Primary Nonimation!!!!

[MomofFutureLeader]

DS had nomination interview with MOC on Wednesday. Yesterday he received a letter stating that he was the Primary Nominee to USAFA, First alternate to USNA and Fourth Alternate to USMA. He has LOA to West Point so didn't need to be Primary there. USAFA is his first choice. We are super excited!!! I was amazed that this arrived so quickly too. File is complete with all three academies and he is qualifed medically for USAFA and USMA and pending waiver at USNA. He is very grateful to be in the position that he is facing.

 

[USAFA_Falcon_15]

Congratulations! Cant wait for you all to get here! Enjoy the time you all have together now! It will fly!

 

[LFry94]

DS had nomination interview with MOC on Wednesday. Yesterday he received a letter stating that he was the Primary Nominee to USAFA, First alternate to USNA and Fourth Alternate to USMA. He has LOA to West Point so didn't need to be Primary there. USAFA is his first choice. We are super excited!!! I was amazed that this arrived so quickly too. File is complete with all three academies and he is qualifed medically for USAFA and USMA and pending waiver at USNA. He is very grateful to be in the position that he is facing.

Congratulations to your son! I will admit I'm jealous! (Still waiting to hear the results from my last interview.)

 

[Dad]

Awesome news. I hope you get the BFE soon.

 

[Romad]

CONGRATS to him!!!

Our MOCs haven't even begun the process yet - December is what they're telling us. That must be a huge load off his mind!

Best

 

[Packer]

Congratulations!

MOC interviews don't start here until early December and I know that last year one of our Senators did not release results until late Jan.

 

[Luigi59]

Is that like a Principal nomination?

"Primary" could mean something other, as I don't believe the terms are interchangeable.

 

[Christcorp]

Is that like a Principal nomination?

"Primary" could mean something other, as I don't believe the terms are interchangeable.

I was going to ask the same thing. If their congressman indeed does a "PRINCIPAL" and that is what they received.... Then definitely congrats.

If the congressman simply calls their #1 on the list a "PRIMARY", but still allows the academy to do the choosing, then that's a different story.

 

[Mongo]

If the congressman simply calls their #1 on the list a "PRIMARY", but still allows the academy to do the choosing, then that's a different story.

That doesn't make sense, does it?? MOCs are required to submit competitive slates alphabetically.

 

[USAF463]

I was going to ask the same thing. If their congressman indeed does a "PRINCIPAL" and that is what they received.... Then definitely congrats.

If the congressman simply calls their #1 on the list a "PRIMARY", but still allows the academy to do the choosing, then that's a different story.

This is from the website of our congressman....


The nomination method may vary by Congressional office. The nomination method used in the 2nd Congressional District is called “competitive with a primary,” and is designed to select qualified and diverse candidates. Of the 10 nominations comprising of a slate, one candidate will be selected as a primary and listed in the #1 slot. The other nine candidates will be listed as a competitive nomination in slots #2-10. The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations for the most qualified candidates. They have the ultimate responsibility to appoint based on several “whole person” factors, including, but not limited to: academic and test records, athletic activities, leadership potential, medical qualifications, extracurricular activities, and diversity in perspective.

We are not sure what this means. We think that the word " Primary" doesn't mean "Principle" in our case.

 

[Luigi59]

This is from the website of our congressman....


The nomination method may vary by Congressional office. The nomination method used in the 2nd Congressional District is called “competitive with a primary,” and is designed to select qualified and diverse candidates. Of the 10 nominations comprising of a slate, one candidate will be selected as a primary and listed in the #1 slot. The other nine candidates will be listed as a competitive nomination in slots #2-10. The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations for the most qualified candidates. They have the ultimate responsibility to appoint based on several “whole person” factors, including, but not limited to: academic and test records, athletic activities, leadership potential, medical qualifications, extracurricular activities, and diversity in perspective.

We are not sure what this means. We think that the word " Primary" doesn't mean "Principle" in our case.

That is the "competitive" method, definitely not a Principal nomination.

Nominees may be submitted in three categories: without ranking, with a principal candidate and nine ranked alternates, or with a principal candidate and nine unranked alternates.

When the Member specifies a principal candidate, that individual will be appointed to a DOD academy as long as he or she meets all other admission criteria. If the principal candidate is disqualified, the service academies will appoint the first fully qualified, ranked alternate, if specified by the Member. In circumstances where Members do not specify a principal candidate or ranked alternates, one individual from among the Member’s nominees who is found to be fully qualified will be appointed by the academies to serve as cadets.

http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/bitstreams/2687.pdf

 

[Luigi59]

That doesn't make sense, does it??

But that's exactly what this Congressman's website says:

The nomination method may vary by Congressional office. The nomination method used in the 2nd Congressional District is called “competitive with a primary,” and is designed to select qualified and diverse candidates. Of the 10 nominations comprising of a slate, one candidate will be selected as a primary and listed in the #1 slot. The other nine candidates will be listed as a competitive nomination in slots #2-10. The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations for the most qualified candidates. They have the ultimate responsibility to appoint based on several “whole person” factors, including, but not limited to: academic and test records, athletic activities, leadership potential, medical qualifications, extracurricular activities, and diversity in perspective.

 

[Mongo]

But that's exactly what this Congressman's website says:

Change this:

The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations for the most qualified candidates.

to this:

"The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations, the "primary" for (minimum) qualification and the other nine, if necessary, for the most qualified candidate."

and they have described the principal with competitive alternates with the caveat "If you don't like the results, blame the Service Academy, not us."

Totally confusing though. The slate would not get through the initial Admissions screening at USNA without being corrected. However, not sure about AFA.

 

[buff81]

This is from the website of our congressman....


The nomination method may vary by Congressional office. The nomination method used in the 2nd Congressional District is called “competitive with a primary,” and is designed to select qualified and diverse candidates. Of the 10 nominations comprising of a slate, one candidate will be selected as a primary and listed in the #1 slot. The other nine candidates will be listed as a competitive nomination in slots #2-10. The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations for the most qualified candidates. They have the ultimate responsibility to appoint based on several “whole person” factors, including, but not limited to: academic and test records, athletic activities, leadership potential, medical qualifications, extracurricular activities, and diversity in perspective.

We are not sure what this means. We think that the word " Primary" doesn't mean "Principle" in our case.

Sometimes MOCs use the 'Principle' and "Primary' interchangeably.

IMPO- this MOC is using a Principle with Competitive Alternates method.

When he/she says, 'The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations for the most qualified candidates.' they could be referring to the fact that the SAs will only appoint Qualified candidates. A MOC does not necessarily know that a candidate is Qualified when they make their slate. They could name a candidate as their #1 (Principle) but if that candidate is not Qualified then that candidate will not be offered the Appointment.
In this case - if the #1 (Principle) is not Qualified then the SA will give the slot to the candidate with the highest WCS - that is Qualified.

I think that this is the situation with this MOC.
However, the best way to clear up the confusion is to call the MOC's office and ask for a clarification.

 

[Christcorp]

Mongo; and Buff. I agree totally with you. We understand the ranked, competitive, and principal + 9 competitive. However; this congressman has incorrectly posted their method. It should have said the #1 slot was Principal. (I can live with using the word PRIMARY). However; s/he should have said that the academy will look at the REMAINING 9, for the MOST QUALIFIED.

I have to assume that the congressman has a "Principal" nominee, and 9 competitive on his slate. His/Her use of the phrase: The U.S. Service Academy will review all 10 nominations for the most qualified candidates. probably means: That the academy will look at all 10 to assure they are all "Qualified". If they are qualified, then the "Principal" gets the appointments, and the remaining 9 are ranked for the national pool. But the congressman's paragraph is definitely in conflict. EITHER:

1. S/He has a PRINCIPAL;which IF QUALIFIED; WILL RECEIVE an appointment. (Assuming a slot is available for that congressman, which most times there is).

OR

2. S/He has a COMPETITIVE slate, in which he listed his PERSONAL PREFERENCE to the academy. Doesn't matter if s/he's "Suppose" to list them alphabetically. S/He may want to list a "Principal", but not have the ultimate responsibility, and is "hoping" the academy will choose his preference. This however has no guarantees. It IS the competitive method. The academy has the ultimate decision in who on that slate will receive an appointment. On the TRUE PRINCIPAL method, the academy has no say so if the principal nominee is qualified.

 

[Mongo]

2. S/He has a COMPETITIVE slate, in which he listed his PERSONAL PREFERENCE to the academy. Doesn't matter if s/he's "Suppose" to list them alphabetically. S/He may want to list a "Principal", but not have the ultimate responsibility, and is "hoping" the academy will choose his preference.

Relatively certain USNA, and most likely the other SAs, would be required to reject the slate and ask the MOC to resubmit in the proper format just to prevent this type of "misunderstanding"..

 

[Christcorp]

Relatively certain USNA, and most likely the other SAs, would be required to reject the slate and ask the MOC to resubmit in the proper format just to prevent this type of "misunderstanding"..

Hopefully, it's a very simple mistake where there is a "Principal", and the MOC meant to say that the academy looks at the "REMAINING 9" instead of "ALL 10".

 

[Karek]

Congrats on nomination but it is not over till it is over. Keep updating your file with the academy keep focused on making sure you are USAFA's pick as well. My DS had a friend who was a Principle to USNA and still did not receive an appt so unless you have an LOA, been cleared by DODMERB, and received nomination keep working on your package with USAFA. Best of luck!

 

[MomofFutureLeader]

Principal Nomination

Now you guys are getting me concerned. Here is from our Congressman's website.

With respect to the Congressional category, each Representative and each Senator is allowed to have at each of those academies at any one time five persons charged to his or her quota. There are three methods of nominating, and I use the competitive method. For each vacancy, ten nominations may be made on a strictly competitive basis. The competitive method provides that the nominees compete among themselves for final appointment determined by the admissions authorities. They take into consideration a nominee's academic record, extracurricular and athletic activities, physical aptitude, ACT and/or SAT scores, leadership ability, and medical qualifications. Such facets of an applicant's record are also considered during the nomination selection process. No person will be offered admission if he or she does not meet the physical standards of the Academy unless awarded a medical waiver.

DS letter says You have been chosed as our Primary Nominee to the United States Air Force Academy. You have also been selected as the First Alternate to the United States Naval Academy and the Fourth Alternate to the United States Military Academy.


I don't have it here in front of me but I am quite sure that the West Point catalog referred to picking a Primary nomination.

We really thought that this was the same thing as a Principal.

 

[hornetguy]

Easiest way to clear it up is to call their office and talk to the SA nomination representative and ask them instead of guessing on semantics.