I hope someone can answer this question for me. Is it safe to assume if the MOC's office gets less than 10 applicants to one of the academy, lets say 6, then all of these 6 candidates names will be on the MOC's slate? I'm asking this because my MOC's office stated that they only put names of candidates with that particular academy as their first choice on their slate even though they may have far less than 10 candidates for that academy.
First rule: as long as the MOC complies with the law, he/she can do whatever he wants re noms. Thus, the fact that one MOC does things one way doesn't mean others will take the same approach or even that the MOC will take the same approach every year.
As to your first question, typically, yes, IF all six are considered qualified by the MOC's nominating committee. However, if the MOC wants to limit noms to a SA to those candidates for whom that SA was their first choice, the MOC can do so, even if the MOC ends up nominating fewer than 10 candidates. It may not make a lot of sense, but the MOC can certainly take that approach.
My son's first choice is USMA followed by USNA and USAFA. He was unable to attend CVWs in the fall so he was planning to do so in Feb or March. My fear is that he attends them in the spring and then decides he wants go to USNA or USAFA. He has LOAs for all three academies and only waiting on nominations. He has picked USMA as his choice for 2 senators noms (only allowed to pick 1), and his first choice for MOC's nomination. I'm hoping he gets to have options until next May but it looks like he maybe headed to USMA unless he changes his choices for senators noms (no interviews yet).
If he picked USMA first for all three of his MOCs, it sounds like he wants to go there. If he still wants to have choices, the best thing to do is to contact the Senators and tell them: (1) he has LOAs to all 3 SAs, (2) he has a nom for USMA, (3) he is still interested in USNA and USAFA and plans to visit both this spring, and (4) he would like to be considered for noms to one of those schools instead of USMA.
However, doing the above is no guarantee the MOCs will let him switch and, even if they do, they MAY feel he is gaming the system and not give him any noms. Hard to predict.
I know many candidates would like to have all their options open until May but, realistically, it's very hard to do. Also, there's more to making the decision that CVW (and many candidates make the decisions without a visit). Before your son calls his Senators, have him think hard about whether he wants to go to USMA -- in which case, he's finished b/c he has an LOA and a nom -- or if he is REALLY interested in one of the other SAs.
What are his career goals? What is his desired academic major? If he can eliminate even one right now, it may help him along.