I'm not going to get into specific details, because it really doesn't matter, but I can tell you the basic procedure. But before explaining the process, let me tell you up front that there isn't just "1" process. You have to realize that appointments are based on "nominated applicants" and those nominated applicants fall into numerous categories with different rules.
BASICS: Each Member of Congress can have UP TO 5 constituents at the academy at any one time, who received an appointment using THEIR nomination. However, there are 3 methods of providing a nomination to these individuals. 1) A ranked slate of 10 names where the #1 nominee is their principal nominee and 2-10 are ranked in priority. 2) Where the #1 nominee is selected as the MOC's Principal nominee, and ALL OTHERS 2-10 are given to the academy, and the academy judges them. 3) A list of 10 nominees is given by the MOC to the academy, and they are all treated equally, and the academy determines who receives the appointment.
Now, if you are your MOC's Principal nominee, and you are 100% qualified to be at the academy and the air force, then it doesn't matter what the admissions board scores you at. You are GUARANTEED an appointment to the academy. This is by "LAW". The academy has no say so. Now, for what it's worth, not too many senators/representatives give a PRINCIPAL nomination. They usually give a list of 10 to the academy and let them decide.
Now, assuming that all the MOC's have at their one from each list given an appointment, the rest of the nominees goes into the national pool. Now, whether you're in the national pool or still in the local state/district pool of 10 being considered for the MOC slot, your record has be "SCORED" by an assembled admissions board. If the MOC had a "Principal" nominee, the scores don't matter. If the MOC gave a slate of 10 to the academy, then the academy will take the nominee with the highest score of those 10, and give them the appointment. "Assuming they are 100% qualified". The remaining go into the national pool and after ALL the MOC and OTHER nomination categories have their mandatory number filled, the remaining to fill the class will come from the national pool. Those appointments don't count against the MOC's slots. And they generally simply put all those in ranked score order and start at the top and work down, and give appointments until the class is full. Normally, not all at once, because they don't know how many will turn down the appointment. YES, believe it or not, not EVERYONE has the academy as their #1 college choice.
Now, this took care of the MOC nominees. There's also other categories of nominees such as presidential, ROTC, and other military related. They have a certain number of appointments that will come from there. The remainder will go into the national pool. These individuals too will have their score from the board, and their record will be placed in rank order based on their final score.
So, basically, you are chosen from a MINIMUM of 2 categories. Either your NOMINATION category such as MOC, presidential, ROTC, etc... or if not selected from there, you are put into the national pool and possibly selected from there.
2 more points: 1) Your SCORE in your file has many arbitrary and subjective values. In other words, an applicant from a small school with NO AP/IB/Honor classes available, COULD receive a higher academic score in their file than a person from a school with all those advanced classes, who didn't take them, but had a HIGHER GPA. In other words, an applicant will not be penalized for things they have NO CONTROL OVER such as certain classes not being available. Also, just like the AP/IB student will get MORE points than an applicant who didn't take those available classes, a captain on an athletic team, who made ALL-STATE, star athlete, etc... will receive more points than the person who was simply a member of the varsity team and wasn't a stand out. Also, in social areas of the application, an individual from a very "Bad" and depressed school with a high drop out rate, who gets a 3.9+gpa and does great on their SAT/ACT would probably get more points than the applicant with the same gpa/sat/act from an influential school that provided more opportunities to their students. The first student was able to OVERCOME adversity, and thus might gain more points. These are strictly examples of possibilities and only presents how the scoring has to be subjective.
2nd: The air force is made up of a very diverse population. We have men/women from every walk of life. Color, race, gender, religion, economic status, 1st generation college bound, immigrant, etc... It is important that the officer corp somewhat represents those that they are going to lead. So, it's also possible for some individuals to receive some points because of their background and attributes. The academy would love to have their officer corp made up of the same percentage of women, black, men, hispanic, christian, jewish, rich, poor, etc... that the enlisted corp is. This isn't totally possible, but it would be ideal.
Anyway; the appointment process is very intense and complicated. But in the large scope, it is fair. May not seem so to a particular individual, but in the make up of the air force as a whole, it is a great system. Hope this explains some of what you asked. mike...