)
Hope this helps!