Timeline from LOA and Nomination to BFE

Y

YoitsFly

Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2022
Messages
172
How long does it take a nomination to be received and checked off on my USAFA portal? I received a call from my representative informing me that they appointed me to the class of 2027 for USAFA but the nomination has not appeared in my portal yet.

Also, once the nomination has been received, how long does it take for a BFE to arrive at my mailbox? Do I have to wait all the way until April when all final decisions are made?
 
Can you clarify nomination or appointment? Nomination from your representative? Appointment to USAFA from USAFA? Congratulations on your progress! My DS had interview and the slate should be communicated to them after Thanksgiving.
 
I'm 90% sure appointment. When they called me, they said appointment and not nomination to the class of 2027. Also, I have an LOA to USAFA with the only final requirement being a nomination. Maybe the representative meant they gave me the principal nomination? Supposedly they submit an unranked slate to USAFA and USAFA chooses who to give the nomination to but they notified me so soon they might have decided themselves. They said at my interview they would notify me in late December/early January but I was very surprised to receive the nomination this soon.
 
Excited for all applying! Love this time of year when most of the work is done and the DS and DD get to sit back and see the results. Have a beautiful Holiday Season!
 
YoitsFly said:
I'm 90% sure appointment. When they called me, they said appointment and not nomination to the class of 2027. Also, I have an LOA to USAFA with the only final requirement being a nomination. Maybe the representative meant they gave me the principal nomination? Supposedly they submit an unranked slate to USAFA and USAFA chooses who to give the nomination to but they notified me so soon they might have decided themselves. They said at my interview they would notify me in late December/early January but I was very surprised to receive the nomination this soon.
Click to expand...
If you can, just wait and let this all develop. The elected officials do not offer appointments; they nominate you for one. Only the SA can do that. Allow for some communications mishaps in terms of language. I think you are in great shape - you know you have a nom, you have an LOA that specified a nom.

Look up “SEAL box breathing” and give it a try. I know this is crazy-making.

I think the BFE comes after you accept.

One step at a time.
 
I never understood the thoughts on BFE. My son went from LOA to nom to DQ to waiver granted to offer of appointment to acceptance 1 second after offer. The BFE came a couple months later (to be fair - my son had to sign paperwork accepting marines if they chose that for him).

The two things we didn’t care about were the LOA (didn’t know what they were before he got it) and when the BFE would come. The offer and acceptance was what we cared about.
 
MSNavy said:
Can you clarify nomination or appointment? Nomination from your representative? Appointment to USAFA from USAFA? Congratulations on your progress! My DS had interview and the slate should be communicated to them after Thanksgiving.
Click to expand...
If it is an “appointment“ the MOCs are given 48 hours advance notice before the appointment would appear in your portal. This time is provided to the MOCs to notify their nominees that they have received an appointment. That said, As Capt. MJ states, there might be a mis-speak on the part of the MOC’s representative that called you. One way or the other it should not take long for something to show on your portal. Past that, each academy is a little different and holidays, volume of activity, and other mysterious elements can effect the length of time from appointment to your receiving a BFE. But, as others have stated, it probably would take a couple weeks from appointment to BFE being sent. Good Luck!
 
So will there be a thing that appears in my portal that says "Accept/Deny Appointment" and if I click "Accept" I will be sent a BFE?
 
The BFE will come automatically with your appointment (if given.) If someone ends up with multiple appointments they might receive multiple BFEs from several academies (with nice appointment certificates and letters.) You still have time to then decide on which academy (if any) you would decide to attend. For some they might extend a “must accept by” date but for most May 1st is the deadline. The BFE is NOT dependent on accepting the appointment.
 
Congrats on your progress so far!
You might be looking for dates and such so here is what I can share about my DS who is a Doolie Class of 2026:
November 2021: LOA/LOI received (didn’t tell us exact date!)
December: interviewed with Congressman and notified of nomination 12/10 or so
Jan 11: DS checked portal because I said “do you check your portal every?” And “click on status update” or some verbiage was there and it was his appointment!!!!!

BFE didn’t come until April/May etc. His ALO presented his appointment at senior convocation June 1st and asked my DS to bring the blue folder and the ALO presented it back to him during the ceremony. We recorded it and it’s such a nice video to have! Highly recommend if this also happens for you 😀

Good luck and keep us posted!
 
2026 said:
Congrats on your progress so far!
You might be looking for dates and such so here is what I can share about my DS who is a Doolie Class of 2026:
November 2021: LOA/LOI received (didn’t tell us exact date!)
December: interviewed with Congressman and notified of nomination 12/10 or so
Jan 11: DS checked portal because I said “do you check your portal every?” And “click on status update” or some verbiage was there and it was his appointment!!!!!

BFE didn’t come until April/May etc. His ALO presented his appointment at senior convocation June 1st and asked my DS to bring the blue folder and the ALO presented it back to him during the ceremony. We recorded it and it’s such a nice video to have! Highly recommend if this also happens for you 😀

Good luck and keep us posted!
Click to expand...
Thanks for your sharing your experience! So far it sounds like our timelines are pretty similar.

When I receive the appointment in the portal is that when I can celebrate or do I have to wait for the BFE?
 
YoitsFly said:
When I receive the appointment in the portal is that when I can celebrate or do I have to wait for the BFE?
Click to expand...
If the portal indicates that you’ve won offer of appointment, then you’re good to go. The BFE is nice in that you have a tangible memento. But a portal offer is as official as they come.

(By the way, candidates at this point receive offer of appointment. You’re not appointed until you take the oath on I/R Day (depending on your SA).
 
And once the portal indicates I've won an offer of appointment, I don't need to apply for any more nominations since I already have an appointment? But until then I should keep applying for nominations?
 
An offer of appointment means you’re done! You’ve fulfilled all the requirements and are in. Full stop.

What you should still do is secure a viable Plan B. Because stuff does happen that occasionally keeps an offeree from joining the incoming class, e.g. injury, illness, legal trouble.
 
A1Janitor said:
I never understood the thoughts on BFE. My son went from LOA to nom to DQ to waiver granted to offer of appointment to acceptance 1 second after offer. The BFE came a couple months later (to be fair - my son had to sign paperwork accepting marines if they chose that for him).

The two things we didn’t care about were the LOA (didn’t know what they were before he got it) and when the BFE would come. The offer and acceptance was what we cared about.
Click to expand...
BFE is a nice thing to have on the Grad Party table. Great also for photo ops.

It felt good to have something solid, in hand. Sort of a commemorative item representing all the hard work put into the years of hard work in school, and the lengthy application process.

Of course, now, it’s in a memory box. But it was pretty cool at HS graduation time.
 
justdoit19 said:
BFE is a nice thing to have on the Grad Party table. Great also for photo ops.

It felt good to have something solid, in hand. Sort of a commemorative item representing all the hard work put into the years of hard work in school, and the lengthy application process.

Of course, now, it’s in a memory box. But it was pretty cool at HS graduation time.
Click to expand...
Lol I know. But receiving it two business days after acceptance or 2 months after doesn’t change that.
 
@YoitsFly , congratulations on the LOA + call from nominating source. As @Capt MJ clarified above, the nominating source only controls when and how they submit a slate; USAFA determines who and when they offer appointments from that slate, inclusive of whether you receive an LOA or not. It doesn't matter how your nom source submits, with an LOA + nom you didn't have to win the slate, just be on it.

Assuming your LOA condition was completing your application and securing any nomination, then the short answer is: it's just a matter of time.

Easy for us and anyone else to say don't worry about it, but consider it a rite of passage that you will ask yourself the same question each day, "When am I getting that BFE?" until it does come. For some reference, my C2024 DD USAFA: LOA end October, nom Dec 13, Appointment 12/24, BFE mailed 01/23. USMA LOA 09/24, nom by October, letter in Dec saying "You have everything and we will offer you appointment around February", BFE 02/10. You would think it's the same cost to mail a boiler plate offer of appointment as a "You got everything but for whatever reason, we're going to wait until February" letter. Maybe to see 7th semester grades, who knows.
 
@HCopter thanks for sharing your DD's experience and timeline. It sucks having to wait but I know it's out of my control.

How long did it take your DD's nomination to appear in their USAFA portal? I received the phone call about a week ago from my representative informing me I received their nomination but nothing has appeared in my portal yet. They mentioned having to attend a media day in February but that's too late to send in the nomination.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top