Usnabgo08,
I am by no means an authority, I am just trying to be an informed parent who's son would love to serve our country as an officer in the Navy. Also, I don't doubt what you have been told as a BGO. But, when I read in the "Congressional Nomination Guide" that 3Q and principal = appointment, I start to question. So, the guide is not the regulation or law, so off to google and to the eCFR. But, I cannot find anything in the CRF for USNA appointments. I found sections for USMA and USAF, but nothing for the naval academy. Could point me the the CFR section for the Naval Academy, because what I have found, and copied below, seems to be clear that Qualified + Principal Nom = Appointment.
Here is what is said about USMA
CFR Title 32, Subtitle A, Chapter V, Subchapter F, Part 575 "Admissions to the US Military Academy
575.3 Appointments; sources of nominations......
(a) Congressional / Gubernatorial Nomination. (1) Up to 10 nominations may be submitted for each vacancy. Nominating authorities may use one of three methods of nomination:
(i) Name 10 nominees on a totally competitive basis,
(ii) Name a principal nominee, with nine competing alternates, or
(iii) Name a principal nominee, with nine alternates in order of preference.
(2) The priority that a fully qualified candidate may receive when considered for appointment is actually governed by the method of nomination used.
For example, a principal nominee who is found minimally qualified must be offered an appointment. Conversely, the same individual nominated on a totally competitive basis, may be ranked as one of the least qualified nominees for that vacancy and, consequently, may not be offered an appointment. Many nominating authorities hold preliminary competitive nomination examinations to select their nominees. Those selected are required to be actual residents of the geographic location represented by the nominating authority.
(The bold is my doing)
Air Force Academy
Title 32 →
Subtitle A →
Chapter VII →
Subchapter K → Part 901
§901.18 Appointment vacancy selection.
To fill a vacancy in the Vice-Presidential quota or in the quota of a nominating authority in the congressional and U.S. Possessions categories, selections for appointment offers are made according to the following nomination methods.
(a) The principal numbered-alternate method. The nominating authority indicates his or her personal preference by
designating a principal nominee and listing nine numbered alternate nominees in order of preference, and the appointment is offered to the first fully qualified nominee.
(b) The principal competitive-alternate method. The nominating authority designates his or her principal nominee and names up to nine other nominees who are evaluated by the Academy and ranked behind the principal nominee in order of merit. If the principal nominee is fully qualified, that individual is offered the appointment; otherwise, the fully qualified nominee ranked the highest by the Academy is offered the appointment.
(c) The competitive method. At the request of the nominating authority, the Academy evaluates the records of all the nominees and ranks them in order of merit. The fully qualified nominee ranked the highest by the Academy is offered the appointment.
(Again the Bold is mine)