Air National Guard Parent - Presidential

[F15DOC]

My son is applying to USAFA, USNA, USCGA.
He is listed as a candidate with USAFA, USNA (USCG app doesn't start until August).
In discussing his nominations with his ALO/BGO there is some confusion on whether he would quality for a presidential nomination from my service time. The ALO thinks he would qualify but I don't think he does based upon points required
I am an Air National Guard Flight Surgeon and have served as only an ANG Traditional Guardsman for the past 16 years. Besides a short stint in Baghdad and scattered 2 week trips here and there, I have very little "Active Deployed" time.
It states "reservists must be serving as members of reserve componenents and credited with at least eight years of service (at least 2880 points).
This makes no sense, I have served 16 years and have no where near that many points... is this stating 8 years of active duty and now currently in reserve component? I don't see how a reservist or guardsman could get that many points any other way?
Any insight is appreciated.

The Candidate Packet states:
There are unlimited nominations, but only a maximum of 100 appointments are available annually in this category. Vacancies allocated to the President of the United States have been reserved for children of career military personnel.
This includes enlisted, warrant, and commissioned members of regular and reserve components
who are on active duty (other than for training) and who have served continuously on active duty for at least eight years; and military retirees either living or deceased who have received retired or retainer pay. Reservists must be serving as members of reserve components and be credited with at least eight years of service computed under section 12733 of Title 10 (at least 2880 points);

 

[F15DOC]

It seems that 2880pts is how many points you would typically accrue in 8 years of active duty... so there ya go.
The Presidential is not really an option for a traditional guardsman or reservist, even with a lifetime of that service....

 

[Christcorp]

Side note on the main reason for a presidential nomination. Not a direct reply to the original post, but the many who are reading and curious about the presidential nomination.

1. Yes, it's a pseudo benefit for serving on active duty. But let's be real, it's not like there are thousands and thousands of military kids applying to the academies each year.
2. Most military kids applying are minors. Thus, they are residents of whatever state their parents are residents of. Getting a moc nomination from Georgia, where your parents are residents of, is difficult if your living in North Dakota or Germany because that's where your family is stationed. Especially trying to do interviews. I can't tell you how many brats I've seen where the presidential was the only nomination they could get.
3. Moc nominations are competitive enough, but it's worse on a military brat even if they can apply for a moc nomination locally, when they don't have the leadership, community service, athletics, clubs, etc. that most applicants have because they had to move every 3-4 years and couldn't build experience and leadership roles in those activities. Many Mocs won't consider them very high on their slate of 10 nominees.

These are just some main reasons. Military brats are in a unique situation, albeit a disadvantage compared to most applicants applying for representative and senator nominations. Brats tend to be more worldly and more mature. They moved a lot and have lived in many different places. They've been forced to adapt to new schools, friends, and neighborhoods more often than most kids. While these experiences have made them many times an excellent candidate, most Mocs don't see it that way. They see an applicant will little consistency. Little school and community involvement compared to the other applicants. Someone who might be asking to do an interview over the phone because they can't afford to fly back to their parent state of residency.

Many times, military parents get residency at their last assignment before retiring and their kids can apply for local state moc nominations. But it's still hard on the kid when he didn't get to that town or school district until they were 15-17 years old. I and my son who was accepted to the academy were fortunate. I was able to extend my assignment here for 2 more years so I could retire here. My son was able to spend a large part of his school years here. My daughter had been to 3 bases and my son only 2. Had I chosen not to retire, my son would have probably had to attend 3 more additional schools in 3 different states or countries, by the time he was able to apply for the academy. The moc nomination he would have applied for would have been in a state he would have only lived in for about 1-2 years.

So anyone who is eligible should definitely apply for a presidential. But for those who don't qualify for one, I just wanted to point out some of the reasons for the presidential. With moc nominations so competitive, it's extra difficult for a kid who's only been in that town or school district for a couple years to have the type of resume a moc is looking for vs other applicants.

 

[F15DOC]

Eloquently stated Mike (Christ Corp), having been a military Brat myself, I couldn't agree with you more about every point you make. And I think that is a great way to view the Presidential, as a help to those kids "disadvantaged on paper" by their parents service. Nicely done.

 

[flieger83]

I was a resident of the State of Florida (my birthplace) while my father was in the AF. I had to fly to Florida for my MOC interviews; twice. The Presidential nom was a nice thing to have in the hip pocket, but most the members of my class that had Presidential nom's (that I know) actually got in on their MOC's nomination (I did).

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

 

[MedB]

To piggyback on Mike's point... Things have certainly gotten better, and our situation was unique due to Dad's particular role. But during one period growing up as a Navy brat we moved 13 times in just over 6 years. Yes, every 6 months. Not kidding.

But the point is that when people talk about the benefits our military members/families receive (pseudo or otherwise), they often forget why some of those benefits may need to be structured the way they are.