Primary Nonimation!!!!

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

....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. .

If he uses the competitive method, it's not a Principal nomination.

hornetguy said:
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.

Agreed.
 
Oh my! I was looking over all these posts and remembering, with the return of the knot in my stomach, how completely stressful that time was - four years ago!

Once that BFE comes, all the primaries/principals/possibles/probables... won't matter. Just like the LOA doesn't make a bean-hill of difference on I-day.
 
Primary/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.

Just received a call back from Congressman's academy coordinator. He uses the terms Primary and Principal interchageably. This is a Principal with ranked alternates, from the explanation that he gave me. I asked if he used to just send in a list of ten names (as in the competitive method) and was told "No, we have always done it this way". I was not about to get into an arguement about why his website is worded the way that it is when he was handing my son a lottery jackpot, so to speak. He said that the academy is supposed to take their pick as long as they are fully qualified and if not then move down the list in order. That is good enough for me. I didn't feel like pointing out that they should reword their website because it was causing confusion. Called DS and let him know that he could breath a sigh of relief.
 
Just received a call back from Congressman's academy coordinator. He uses the terms Primary and Principal interchageably. This is a Principal with ranked alternates, from the explanation that he gave me. I asked if he used to just send in a list of ten names (as in the competitive method) and was told "No, we have always done it this way". I was not about to get into an arguement about why his website is worded the way that it is when he was handing my son a lottery jackpot, so to speak. He said that the academy is supposed to take their pick as long as they are fully qualified and if not then move down the list in order. That is good enough for me. I didn't feel like pointing out that they should reword their website because it was causing confusion. Called DS and let him know that he could breath a sigh of relief.

Congrats to your son, that is great news. A Principal Nomination for a 3Q candidate is an automatic appointment!

The MOCs proper use of term "Principal" (and not the misleading term "Primary") along with an updated website (indicating that he uses the "Principal with Nine Ranked Alternates" method would avoid this confusion in the future.

Again, congrats to your son.
 
Yes, definite congrats. And good for you for calling the source and getting clarification.

Some disagree with me, but personally, I believe that MOC's "SHOULD" use the Principal - Ranked method. It is their responsibility as a state's representative, to represent their state/district. They should be the ones responsible for nominating and appointing who they believe is the best qualified. Some will argue that the academy knows better than the MOC who is best qualified. Sorry, but I don't buy it. The same argument could be said that the federal government knows what's best for the citizens. If that was the case, we'd be 100% a socialist nation. I prefer the people decide what's best for them, and that government only get involved when rights, beliefs, actions, etc... cross over to affecting another individual's rights. Basically, governing should be done at the lowest level possible. The individual is the lowest level. The local town/community next. County, then state..... THEN the federal government. I wish all MOC's would recognize their "Responsibility" and use the principal - ranked method. Unfortunately, too many are simply lazy, and they shirk their duties and give the responsibility to the academy. They rationalize it, but the truth is, they simply don't want to be accountable or they don't want to spend the time.

Anyway; congrats again. mike....
 
Mike, I'm right with you there! I have no idea where my guys fit into the principal/primary noms... I'm just glad they're there (AND GRADUATING!).

Congrats to your DS! It's a wild ride!
 
Some disagree with me, but personally, I believe that MOC's "SHOULD" use the Principal - Ranked method. It is their responsibility as a state's representative, to represent their state/district. They should be the ones responsible for nominating and appointing who they believe is the best qualified. Some will argue that the academy knows better than the MOC who is best qualified. Sorry, but I don't buy it. The same argument could be said that the federal government knows what's best for the citizens. If that was the case, we'd be 100% a socialist nation. I prefer the people decide what's best for them, and that government only get involved when rights, beliefs, actions, etc... cross over to affecting another individual's rights. Basically, governing should be done at the lowest level possible. The individual is the lowest level. The local town/community next. County, then state..... THEN the federal government. I wish all MOC's would recognize their "Responsibility" and use the principal - ranked method. Unfortunately, too many are simply lazy, and they shirk their duties and give the responsibility to the academy. They rationalize it, but the truth is, they simply don't want to be accountable or they don't want to spend the time.

It would definitely dumb down the academy and increase the attrition rate. Is that your goal?
 
I'm likely on the other end...I saw remove MOC's from the process all together. They offer nothing in the process, often aren't even present for the interviews, and really, it's staff, not Congressmen/Senators who are "experts" on certain issues. This is a geographic quota. It's dumb. It's Congress's obsession with having a hand in everything.
 
Or we could avoid using MomofFutureLeader's good news thread about her son's nomination to start arguing Federalism, State's rights, and other politics.
 
I'm likely on the other end...I saw remove MOC's from the process all together. They offer nothing in the process, often aren't even present for the interviews, and really, it's staff, not Congressmen/Senators who are "experts" on certain issues. This is a geographic quota. It's dumb. It's Congress's obsession with having a hand in everything.
I also have to agree. Both of our California Senator's staff couldn't have been more evasive or disinterested. The Congressman's staff is more attentive and seems to value the process much more. Given the less than stellar accomplishments and standing of our two senators, we really want the appointment from the Congressman anyway. The local representative has more a community feel to the appointment rather than the large base, probably over 37 mm in population, that the senators represent.
 
Or we could avoid using MomofFutureLeader's good news thread about her son's nomination to start arguing Federalism, State's rights, and other politics.

Hornet; you are 100% correct. My bad. I'll see if it's not too late to delete my post. mike...

P.S. Sorry, too late. Please accept my apologies Momofutureleader. The thread moved on to the way the MOC advertised their nomination policy and the different methods of giving appointments. I truly did mean congrats to you and your son. It is a wonderful thing to get such good news. And with your MOC's office confirming, that is that much more exciting. Sorry again. I was actually excited that your MOC actually did use the Principal-Ranked system. That's even better for your son. It means he was the best of the best of your MOC's applicants. You should be very proud. mike....
 
Back
Top