ROTC backup nomination?

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BenjaminZ

5-Year Member
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Aug 6, 2011
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64
Hello all,

I am currently working on the nomination process for my 2 senators and district representative. But I've always been nervous as to this process, because I have nowhere to go if I cannot receive a nomination from these sources.

If I fail for 3 out of 3 of my chances to be nominated, and I attend a different school with ROTC, am I assured a nomination from the ROTC commander?

I read somewhere that if ROTC can get you nominated for a service academy, but I am blurry as to how this works. Is there an interview? Is it as competitive as the congressional ones?

I really do not wish to resort to this, but I won't stop applying until I get in.

Thanks in advance!
 
No, you are not assured a nomination from the ROTC commander.

I am not sure if there are any prerequisites that the detachment must meet for the commander to have nominating power. In JROTC, the instructor only has nominating power if the unit is granted a certain unit-wide award. It's sort of an incentive for the unit to strive for the award.

I have no idea if ROTC college detachments must receive a unit award or anything for the commander to have nominating power. However, I do know that nominations are not guaranteed. The commander must go along with it. So, basically, if you're not well-liked, don't bank on a nomination. It's the same way in JROTC. If the instructor doesn't like you, he's not going to nominate you.

If the commander doesn't see quality in you, if your performance is poor, or if, unfortunately, he has some personal beef with you, I doubt you would get nominated.

Conversely, if you're at least a generally somewhat above-average cadet, he ought to go along with it. I am receiving a nomination in this category. My conversation was something like this. "Major, I was wondering, could you nominate me to the Air Force Academy?" "Sure."

It just depends on you individually. If you're going to be a good cadet, I don't see any reason you wouldn't get a ROTC nomination.
 
Don't forget to apply for the Vice-Presidential/Presidential nomination too - that gives you four opportunities for a nomination.
 
@BrianReed - Thanks for the reminder, that's a good point.

I stumbled upon this form online today:

http://admissions.usma.edu/documents/ROTC_Nomination_Form_5-497.pdf

It looks like there are different types of nominations, one being the honor-grad based nomination that I believe SCcandidate2015 mentioned. There are also a junior and senior ROTC nomination.

So basically the critique is to work extremely hard in ROTC and prove to prove to your commander how much you deserve the nomination, and then you can just ask them for one?

Thanks.
 
Yes, that is what you need to do. Remember the commander has to sign his name at the bottom and he is going to just sign it because the system says he/she can. They will look at the candidate and decide if they want to "support" them.

The JROTC and ROTC are put together in a pool, there is no JROTC only or no ROTC only nom. From there only 20 can be charged to ROTC as their source.

You should apply for it without a doubt, but understand it also will be competitive, more so than the slate of 10 for your MOC since there could be 400+ with that nom, but only 20 can be charged.

My best suggestion is to have Plan B ready for ROTC. Apply for the scholarship, visit the dets on your school visit. Be upfront and tell them that the SA is your numero uno choice. They will not be offended, most of the times it works to your advantage since they will keep an eye on you in the beginning of your C100 yr.

Additional reason to tell them early on is you want that ROTC nom. That means paperwork for them. Hiding it until 2 weeks out from the nom due date will not make them happy. They will also not have paid attention to you if you are in a large det of 75+ C100's and just maybe 3 other cadets came to them back in the spring, told them they would be re-applying and they were working with them to prime their packet to perfection, whereas you are now behind the 8 ball compared to them. Remember only 20 can be charged.
 
Thanks for the information Pima. Hopefully I will not have to resort to this, but I need the backup plan if worst comes to worst. Another point is that I can always go after a congressional nomination from the district again. That would definetly show the board how determined I am to get in.
 
BenjaminZ said:
Another point is that I can always go after a congressional nomination from the district again. That would definetly show the board how determined I am to get in.
Click to expand...

You can also go for the Sens and the VP again...also the Pres., if applicable.

Don't assume that be re-applying your sources necessarily evaporate since you are now in college.

You would actually have 1 more source (ROTC) if you are not in JROTC.

Good luck, and we will be here every step of the way to help you get there, be it motivating or congratulating.
 
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