Principal Nom DOESN'T work

USMA 1994 said:
bluediamond said:
We are from rural District. MOC only had 12 interested in presueing USNA. He only nominates one per academy. They then had broads and one is selected. They reason they don't nom ten is because MOC dosen't want to flood SA with just anyone that comes looking for a nom. They only want to present top candidates.
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Wow, it seems like your MOC does not understand the process and is not doing best for the constitutes of his district. I can understand not filling the list of ten if the candidates just to fill it, , but to only pick one candidate months before everything is completed is a mistake. The biggest issue that comes to mind is DoDMERB review. Candidate can look great on paper but can have some unknown health issue. If the MOC only nominated one person, and that person is not qualified, the will not get a candidate this year. I guess it is the MOC's prerogative to do as he wishes.
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I think you might have misunderstood. Noms are not awarded till late in January by his office. As far as submitting a second we were not told, but at DS board they asked about any medical issues. I also think that was what the board was for. My DS has a Ret Marine General, Ret Navy Captain, and a Naval Pilot that held his board all USNA grads. I think they knew what they were looking for.
 
We live in a large urban area and our MOC gets about 1000+ apps, don't know how many he interviews, but sends 10 with 1 principle then the following 9 competitive. Our Senators - Rubio and Nelson - can get up to 3500 apps. The Senators coordinate noms but don't necessarily communicate that with the MOCs. All three of them use interview boards based on Academy. None make the decision independently because that would be political suicide.
 
USMA 1994 said:
bluediamond said:
We are from rural District. MOC only had 12 interested in presueing USNA. He only nominates one per academy. They then had broads and one is selected. They reason they don't nom ten is because MOC dosen't want to flood SA with just anyone that comes looking for a nom. They only want to present top candidates.
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Wow, it seems like your MOC does not understand the process and is not doing best for the constitutes of his district. I can understand not filling the list of ten if the candidates just to fill it, , but to only pick one candidate months before everything is completed is a mistake. The biggest issue that comes to mind is DoDMERB review. Candidate can look great on paper but can have some unknown health issue. If the MOC only nominated one person, and that person is not qualified, the will not get a candidate this year. I guess it is the MOC's prerogative to do as he wishes.
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Agreed. What if there are two or three legit rock stars who are seeking a nom. They could be appointed via NWL but under this process they would get nothing. Seems crazy.
 
bluediamond said:
I think you might have misunderstood. Noms are not awarded till late in January by his office. As far as submitting a second we were not told, but at DS board they asked about any medical issues. I also think that was what the board was for. My DS has a Ret Marine General, Ret Navy Captain, and a Naval Pilot that held his board all USNA grads. I think they knew what they were looking for.
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And those high ranking officers don't know what Dodmerb knows about a candidate's health
 
I agree it seemed horrible at the time, but it is what we were handed. I really didn't mean to upset anyone. I was just stating what happen. I truly believe that at any moment our CPR could be a TWE. I do wish everyone the best. I always have.
 
As far as submitting a second we were not told, but at DS board they asked about any medical issues. I also think that was what the board was for.
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MOC boards should not be considering medical issues. They determine whether a candidate is qualified or a nom. The medical decision is separate -- not only are the MOC committee members in no way qualified to make the decision, there are significant privacy concerns regarding health information. DODMEB decides on medical qualification status and the individual SA decides whether to grant a waiver for any DODMERB DQ.

It would be very sad if an MOC committee declined to give someone a nom based on a perceived medical issue when DODMERB and/or the SA could well decide it was a "non-issue."
 
The point I was making is that it is still early in the process as they are looking at potential nominations and the candidates have not all gone through DODMERB so they do not know the results of the physical. There are many candidates each year that get blindsided with issues in the medical review process. I am sure the candidate answers that they have no medical issues but they are not in a position to have the knowledge or make that decision. The MOC can do whatever they want, but in my humble opinion, only submitting one name per slate is not in the best interest of his district. I do understand screening and not just handing out nominations to unqualified candidates, but there is most likely more than one candidate in the district that is qualified.
 
jebdad said:
So, at the risk of asking a stupid question, it seems that there have been a couple of posters on here that were principals for USNA and received a TWE. In these cases, is no one from that district getting an appointment? I am confused on the logistics of a principal nom and how USNA is handling them.
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USMA is required by law to honor principal nominations provided the candidate is fully qualified. USNA is NOT so required.
 
No one should be surprised. The academies are hard to figure. Argue if you like, but the academies (USNA In particular) will admit whomever they want, regardless of the competition, and they will reject whomever they want, regardless of qualifications. They are checking boxes. Diversity, check. Gender, check, athletics, check. Prior enlisted, check. Prep schoolers, check.

The young man that earned a principle nomination... in his second year of applying, deserved his appointment. I don't know what reasons led to this, but if he is a good citizen, and kept his grades up... he should be heading to I Day.

This is a perfect example of why those who are rejected should think long and hard about dedicating their time, heart, and souls to reapplying. There are no guarantees. I wish all reapps luck, but it's tough to get in that way. Don't be discouraged, but go in to the process with eyes open.

I have said it before, principle nominations should be ended.
 
fearthegoat17 said:
I just got my second TWE. I am frustrated because I've worked harder for this than anything I have ever done in my life. I lived and breathed the Academy and my application every single day. I followed their instructions and then some. I am a Robotics Engineer and a UC, and play lacrosse here, were we are nationally ranked in the MCLA. I maxed out all but the basketball throw and mile (6:09) on the CFA. Principal nomination for my district, BGO interview went outstanding.
Slight rant I apologize, but at least at this moment, I do not see how I could get rejected.
Thank you everyone on forums.
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Sorry to hear this; you've got great credentials, your mile time is sick, lead MOC nom, and BGO recommendation. It would be nice to know the admissions board rationale. No words...feel bad for a day or two then get back on our feet.
 
fearthegoat17 said:
Thank you everyone for the encouragement and advice. I also have the principal for USAFA, so we'll see if that law is true.
Very disappointed. Ironic that I have a fear the goat USNA sticker on the ceiling above my bed, and went to sleep in my USNA t-shirt, then wake up to the TWE
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I hope USAFA finds you for the class of 2021. My DS was also TWE as expected because of not having a nom to USNA. DS got his top choice and so he's delighted. Good luck to you.
 
Just remember that your school leader is you PAL, sometimes. Override spell check.
 
My son received the Principal Nom. from our MOC. However, I know that we are in a very "non-competitive" CG. There were less than 15 people on Interview Day. I have no idea how many applied for nomination and what criteria was used to determine who would receive the Interview. I do know that one of the young men nominated last year by our MOC (I do not know if he was Prin. Nom last year) who was NOT appointed last year, was appointed this year and will be at I-Day with my son for Class of 2021. My son's CFA was very good. As a water polo player, I understand his BB throw was very impressive and believe he "max'd out" on other CFA categories. His SAT/ACT were not above "average" score for USNA. His GPA is high and he has taken nearly all AP classes. I do know that his Detailer for NASS submitted his name to receive Top Candidate and I believe that "recommendation" (I understand Detailers DO write reports on their impressions of the NASS'ers) combined with the Prin. Nom. and Letters of recommendation that were thoughtful and personal, made the difference. I am heartbroken for FeartheGoat and so many others who seem 3Q and WAY ABOVE. But as has been said many times before, to get this far with a SA Application is an indication of tenacity and future success, I'm sure. I don't know that there is a "fair" way, right way or wrong way for MOC's to handle the Nomination process. But, in life, there is no such thing as "fair". As I grew up telling my kids, "The FAIR is in October".
 
From the federal register (links provided by @Freda'sMom plus the one for USNA https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/6954)
Army
For example, a principal nominee who is found minimally qualified must be offered an appointment.

Air force
Principal, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged.

Navy
Each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress, including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, is entitled to nominate 10 persons for each vacancy that is available to him under this section. Nominees may be submitted without ranking or with a principal candidate and 9 ranked or unranked alternates. Qualified nominees not selected for appointment under this subsection shall be considered qualified alternates for the purposes of selection under other provisions of this chapter.

Notice no definition of "Principal" for Navy. However there is an intent. If I were the OP, after an appropriate cool down, I would ask admissions why, and if they were considered "not qualified". I would also want to verify with the MOC that they were truly give a "Principal" nomination and that is the type of slate that was submitted.
 
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