Nomination Dilemma

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tcm1029

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So West Point is my first choice, but if I can't get in then I want to go to USNA or USAFA.

My congressman and senators make you pick one academy to apply for the nomination. Should I spread out the nominations and ask each of the three people for a different academy? Or should I put USMA as my first choice for all?

I really want USMA, but I don't want to put all my eggs into one basket because the end goal is to just be able to attend one of the academies. I don't want to decrease my chances at the other schools in case USMA doesn't work out. What is the best approach?

Anyone have experience with applying for nominations to all three? Thanks!
 
Well, there's a lot to say about that post. First, the end goal should be to serve as an officer in the US Armed Forces, not to attend an academy. Second, you should select the academy you want to attend based on which service you want to end up in, each is very different. Finally you're assuming you'll get a nomination from each source which is normally not the case. Since you might only get one nomination I'd tell each of them what your first choice is, but that's just me. Spreading your bets across academies doesn't buy you anything as far as I can see.
 
Yes, that's basically the whole point. My goal IS to serve- that would be one reason to want to attend an academy. It doesn't matter really what branch to me as long as I am serving. That's why I am applying to all three. That being said, I think the army is the best fit but if it doesn't work out I still want to serve in a different branch. I'm applying to all 3 ROTC too, but I would rather attend a service academy than a civilian school.

And the question was wholly based on the assumption that I wouldn't get a nomination from each source. That's why I'm scared to spread it out. Because say I don't get a nomination for WP from my congressman, then I won't be getting one at all if I had applied for USNA and USAFA to my senators. Sorry that it wasn't clear.
kinnem said:
Well, there's a lot to say about that post. First, the end goal should be to serve as an officer in the US Armed Forces, not to attend an academy. Second, you should select the academy you want to attend based on which service you want to end up in, each is very different. Finally you're assuming you'll get a nomination from each source which is normally not the case. Since you might only get one nomination I'd tell each of them what your first choice is, but that's just me. Spreading your bets across academies doesn't buy you anything as far as I can see.
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Well, you roll the dice and take your chances. I wouldn't try to game the system if it were me. I'd give them all my true first choice and make sure they understand what my second and third choice is. They may not give you a nomination for your first choice but they might give you a nomination to your second choice. You're going to drive yourself crazy if you try to game the system. Spend your time figuring out your priorities based on which service you desire to server in. You will serve longer than you'll be at an Academy.
 
tcm1029 said:
And the question was wholly based on the assumption that I wouldn gett get a nomination from each source. That's why I'm scared to spread it out. Because say I don't get a nomination for WP from my congressman, then I won't be getting one at all if I had applied for USNA and USAFA to my senators. QUOTE]

It is unfortunate that candidates cannot apply to whatever SAs as they wish. As increasing your odd or spreading the wealth, you should consider competitiveness of each SA in your state. Maryland is a good example where Navy is typically very competitive whereas West Point and Air Force are not so much.

If you goal is ultimately to become a military officer, you should also consider the Merchant Marine Academy - once you graduate you can branch into any service.
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@MemberLG - sidebar but related to your comment: regarding USMMA service obligations, clearly they have the most options. I am not very knowledgeable about accurate comparisons with the other SAs, so if you or anyone has a sense of how this works, it appears to me (http://www.usmma.edu/admissions/application/service-obligation) that their obligations are most directly fulfilled in the Reserves, or secondarily the National Guard (if not the Merchant Marines, NOAA, etc.). In terms of the Armed Forces however, it does not seem to stipulate that they qualify for Active Duty, only Reserve. Does a USMMA grad have to compete for active duty commission? If so, are they in competition with ROTC, OCS, and other sources of people also competing for an AD commission?

Thanks,
RLTW
 
tcm1029 said:
So West Point is my first choice, but if I can't get in then I want to go to USNA or USAFA.

My congressman and senators make you pick one academy to apply for the nomination. Should I spread out the nominations and ask each of the three people for a different academy? Or should I put USMA as my first choice for all?

I really want USMA, but I don't want to put all my eggs into one basket because the end goal is to just be able to attend one of the academies. I don't want to decrease my chances at the other schools in case USMA doesn't work out. What is the best approach?

Anyone have experience with applying for nominations to all three? Thanks!
Click to expand...

DD is currently at beast so we just went through this. DD applied to USMA, USNA, and AF. After seeing how the process worked for her, I would not even apply to three academies. Unless you know you can likely receive three noms, it makes no sense in my opinion. Actually, there was a lot of wasted effort on DDs part. If she would have just made up her mind on where she wanted to serve, she could have saved a lot of application work, interviews, etc. because two nominations are rare in our state, three I would imagine would be for only the rock stars. She attempted to get accepted at all three and that was a scary ride. She almost ended up not getting her first choice and I could see where that would have been in the back of her mind the entire time if she went somewhere else. I think at the stage of the process you are in, it is easy to think you will be happy at any. But the truth is, you likely won't. Figure out your first service now (which it sounds like you have). Approach the process as such. I did not put a lot of credence in the pick the service not the school approach at first because it is really hard (especially if you are not military) to really understand the nuances of the military life of each after school. But in hindsight, that advice is so spot on. As hard as it is, pick the service you want to work in after the academy and list that academy as #1. They are all so different. I don't think my DD would have been completely happy at #2 or #3 and this is not something you want to go into with any reservations.
 
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RLTW said:
@MemberLG - sidebar but related to your comment: regarding USMMA service obligations, clearly they have the most options. I am not very knowledgeable about accurate comparisons with the other SAs, so if you or anyone has a sense of how this works, it appears to me (http://www.usmma.edu/admissions/application/service-obligation) that their obligations are most directly fulfilled in the Reserves, or secondarily the National Guard (if not the Merchant Marines, NOAA, etc.). In terms of the Armed Forces however, it does not seem to stipulate that they qualify for Active Duty, only Reserve. Does a USMMA grad have to compete for active duty commission? If so, are they in competition with ROTC, OCS, and other sources of people also competing for an AD commission?

Thanks,
RLTW
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I am not an USMMA expert, but several USMMA admissions rep told me about the active duty option and I personally know of a USMMA grad that became Active Duty Army.

A different part of USMMA admissions website shows http://www.usmma.edu/about

All graduates have a service obligation upon graduation that provides the most career options offered by any of the federal academy.Graduates can choose to work five years in the United States maritime industry with eight years of service as an officer in any reserve unit of the armed forces.Or five years active duty in any of the nation’s armed forces.

What I found on the U.S. code doesn't show any guarantees for active duty. So my best guess is there is some legal or administrative provision that guarantees active duty for USMMA grads that want them.

From the U.S. Code

46 U.S. Code § 51306 - Cadet commitment agreements (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/46/51306)

(a) (4) apply for, and accept if tendered, an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Navy Reserve (including the Merchant Marine Reserve, Navy Reserve), the Coast Guard Reserve, or any other reserve unit of an armed force of the United States, and, if tendered the appointment, to serve for at least 6 years after graduation from the Academy;

(5)serve the foreign and domestic commerce and the national defense of the United States for at least 5 years after graduation from the Academy—
(C)as a commissioned officer on active duty in an armed force of the United States, as a commissioned officer in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or in other maritime-related Federal employment which serves the national security interests of the United States, as determined by the Secretary; or
 
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