How can DS get Noms to 2 Service Academies

Roadking

Roadking

10-Year Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2012
Messages
406
DS is not 100% sure if it’s USNA or USMA as #1 choice, there are so many things that interest him in the Army and the Navy. I realize he has to choose but also there is the reality that he may not receive an offer from either SA or maybe just one. He is fearful that he will receive an offer from the SA that he doesn’t have a nom for. Is applying for different SA’s to the Senators a good idea or should he apply for the same SA to all; 2 Senators, MOC and VP? Could he mention in his interview that he is applying to more than one SA and would like to be considered for more than one nom?
 
Let’s handle the easy one first. VP noms should be applied for at both. USNA and USMA essentially do the choosing for the VP. There is a statistical possibility he could receive a VP nom to both. It’s an independent process from the state elected officials.

For the state elected officials, much depends on how they set up their application process. Some allow a candidate to apply for every SA nom, some ask for a ranking of SAs, some collaborate amongst themselves and “spread the wealth,” not giving multiple noms to the same candidate. Add this in to whether they use the principal nom, ranked slate or unranked slate method, and it’s a minefield of uncertainty.

Your DS should do his best to be absolutely clear, from his research on the websites and discussions with staffers to resolve questions, on what their process is. He should proceed accordingly. If ranking is requested, I strongly recommend being consistent in the order across all nom sources, not trying to game it by flip-flopping it - the staffers talk, and it’s hard to explain yourself out of. If he has to rank, he should make a choice, but it would be fine in interviews to note he has applied to another SA, they are very close in his mind at this stage, and he would be honored to have a nom to either. Keep in mind there are some states where more than 1 nom is not achievable due to the collaboration.

One stage of worry at a time. If he doesn’t get a nom, or doesn’t get an offer of appointment, and he really, really wants this, he will execute his alternate Plan and re-apply. These forums are filled with college re-applicants. The SA incoming classes are well-stocked with re-applicants. If he does college ROTC, and is a great cadet or mid, that’s a nom right there, and a year of college, additional maturity and ROTC training under his belt.
 
Last edited:
Some MOC's who use the "competitive process" like to nominate a candidate to only one service academy. They can nominate 10 to each SA. They like to publish as many different names of nominees as they can. Thus, some only will nominate a candidate to one academy. This way, they can nominate 10 to USAFA, 10, plus to USMA . plus 0 to USNA, etc. I would make sure I give the MOC an indication of 1st choice, in case you only get one nom from that MOC.
 
Capt MJ said:
Let’s handle the easy one first. VP noms should be applied for at both. USNA and USMA essentially do the choosing for the VP. There is a statistical possibility he could receive a VP nom to both. It’s an independent process from the state elected officials.

For the state elected officials, much depends on how they set up their application process. Some allow a candidate to apply for every SA nom, some ask for a ranking of SAs, some collaborate amongst themselves and “spread the wealth,” not giving multiple noms to the same candidate. Add this in to whether they use the principal nom, ranked slate or unranked slate method, and it’s a minefield of uncertainty.

Your DS should do his best to be absolutely clear, from his research on the websites and discussions with staffers to resolve questions, on what their process is. He should proceed accordingly. If ranking is requested, I strongly recommend being consistent in the order across all nom sources, not trying to game it by flip-flopping it - the staffers talk, and it’s hard to explain yourself out of. If he has to rank, he should make a choice, but it would be fine in interviews to note he has applied to another SA, they are very close in his mind at this stage, and he would be honored to have a nom to either. Keep in mind there are some states where more than 1 nom is not achievable due to the collaboration.

One stage of worry at a time. If he doesn’t get a nom, or doesn’t get an offer of appointment, and he really, really wants this, he will execute his alternate Plan and re-apply. These forums are filled with college re-applicants. The SA incoming classes are well-stocked with re-applicants. If he does college ROTC, and is a great cadet or mid, that’s a nom right there, and a year of college, additional maturity and ROTC training under his belt.
Click to expand...
The Senators only give you one choice but our Congressman asks for top three choices, so I’m thinking that’s his best chance. Thanks!
 
Roadking said:
DS is not 100% sure if it’s USNA or USMA as #1 choice, there are so many things that interest him in the Army and the Navy. I realize he has to choose but also there is the reality that he may not receive an offer from either SA or maybe just one. He is fearful that he will receive an offer from the SA that he doesn’t have a nom for. Is applying for different SA’s to the Senators a good idea or should he apply for the same SA to all; 2 Senators, MOC and VP? Could he mention in his interview that he is applying to more than one SA and would like to be considered for more than one nom?
Click to expand...

The easiest way to know specifically is to have your son call and ask the staffer handling SA applications about their specific policies if they have any (he should call not you). Without knowing the specific policy there are several factors to consider and many of them won't be known until after the application deadline. If your district has a small applicant pool its possible to receive a nom to multiple academies because they have the space to do so, but if it's a high applicant year your son is likely to be limited to 1 nomination. Applications that ask for ranking SAs don't necessarily mean you can't get multiple noms, it could mean if only 1 can be given more weight is given to your first choice vs third by the committee. If your son still hasn't decided by interview time he should be candid about what draws him to each, but should also have an answer ready if they push him to pick one. Interview panelist are very aware that attending a SA leads to becoming an officer in the military, which requires hard choices regularly. How he handles making that decision in front of them will matter if he's waited until that moment to do so.
 
Great advice above, to which I add only this: Be honest and be consistent. And then let the chips fall where they may. Will there be clear logic to what turns out? Maybe. Maybe not.

Case in point: DD told our Congressman’s committee that USNA was #1, USMA #2. When nominations came out, she received one for each, but was principal for USMA and not principal for USNA. Lot of possible reasons for why it turned out this way. But in the end, it didn’t matter. It was what it was
 
All of our DS's State nominations options (2 senators, one congressional representative) asked him to rank the academies in order of preference if he was applying to more than one. He listed them in the same order on all of the applications. We have no idea if any of them select a principal and or rank slates.
 
Our congressman nom app instructs the applicant to just pick one. Same for both NJ Senators.
I’m glad DS has had his sights set squarely on USMA because that would have been tough to navigate.
I think they want to maximize coverage since NJ is a competitive state for noms.
 
more candidates getting noms = more happy families and friends = more potential votes next election cycle

at least that's the way I thought about it...
 
My DS had to order his preference. He did and did not get a nom to his #1 from any source, but did get multiple noms for #2, #3 choices. Ended up at #3 and is so happy. So even though you can pick you may end up where you are meant to be in the end.

I have heard its state/MOC specific. Some have you put in order, some make you pick one. I'd definitly look at their website or call.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top