I'm not sure what to make of an email I got earlier. I have two nominations, one from my Senator and one from my MOC. Today I received an email from an MOC outside my district saying that my congressman contacted them on my behalf and that they would like to secure a congressional nomination for me at KP. Does this mean that my original MOC took away my nom? I'm just very confused and wondering if this has happened to anyone else.
Can a MOC take the nomination away?
- Thread starter Birdsnest
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Just call and find out the details from the Representative's staff. For USMMA, any Representative in your state can provide a nomination (as you may know) for candidates inside and outside their Congressional districts. I am curious about the reason the Representative is pursuing one (or another) for you, and I could make a few guesses. However, I'm sure you will be in good shape in either scenario. Keep us posted on your news.
A1Janitor
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We all know that. But on here, people use MOC and Sen to abbreviate and differentiate. This topic appears at times.
airforce_brat
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Our DD "had a nomination taken away". This was from the congressman's office and it happened when they sent an email saying she received a nomination for USMA and they wanted an email confirmation back to "confirm your acceptance of this nomination and your intent to fully pursue appointment to the U.S. Military Academy" by the end of December. They did not turn in the nominations to the service academy right away, but said they would do it by mid-January. DD felt it was the right thing to do to tell them she was denied a medical waiver by USMA and wasn't sure that she could fully pursue an appointment. They then replied they would not turn in the nomination to USMA. After the fact we realized from this forum that many people get nominations to multiple service academies and are not asked for that type of commitment. We also learned from this forum that sometimes it seems a nomination must be in the portal first before a medical waiver is pursued. Anyhow, this process has been a big learning opportunity and time for growth.
airforce_brat
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She received a letter in her USMA portal that read like this:
A review of your record indicates you do not meet the medical standards for appointment to West Point at this time. I regret to inform you that your medical disqualification is final and your file has been closed. At a later date, if it appears that you will win a vacancy to West Point or one of our preparatory programs, we will automatically reopen your file and consider you for a waiver.
Then they (USMA) changed her status in DODMERB to "withdrawn". The RC said there wasn't really anything to be done because they made her medical status final.
Correct, "intent to fully pursue appointment" was to be on her end...which she would have done, but the letter sounded final along with what her RC told her.
We're familiar with all the DQ's and AMIs, etc. She has a waiver granted with one of the other programs and "under waiver review" for another...
The main point I was trying to make is related to nominations being taken away. It now seems strange to me that the MOC was making the nominees send an email confirmation with the "intent to fully pursue appointment" BEFORE they would turn them into the service academy. I have not read of any other MOCs doing that on this forum.
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Usnavy2019
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The only stipulation required for SA entry (minus USCGA) with regard to MOC (and other nominations) is that everyone needs to have one. MOCs are free to administer their selection process as they see fit.
To address some of the above, USMMA allows candidates to be nominated from any MOC in their state. I had ran into trouble with this during my cycle and most offices turned me away, but one office let me interview after I showed them the black and white. The MOC requesting an additional nom is most likely a function of your MOC trying their best to get you in. If you get in, you’re a happy constituent. You either got in off your MOC’s nom or the other one that was called in. Happy constituents = constituents who vote for you = re-election.
The same for the USMA issue. In states/districts where nominations are highly sought after, MOCs tend to be choosy in how they give out nominations. If they use a few slots on candidates who aren’t viable for whatever reason or they don’t want to go to that SA in the first place, then that nom can’t be used for a candidate who needs that nom and wants to go to thar SA. What that boils down to is that you have candidates who are possible appointees (potential happy constituents) blocked from that opportunity by a candidate who most likely won’t be going to the SA in question. Again, MOCs want to make as many candidates happy because that is their job and that’s how they stay in office.
Yes, there are candidates who get a lot of nominations (Rep and Senators for one SA, all 4 from one MOC, etc.). However, typically, those are candidates who are water walkers or SA nominations are less competitive. Also, SAF is most likely not the best sample since those who are on here as candidates are typically those who want to go to an SA the most because they are doing the research. People who are usually motivated to this degree have probably done their due diligence in all avenues of their life to make themselves as qualified as possible. SAF gives them a platform to share the fruits of their labor.
Nominations can sound like a heartless process when there is a lot of emotional skin in the game. Know that nominating authorities are out in the tough spot of having less nominations than candidates. I don’t envy them nor do I envy SA admissions departments. They have a tough job in finding America’s future cadets/MIDN amongst a very talented and qualified pool of applicants.
To address some of the above, USMMA allows candidates to be nominated from any MOC in their state. I had ran into trouble with this during my cycle and most offices turned me away, but one office let me interview after I showed them the black and white. The MOC requesting an additional nom is most likely a function of your MOC trying their best to get you in. If you get in, you’re a happy constituent. You either got in off your MOC’s nom or the other one that was called in. Happy constituents = constituents who vote for you = re-election.
The same for the USMA issue. In states/districts where nominations are highly sought after, MOCs tend to be choosy in how they give out nominations. If they use a few slots on candidates who aren’t viable for whatever reason or they don’t want to go to that SA in the first place, then that nom can’t be used for a candidate who needs that nom and wants to go to thar SA. What that boils down to is that you have candidates who are possible appointees (potential happy constituents) blocked from that opportunity by a candidate who most likely won’t be going to the SA in question. Again, MOCs want to make as many candidates happy because that is their job and that’s how they stay in office.
Yes, there are candidates who get a lot of nominations (Rep and Senators for one SA, all 4 from one MOC, etc.). However, typically, those are candidates who are water walkers or SA nominations are less competitive. Also, SAF is most likely not the best sample since those who are on here as candidates are typically those who want to go to an SA the most because they are doing the research. People who are usually motivated to this degree have probably done their due diligence in all avenues of their life to make themselves as qualified as possible. SAF gives them a platform to share the fruits of their labor.
Nominations can sound like a heartless process when there is a lot of emotional skin in the game. Know that nominating authorities are out in the tough spot of having less nominations than candidates. I don’t envy them nor do I envy SA admissions departments. They have a tough job in finding America’s future cadets/MIDN amongst a very talented and qualified pool of applicants.
I got a call from the Rep outside of my district and they said that they have my application package and that I am all set. The only thing the staffer said is that when they spoke with the academy liaison he said that I already have 3 nominations and that I don’t need another one. The staffer said I shouldn’t worry and that they will be in contact with me soon.