Our DS didn’t receive his nomination until the end of January. Just by the deadline. I assume that negatively effects the timing of a possible acceptance. Does anyone have experience with a late nomination and an early appointment? Keeping our fingers crossed for an appointment on April 15.
Questions, Chatter, Congrats for the 2026 USAFA Appointment Thread
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cluelesscandidateparents
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I would imagine the SA know some nominations are done at the very last minute
FlyFalcon
'26, FFS (NWP 2021)
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Mine we always late. IL Senators don't give out till after Christmas at least, and my congressman didn't till Jan 15th too. Never heard of it affecting anyone here.
My DS didn’t get his nomination until the deadline (I think it was around 30 or 31 of January). He received his appointment a few weeks ago.
renotahoegal
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My DS is also a Nov 1 deadline who hasn’t heard anything yet.
Also a DS with Nov 1 deadline and still no word.
Falconiform-mom
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My cadet received his appointment.
moho
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They mail out a nice certificate too
Has your c/o 26 portal been closed already?Your favorite AFROTC cadet just submitted his PCQ for c/o '27
moho
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No, just planning for the TWE that will most likely appear in about mmm... *checks watch* 11 days
throckmortius
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Same here. At least it's happened once before to us, so the second time around won't hurt as much when it comes
moho
Pilot, artist, USNA '27
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Very true brother. Third time's the charmSame here. At least it's happened once before to us, so the second time around won't hurt as much when it comes
Peruvian_Pedgy
USAFA 27 Appointee, AFROTC C/4C
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Gotta keep the faith we’ve done everything we can
All of Alaska’s Senators and Rep give out noms last week of January if not first week of February. As far as I have seen the 5 Alaska slots have all already been appointed and accepted. While Alaska is sometimes an outlier, I don’t think late nominations affect much.
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“The 5 Alaska slots.”
Let’s pick apart the class seats that might be available.You may want to refresh on the Sticky Post pinned to the top of the Nominations forum.
Each Senator and your 1 Rep in your beautiful state may have 5 cadets or midshipmen each at the DoD SAs “charged” to their nomination authority at any one time, spread over the 4 years. That could be just 1 appointment per year each to USAFA, or it could be 2, depending how many of their appointees will graduate next month. Each elected official may submit a slate of up to 10 names for each vacanacy.
There could be 3-6 appointments charged among the 3 officials. The “5-6” would be an outlier, because that assumes there would be an unusual alignment of 2 vacancies each for 2-3 of the officials.
Being good politicians, they will take credit for anyone from their constituency who gets an offer of appointment, regardless of how many are actually charged to them. Now that you’re read the Nom Sticky Post, you know that USAFA can go to those slates and choose other fully qualified applicants to offer appointments to, and they will be charged to the nomination authorities they manage. There may be those on the slate, or even not on those slates, who earned other noms, such as JROTC or college ROTC nom, Presidential nom, other service-connected nom, even the VP nom. There is a reason the DoD SAs encourage applicants to apply to as many nom categories as they are eligible for. It gives the SA maximum flexibility as to where to charge an appointment.
Does the math look better to you now?
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Ds had a Nov 1 due date (finished it in early October). Both nominations came at the end of January. Appointment came in the late March wave. Remember that admissions isn't first in, first out...it is a puzzle with nominations, recruitments, class makeup, etc.
Ok, I'm a bit confused. On the list for USAFA Class of 2026, there are lots of NO LOA but have accepted their appointment. Are these sport related? My son applied directly (no sports), got two nominations (USAFA & USMA), still waiting for USAFA LOA. So, my question is, how can you accept without an LOA?
2025 hopeful
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Not everyone that receives an appointment will get a LOA (Letter of Assurance). The LOA is usually conditional on meeting all requirements, maybe there is a hold up on medical or waiting on a nomination or something like that. Sometimes they are given to a sports recruit to give them some assurance while going through the recruiting process with other colleges.
It seems like some service academies use LOA a lot, while others not so much. USAFA seems to be one that doesn't use LOA that much and just give appointments.
The goal is to receive an appointment, don't focus on the LOA. At this point, you are waiting for the appointment, not the LOA.
It seems like some service academies use LOA a lot, while others not so much. USAFA seems to be one that doesn't use LOA that much and just give appointments.
The goal is to receive an appointment, don't focus on the LOA. At this point, you are waiting for the appointment, not the LOA.
I’m by no means an expert (just been here a few months), but it seems the USAFA doesn’t give out many LOAs (letter of assurance). I’ve read a few people have received LOAs with certain stipulations/requirements. My son is an athlete and was recruited this year. He didn’t receive a LOA, but he received/accepted his appointment in March. I hope that’s a bit helpful.