LOA do you have to notify your congress member or senator?

[USAFAMamaBear]

If you receive a letter of assurance from the United States Air Force Academy do you need to notify your Congress member or senator that you have received it or does the Academy forward that to them on your behalf?

 

[Soldiergriz]

There is zero harm informing them...I certainly would have encouraged my son to do so.

 

[kinnem]

It would be foolish not to inform them, but you don't have to. It's a good sales point though.

 

[TheRightStuff]

So if you have applied to more than one Academy, and you send a LOA from USAFA to your MOC when USAFA is not your first choice? If you receive no further LOAs and another Academy is your 1st choice do you not run the risk of the MOC slotting you in for a nom at USAFA?

 

[kpmom2013]

It would not hurt to email your representative's staff person who is in charge of service academy nominations and see what their preference is. My DD received her LOA just before her interview and brought copies with her on that day.

 

[USAFAMamaBear]

It would not hurt to email your representative's staff person who is in charge of service academy nominations and see what their preference is. My DD received her LOA just before her interview and brought copies with her on that day.

That's excellent advice!! Thank you!

So if you have applied to more than one Academy, and you send a LOA from USAFA to your MOC when USAFA is not your first choice? If you receive no further LOAs and another Academy is your 1st choice do you not run the risk of the MOC slotting you in for a nom at USAFA?

My son is only applying to USAFA.

 

[kinnem]

So if you have applied to more than one Academy, and you send a LOA from USAFA to your MOC when USAFA is not your first choice? If you receive no further LOAs and another Academy is your 1st choice do you not run the risk of the MOC slotting you in for a nom at USAFA?

One has to have the ability to speak up for themselves. There is that risk, probably no worse than without the LOA, but you are never obligated to actually accept an appointment.

 

[Capt MJ]

Anecdotally, some elected officials have gone with the “that SA has given him a LOA, they’ll find a nom from somewhere, I won’t expend one of mine.”

No way of knowing.

Pare it down to the simplest, no what-if layers.

Is the LOA positive information about you? Can it possibly differentiate you from competition? If you get a nom to USAFA and they offer you an appointment, and your top SA does not, are you free to turn down USAFA at that time and re-apply to the other SA if they don’t offer, if that is your true goal?

I am always a believer in errors of commission over omission.

 

[HCopter]

Edit for OP's original question: USAFA's LOA specifically states they will send notice to senators/MOC. USNA, USMA, and USMMA did not specifically state that in the letter. Again, DD's experience and that was last cycle (2024)

Even though USAFA's LOA says they will send to senators/MOC, leave nothing to chance!
Fedex/courier to Senators/local MOC with signature required
and email with pdf attachment!
Bring extra copies to interview. And while you're at it, bring extra copies of everything - application packet, resume, LOAs.

 

[Korab]

Even though USAFA's LOA says they will send to senators/MOC, leave nothing to chance!
Fedex/courier to Senators/local MOC with signature required
and email with pdf attachment!
Bring extra copies to interview. And while you're at it, bring extra copies of everything - application packet, resume, LOAs.

USAFA LOA does not indicate they will send it Senators and MOC.

 

[HCopter]

USAFA LOA does not indicate they will send it Senators and MOC.

Not going to argue with anyone about it!

My DD's LOA 10/23/2019 states they will send to senators/MOC.

I cannot say for anyone else before, same cycle, or after.

Just one data point.

 

[Korab]

Not going to argue with anyone about it!

My DD's LOA 10/23/2019 states they will send to senators/MOC.

I cannot say for anyone else before, same cycle, or after.

Just one data point.

OK - let me be more precise - 2025 LOA's don't have that language

 

[HCopter]

OK - let me be more precise - 2025 LOA's don't have that language

Thank you, Class of 2025 will appreciate knowing this!

So even more reason to consider sending that LOA to nom sources!

 

[2025mustelse]

so USAFA LOAs have started going out? When did you DD/ DS get one this year?

 

[USMA222]

What about an LOE from West point? should I let my MOC know?

 

[jm1223]

It states in the Instructions to Candidate Booklet that LOAs are sent to the MOCs.

 

[USMA222]

Does that go for LOEs too?

 

[OldRetSWO]

Does that go for LOEs too?

No - they are VERY different

 

[USMA222]

No - they are VERY different

So I should let my MOC know? Will it give me an advantage in the nomination process?

 

[OldRetSWO]

So I should let my MOC know? Will it give me an advantage in the nomination process?

Not in my experience. Think of the difference - an LOA is saying that you are offered a spot if you can only come up with a nom (if that's the only condition) while an LOE says "Gee, finish your app because we like what we've seen so far." I've never seen USNA or USAFA send out LOEs. As a Congressional or Senatorial Interviewer, if a candidate brought up the LOE to me, it would have ZERO impact on me. I've been in this game for a while now and an LOE does not tell me more than I can usually see from the materials provided and some interview questions.