I am not sure I agree with this advice. A friend of mine asked me if I would help them navigate thru the process for admissions to the AFA. His son is a sophomore. I spoke with my son's ALO and asked him if it was too early. He said that he would rather start with them early so he can guide them with what to take in school, ec's, and everything else that the young man will need to do.
Every individual I speak with who aren't eligible yet to apply to Summer Seminar, or already applying to the academy, the 1st place I steer them towards for Q&A, information, ideas, etc... is this forum. Right here. I've given out hundreds upon hundreds of business cards with this forum's address on it. Even if the individuals only Lurk, this forum is a wealth of information. "By the way TacticalNuke: I need more cards. LOL".
Anyway; there are cadets, applicants, parents, and even ALO's on this site. For the individual who visits this forum in their Sophomore year, if they line up everything in advance, they can have their application and nominations done in no time. EXAMPLE: I've been working with applicants for the air force academy, AFROTC, and enlisted, for close to 9 years. However; I and my son used this site and others prior to his even applying for summer seminar. By the time came for him to apply for summer seminar: (he applied 2 weeks before the deadline); he/I had a much better understanding of the ENTIRE PROCESS. Until then, I was helping applicants with the application process, but I didn't have a lot of experience with the larger picture. Then; when my son came back from Summer Seminar, he was already set up as an applicant, he was able to complete the entire application in less than 4 weeks. He had everything lined up ahead of time; prior to the application. Contacted the appropriate teachers that would need to provide references. Spoke with his school's admin. Got transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, etc... all lined up. The school and teachers (Even though it was summer) was expecting him. My son had everything HE COULD DO, done in 4 weeks. He had taken care of the DODMRB physical, and set up the CFA with the ALO. He started the application process the 2nd week of June; after returning from Summer Seminar. On July 19th, he was 100% complete. Including DODMRB and CFA. He had the paper work for his presidential at the academy ready to go. That too was already approved by the July 19th time frame.
The point is: The counselors at the academy admissions said that my son was the very first applicant totally 100% complete with their application, in the country. That was done and finished on July 19th. He sat around and waited, and received an Early Appointment using the presidential nomination, at the end of October. So; while it's important to have an ALO, and the vast majority of individuals applying really DO NEED THEIR ALO; if you are READING THIS POST, then you are a member of this forum. You are in the MINORITY of applicants. (<5%). You have the advantage of learning from this forum. If you learn properly from here, you will find that you need your ALO mainly for their interview, possibly assist in arranging/monitoring the CFA, and being a go between if certain steps in the process aren't falling in line correctly. But as far as the actual application process goes; individuals on the forum need a LOT LESS ASSISTANCE from their ALO. They are still there for you; but the more RESPONSIBILITY you take for your own future, the more control you'll have. Plus, your ALO will notice and appreciate this.
So; if you have/know individuals who are interested in the academies, and they are sophomores or younger, you don't need to be contacting ALO's, the academy, local liaison officers, etc... Give them instructions to this forum. If they truly care about the academy(ies) being an option for their future, they can learn everything they need about the process here. Then, when they actually need ASSISTANCE with the process from their ALO, they will be more prepared and able to accomplish it. Good luck. Mike....