Principal Nomination vs. Regular Nom.
There is a huge difference between Principal vs. Regular nomination.
Principal nom. is the equivalent of a "First Place" nomination and the academy will accept this nominee (IF) that nominee satisfies the educational, physical, and SAT standards for acceptance to the various academies. My son was a "PRINCIPAL nominee" and I am thankful every single day that our congressman/congresswoman used this protocol for the selection process. My son was selected as PRINCIPAL nominee, because he displayed the attributes that the military officers deemed excellent to select him as their "number 1" pick. I am eternally thankful because I am sure that other candidates may have had "higher grades and higher SAT scores". However, my son loves being a cadet and my be one of the cadets who will graduate as the "happiest cadet". He loves USAFA and is honored to be serving there as a cadet. The Air Force officers who interviewed all of the candidates in December of that year must have seen in my son the same attributes that I see, that will make him an honorable officer in the United States Air Force. He is grateful to be there, and I am thankful that his dream is being fulfilled...