How are late appointments available?

[tedsnyder63]

I have seen some comments indicating a Candidate could get an offer of appointment very close to the day they were to report. How exactly does this come about? Is it because appointees are notifying an Academy late they are now turning down the appointment they had accepted? Is there any ramifications for someone who did that, accepted, then either did not show up or then said no very late? I know with ROTC they tell you to go ahead and accept...

 

[sixx123]

I believe that there is some sort of monetary deposit after accepting an appointment? If they don't show up then they simply don't get their few thousand dollars back.

 

[mmb5]

The candidates have to be 100% medically qualified and fit to handle the physical demands of Beast Barracks on R-Day. A late-spring injury or other medical disqualification can mean the loss of an appointment - hence all the references to "bubble wrap" on here. Same with a senior spring where a candidate has a bit too much fun - legal problems or tanked grades are also cause for the Academy withdrawing an appointment, although less frequently than medical.
And right up until R Day, and through Beast, candidates do change their minds. The $2000 deposit can be paid as late as the week before R day (and for candidates with financial concerns, can be paid after, over time). However, the rigor of the application process usually weeds out the kids who are just doing USMA as one more option.

 

[buff81]

Another scenario -
May 1 is the deadline to accept/decline offer.
With each candidate that declines an appointment offer, WP will go to the NWL and make an offer to the next candidate, then if they decline, WP goes to the next in line on the NWL and so on.
This process will go on until the class is filled, which could be right before R-Day.