Should I get to know my Congressman now?

[navalacademy12]

I'm a freshman in McLean high school (Northern Virginia) and I was wondering if should start talking to my congressman right now or wait until I need it

 

[2011's Mom]

I'm a freshman in McLean high school (Northern Virginia) and I was wondering if should start talking to my congressman right now or wait until I need it

Watch your MOC web page for Academy Days, many MOCs have these in early fall and some also have them in the spring. If your MOC hosts these you should plan to attend. You will likely be talking to a staffer for your MOC not the MOC directly. It is still early but attending the Academy Days (if your MOC hosts them) is a good thing to do. These are usually 2-4 hours, often on a Saturday. They begin with each SA having a representative present, often cadets from each SA come as well. Each SA has a table set up and representatives to talk to interested students. They usually do a brief discussion about the nomination process and how they do it at that MOC office. Each SA gives a little presentation as well (usually the SA rep is a local ALO/MALO/B&G). Even though no nom is needed for CGA, they usually have a rep there as well - so does the USMMA. If cadets/mids are present they each will give a little talk and answer questions. These are very informative and even if you have been to one before, I recommend going to as many as possible because that gets you in front of the MOC staffer and often the SA reps may even be on the MOC nominating committee.

So - check out your MOC page and see if they have such a program. If you don't find it on their web page, call and ask if they host such a thing. In some areas multiple MOCs join in together to host them.

 

[usna1985]

Agree with the above but let me take a slightly different approach on the answer.

You do NOT need to know your MOC to get a nom. Most, if not all, MOCs use some form of a citizens' committee made up of volunteers from the state/district. They review the applications, conduct interviews, and make recommendations to the MOC on whom to nominate. The purpose of this is to insulate nominees from the political process and eliminate charges of nepotism. Most candidates who receive noms have never met -- and will never meet -- the MOC as part of this process.

For example, when I got my nom (albeit many years ago), my parents were actively working to unseat the MOC from whom I got my nom. So, donating money, meeting your MOC, working for him/her over the summer, etc. GENERALLY makes not difference. If it did, everyone would be doing it.

That said, I'm not naive enough to think that there aren't situations here & there when knowing your MOC really well (family, long-term friendships) might help get you a nom. But I don't believe it's at all common. In any event, there's nothing you can do about it.

The best thing to do is attend the info days (as discussed above) and download the application packets from your MOCs -- or otherwise obtain them -- as soon as possible so you know now what's expected. You really do NOT need to do anything more.

 

[larry2013]

your congressman uses an advisory board - they have their own system of ranking you so that you can be compared to others in the disrict. This year congressman had 50 applicants for USNA and another 50 for west point - the senators for VA had 385 applicants. The congressman will have advisory board evaluate you and do the interview - as said above, check the sites for MOC's their dates as deadlines are varied.