USMA-USNA Nom choice (USNA-LOA)

usna candidate

5-Year Member
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Jul 8, 2010
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I am applying to both USMA and USNA, but I have a nomination already to USNA. I'm applying for the following nominations:
  • JROTC Honor Unit With Distinction
  • Congressman
  • 2 Senators
  • Vice President

I am truly undecided on which academy I would like to attend. How or can I split up my nominations. I am mainly worried about the JROTC nom and the congressional nom. I figured that since I already have an LOA to USNA I would apply for the congressional nom for that and the JROTC one to West Point. Is that my best option?
 
Do all three of your MOCs stipulate that you only apply for a nomination to a single SA?
 
No, at least my congressman(GA-12) doesn't stipulate that, but he does want a preference. One of his aids told me that I would have to select a primary though.
 
No, at least my congressman(GA-12) doesn't stipulate that, but he does want a preference. One of his aids told me that I would have to select a primary though.

Then you really don't have an issue. Between now and whenever you have to list your preferences, decide, however you see fit, what they are. I would strongly advise you to remain consistent throughout all three lists. Playing the field can come back and haunt you.

Your MOCs will be aware of your LOA to USNA.

As a source of appointment, your JROTC nomination is practically worthless. Where it is worthwhile is as an extra conduit for a writeup to the Admissions Board. An Army ROTC writeup will be more beneficial to USMA. Also, I am not sure that your unit cannot nominate you to all three SAs. Check with your military instructor. Something worth looking into.
 
So it is looked upon negatively to apply to my MOC's with different Service Academy Preferences? Why is that such a bad thing, especially if I'm truly undecided?

And why is the JROTC nomination practically worthless? I'm the Brigade Executive Officer for the corps of cadets at Benedictine Military School if that makes a difference at all. It probably won't though.
 
So it is looked upon negatively to apply to my MOC's with different Service Academy Preferences? Why is that such a bad thing, especially if I'm truly undecided?
To give three different first choices to three different interview panels would seem dishonest to me. Also, in a 15 minute interview where someone else is controlling the conversation, it will be very difficult to convey both knowledge of career possibilities and indecision in a preference. You may very well get tripped up.

Only a total of 20 appointments can be granted annually from all ROTC nominations. And the unsuccessful nominees are not eligible for the national pool. The 20 awards will be by competitive order of merit. The top 20 not awarded an appointment from another source will be granted appointments. You will be competing with previously 3Qed but unsuccessful candidates who now have a year of college and a year of ROTC added to their applications. A true needle in a haystack.
 
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I talked to a person from one of my Senators, and they said it would be okay to have different preferences to the other MOC's, but then again that doesn't mean that the other 2 MOC's feel the same way.
 
I talked to a person from one of my Senators, and they said it would be okay to have different preferences to the other MOC's, but then again that doesn't mean that the other 2 MOC's feel the same way.

For Chambliss and Isakson rank them anyway you want. They don't cross-refrence. Can't help you on your congressman--I'm 5 hours away from you.

If I were you, I would just make a decision on which academy you prefer. With something like USMA and USNA the question is a little easier. Do you want to spend half your service time on a boat? Or do you want to spend your entire service time on land?
 
I applied to USNA and USMMA (and of course USCGA).

In each case I told the board that USCGA was likely my top choice but I would of course consider the others before making my final choice, provided I got into USCGA.

This was the same thing I told my NROTC scholarship recruiter, as well as the three schools associated with the NROTC scholarship I applied to.

The NROTC commander for Vanderbilt University was on the board for Sen. Bill Frist. When asked what my back up plans for service academies were, I said NROTC scholarship. When asked which schools I applied to, I said, "Vandy, UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn". And finally when asked which of those three schools I considered my top choice, I said Vandy. It was only then that they told me that he was the CO for Vandy's NROTC program. A week later I got a letter from Vanderbilt's NROTC program, inviting me to the program. Luck? Maybe, but I told them the truth.

After all of that, I received a nomination to both USMMA and USNA from Bill Frist and a nomination to both USMMA and USNA from my Congressman. Both knowing full well that USCGA was my top choice.

Once I was accepted to USCGA and had visited the academies and made up my mind, I called USNA, USMMA, and the NROTC scholarship recruiter and told them I had made a decision and thanked them for their help.

Later that year....wayyyyyy later Sen. Bill Frist attended a meeting of the Youth Advisory Board to the Board of Health that I sat on. He remembered me and told me "good luck at the Coast Guard Academy". I thanked him for the support.




Order them how you think you want it to be. Tell them you're still considering whatever you're considering. Be honest, and be open. It says something if you're willing to say "Yes, I'm looking at your school, but I'm also considering/leaning towards...." It's not a bad thing. If they really want you, they may even fight for you a little more.
 
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