Nominations FAQ

Yes you are nominated. You can still receive an appointment if you are not the principal nom. 150+ appointees are selected each year off the National Waiting list... which consists of EVERYONE who has an appointment.

@kinnem “...who has an appointment.” Nomination? The forum gremlins made you type “appointment.” I often wonder how many times I have typed those two words here on SAF.
 
Yes you are nominated. You can still receive an appointment if you are not the principal nom. 150+ appointees are selected each year off the National Waiting list... which consists of EVERYONE who has an appointment.

@kinnem “...who has an appointment.” Nomination? The forum gremlins made you type “appointment.” I often wonder how many times I have typed those two words here on SAF.
Thanks Capt! I went back and corrected the original post.
 
I just read this entire thread, and now I am confused. Will someone explain how the National Waiting List and/or National Pool works? It seems like that consists of everyone who has a nomination, but how can they get an appointment if their nominating source/MOC slate was already charged to someone else? One post said something about the secretary of the Air Force, so I am wondering how that process works. Does the secAF nominate people or just appoint them since they have a nom from a MOC/or other source? How many people from this National Pool get appointed? I am seeing the number 150/year.

I have also searched secretary AF, secAF nominations, and read everything on this forum about it that I could find. I would really appreciate an answer, and I apologize if this was answered already and I just couldn't find it.
 
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You're right that the pool consists of everyone who has a nomination. The typical class size is 1100 and there are only 535 MOCs. Clearly there are people who are not charged to the MOCs who get selected for appointment. Some will have a Presidential nomination, and be charged to the President. Some will have a VP nom, and be charged to the VP. By Law, 150 folks who have not been appointed must be selected from the top of the OML list. Some will have a ROTC nomination and are charged to that source. Some, who are enlisted, will have a SecAF nomination and will be charged to the SecAF. I am sure there are other categories I'm forgetting. The academy is free to select any remaining nominees, from the NWL, in any manner it chooses to round out it's class.
 
If a candidate is given multiple appointments (ie Presidential and MOC), is there a way to know which nomination source "secured" the appointment after all is said and done? I see appointment threads with people who have received nominations from 3 sources when they accepted. It seems that those who are accepted in the later phases who had multiple nominations will "free up" nomination slots in the spring when they accept and only one is used. Just wondering if it is possible to know which one was charged and from which source? I'm assuming that a MOC or Senatorial will always be used over a Presidential, but maybe I am wrong about that. Just trying to understand the process!
 
Not necessarily true on the last sentence. It could be charged to any of them. And the assumption that someone ‘frees up a spot’ isn’t necessarily true either. There are a so many factors and scenarios that could play out that it’s impossible to describe them. And yes, I know for USNA you can find out from the Registrars office (or at least you used to be able to).
 
Not necessarily true on the last sentence. It could be charged to any of them. And the assumption that someone ‘frees up a spot’ isn’t necessarily true either. There are a so many factors and scenarios that could play out that it’s impossible to describe them. And yes, I know for USNA you can find out from the Registrars office (or at least you used to be able to).
You can also pull your admissions record from Nimitz Library and see where you were "charged". I also discovered that you can read the recommendations and other comments that were made during the process.
 
Just wanted to bring up "Service Connected Disabled Veterans". The "big three", USMA, USNA, and USAAF all have "codified" in Law provisions for children of 100% Disabled Veterans, children of MIA's or POW's, or children Service Members who died on AD.
For USMA it is 32 CFR 575.3(b)
For USNA it is 10 USC 695(a)(1)
For USAAF it is 32 CFR 901.11

Each Academy is required to accept the top 65 applicants each year if otherwise qualified
 
Nomination FAQs continued . . .
Who can apply for a Presidential nom?
As a general premise, Presidential noms are available for children with a parent/legal guardian who either is retired from the military or is currently on active duty or in the Reserves and has spent at least 8 continuous years on active duty or in the Reserves. The specific requirements are listed on the SA websites. If you have at least one parent who meets the requirements listed, you can apply for a Pres nom. It is done on-line and basically consists of providing documentation (which your parent will have) to support your eligibility. No essays, recommendations, etc. are required.

Please reconfirm the FAQ guidance indicating that the application for a Presidential nom "is done on-line."

From what I've seen regarding Presidential noms, yes, the guidance and "requirements are listed on the SA websites." But the guidance provided indicates that applications (letter plus supporting document) for a Pres nom are submitted via snail-mailed letter to the relevant SA. I have not found anywhere to indicate the application for a Pres nom "is done on-line."
 
I attended an MOC Service Academy Forum with DS, and the Air National Guard rep was talking about how they also have slots through the LEAD program, that go unfilled every year. There are a lot of different places to obtain a nomination. Obviously not everyone meets the qualifications for all of them. But when people try and do the “nomination math”, they aren’t factoring in all the the sources available for a nom.
 
If a candidate completed the application and received an LOA (conditional on nomination) and a nomination, does it mean that he/she is guaranteed an appointment?

What happens if two applicants get an LOA and a nomination from the same source?
According to the FAQ it seems like they will both receive an appointment but I would like to double-check that I understand correctly.
Thanks!


What if 2 people on an MOC nom slate have LOAs?

Assuming they have no other sources of noms (such as the President) in all likelihood, one will be slotted to the MOC and the other to SecNav/SecAF, etc. The other 8 go into the national pool and compete for an appointment.
 
Do you have to get a nomination if they are sending you to the Prep School. Admissions Officer told son that he was a great candidate for the Prep School. Does he have to get a nomination for that?
 
Nomination FAQs continued . . .

How do I know to which MOCs to apply?

Under the law, MOCs may only nominate individuals who are legal residents of their state/district. For most candidates, your state/district of residence is where your parents own/rent property, vote, pay taxes, register their car, etc. Because you are a dependent, your residency is based on that of your parents.
If your parents are divorced or otherwise live and vote in separate districts or states AND they share legal custody of you, you are eligible to apply to the MOCs from either state/district. It doesn’t matter where you live provided you meet the above criteria. So, if you live in MD with your mother but your father, living in TX shares legal custody of you, you can apply to the MOCs in MD or TX. You can choose. However, you may NOT apply to BOTH.

Can MOC’s trade, swap, borrow slots? IOW, if one MOC doesn’t have enough applicants or nominees to fill his/her slot at a SA, can another MOC with far too many candidates take those unused slots?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions and the answer is “no” because it’s against the law. MOCs can only nominate candidates who are legal residents of their state/district. If you don’t live there, they can’t nominate you.

But I’ve heard that this happens all the time

There are rumors about almost everything. I’m not sure anyone can ever prove it doesn’t happen. But it is against the law. At the end of the day, if an MOC doesn’t have his/her full quota of mids/cadets, those slots do get filled with candidates from other states/districts who come out of the “national pool.”

What are the MOC interviews like?

There are more than 500 MOCs, with different committees and individuals meaning there are an infinite possibility of interview styles, questions, etc. Most ask the “obvious” questions about why you want to attend the SA, what makes you a good candidate, etc. Some ask about current events. Others have questions from out in left field.

I’ve heard some states/districts are really “competitive.” What does that mean?

Certain states and/or districts are considered competitive because there are so many applicants for the nominations in those areas. A few things to keep in mind. Some districts/states are competitive for one SA but not for another (for example, CO is popular for USAFA and not as much for the other SAs). States can be competitive because they are populous (e.g., CA, TX) as compared to less populated states such as MT, ND, WY. Districts are often competitive because there it contains one or more large military base (kids of military parents tend to apply to SAs in higher numbers and/or the presence of the military generates interest in SAs among civilians) or because there are a large number of excellent high schools in that district.

For 99% of you, there’s nothing you can do about where you live. Would it help to move to North Dakota? Maybe. But remember those candidates still must be fully qualified and they are – two recent USNA Superintendents (3-star Admirals) were from ND. IOW, it’s not that candidates from less populous states are less qualified, there simply are fewer of them competing for nominations.

The good news is that candidates from competitive districts tend to have strong records and thus compete very well in the National Pool. Thus, it's possible that 6, 7, 8 or even all 10 nominees from a slate in a super-competitive district will ultimately receive appointments. One "wins" the slate and the others are charged to other entities, such as the SecNav/SecAF, etc.

Can I get more than one nomination to the same SA?

Theoretically, yes. In reality . . . maybe, maybe not. In theory, each of your MOCs could nominate you to each SA to which you’re applying. So, you could have 3 noms to 4 SAs! However, in competitive states/districts , MOCs are generally unwilling to do this. The reason is they want to ensure as many candidates as possible get at least one nom to one SA. Some will ask you if you already have a nom to the SA from ANY source and, if so, not even consider you. Some will get together with the other MOCs in the state and ensure no one gets more than one nom to any particular SA. And some will get together such that a candidate will receive only 1 nom to 1 SA, period.

Again, you likely will have little to no idea how your MOC approaches things, although you can certainly ask your MOC’s representative. You may get a clue if your MOC asks you to rank your SAs or to pick only one – that’s a good sign that there is “rationing” of nominations. The above said, those in super-competitive district may still receive multiple MOC noms to the same SA as some MOCs want to give noms to those they consider the "best" candidates, regardless of what the other MOCs have done.

MOCs can approach this however they like. And, the fact things worked a certain way last year does not mean they’ll work the same way this year. MOCs change (retire, are defeated) and the same MOC can change his/her approach from year to year. So while it may help to understand the system, there is nothing that you or the SAs can do to impact/change it.

I didn’t get a nom. Am I doomed?

Probably. In order to receive an appointment, you must have a nomination. The SAs hope that you will secure one on your own from one of the sources available to you. As a result, the overwhelming majority of candidates who don’t obtain a nom get turndowns. However, in VERY RARE cases where a SA really wants a candidate and where the candidate didn’t obtain a nom, the SA may be able to “find” one from a source to which you can’t apply but which can hand out noms. For USNA for example, the primary source is the Superintendent, who can appoint up to 50 candidates each year. However, normally fewer than 5 of those Supe's nominations are used.

The VP is also a potential source, but like MOCs, can only have up to 5 mids at each SA at one time.

I got a nom from one of my Senators. Should I withdraw my application from my other MOCs?

No – with one exception. Having multiple MOC noms gives you more chances to "win" your slate and thus gives the SA more opportunities to charge/“slot” you and thus to offer you an appointment. Let’s say Candidate A “only” has a nom from her Senator whereas Candidate B has a nom from his Senator, his Rep, and the President. If USNA doesn’t charge Candidate A to her Senator, she goes immediately into the national pool. If USNA doesn’t charge Candidate B to his Senator, they can still slot him to his Rep or to the Pres – two more places to fit him before sending him to the national pool. Also, MOC noms in most areas of the country are competitive and getting two shows you competed well against your peers.

What about the exception you mentioned?

IF you have a Letter of Assurance (LOA) and are otherwise fully qualified, ANY nomination is sufficient for an appointment. Thus, if you receive an LOA, once you know you have a nom, you could withdraw your application from other nom sources. That said, BE SURE that you have the nom first. Not only confirm it with the MOC’s office but also contact the SA to make sure THEY have it. The last thing you want is for the MOC not to submit his slate, etc. The surest thing to do is wait until you have that appointment certificate in hand and then pull any remaining nom submissions.

What about USMMA?

The application process for US Representatives is a bit different. For the “big 3,” SAs you can only apply to the Rep for the district in which you reside. For USMMA, you can apply to any Rep in the STATE in which you reside. Thus, if you reside in CA 13 (13th district of CA), you can not only apply to that MOC but to all of the Reps in CA. Also, there is no limit of 5 mids per MOC for USMMA purposes.

Who can apply for a Presidential nom?

As a general premise, Presidential noms are available for children with a parent/legal guardian who either is retired from the military or is currently on active duty or in the Reserves and has spent at least 8 continuous years on active duty or in the Reserves. The specific requirements are listed on the SA websites. If you have at least one parent who meets the requirements listed, you can apply for a Pres nom. It is done on-line and basically consists of providing documentation (which your parent will have) to support your eligibility. No essays, recommendations, etc. are required.

The President can appoint up to 100 candidates per year. Presidential noms are NOT competitive, meaning that, if your parent meets the requirements, you will receive one. Thus, an unlimited number of candidates can receive a Presidential nomination (typically, it's 700-800 per year) -- only 100 can be charged to the President. Those not charged to the President or another source will go to the National Pool.

I have a Presidential nom so I don’t need to apply for MOC noms, right?

Wrong. There are MANY more candidates with Pres noms than there are slots. Thus, you give the SA much more flexibility in slotting you if you also obtain an MOC nom. In addition, Pres noms aren’t competitive and SAs like to see that you competed favorably against your peers. Finally, your BGO, ALO, etc. will likely ask what noms you’re seeking and it looks bad if you aren’t even trying for an MOC nom.

Tell me about the Vice Presidential nom?

Like the MOCs, the VP can have up to 5 candidates at each SA at any given time. The SAs themselves decide who gets these noms. Some wonder if the work required is worth it, given that on average only one person per year will get a VP nom. Well, someone has to get it and, if you don’t apply for it, it won’t be you!

If I have an LOA am I more likely to get an MOC nom?

Probably but not always. First, the SAs notify MOCs of LOA candidates. Most MOCs like to nominate LOA candidates because they’re certain that those individuals (if otherwise qualified) will receive appointments. However, there a few MOCs prefer not to nominate LOA candidates in the (mistaken) belief that the SA will “find” a nom for all LOA candidates. As you can see from the above, there aren’t enough “extra” noms for SAs to find them for all LOA candidates. Thus, most LOA candidates without noms will receive a turndown. So, just because you receive an LOA, don’t assume you can rest on your laurels – give 100% to securing a nom.

Also, MOCs make their own decisions about the "best" candidates and their views may not always agree with those of the SAs. So, just because the SA thinks you're worthy of an LOA doesn't necessarily mean the MOC thinks you're one of his/her top candidates.

In my district, I have a nom but another candidate with a nom also has an LOA. Will that person definitely get the appointment and do I have a shot?

The LOA candidate with the nom will receive an appointment if he/she is fully qualified. Whether that individual is slotted to the MOC is up to teh SA and depends on what other noms that person may have. If that person is slotted to the MOC, the other 9 go into the national pool and can still be offered an appointment. People selected from the national pool and not slotted to another source are slotted to SecNav/SecArmy, etc. Those offices are not sources of nominations but are sources of appointments.

What if 2 people on an MOC nom slate have LOAs?

Assuming they have no other sources of noms (such as the President) in all likelihood, one will be slotted to the MOC and the other to SecNav/SecAF, etc. The other 8 go into the national pool and compete for an appointment.
I apologize if I missed it in the thread, what month(s) does one typically seek a nomination? Also, how does the process change if seeking a nom from a Senator who is losing his/her seat... or do you approach the newly elected Senator in early January after they are sworn in. This seems to be cutting the process a bit close.
 
Check the website of the current MOC and look for application deadlines on their site. Our MOC retired this past year but completed the process for NOMs before vacating the office.
 
I apologize if I missed it in the thread, what month(s) does one typically seek a nomination? Also, how does the process change if seeking a nom from a Senator who is losing his/her seat... or do you approach the newly elected Senator in early January after they are sworn in. This seems to be cutting the process a bit close.
For Michigan, all the nomination application deadlines were in October, and the interviews were in November/ December, so the time frame is summer to October, not sure exactly what it is for other states, but it should be about the same.
 
For Michigan, all the nomination application deadlines were in October, and the interviews were in November/ December, so the time frame is summer to October, not sure exactly what it is for other states, but it should be about the same.
Thank you.
 
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