Vice President Nomination & Letters of Recommendation

[smokey%]

I am currently a Junior and am starting the process of applying for nominations from my state rep, senator, and the vice president. My state rep and senator require 3 letters of recommendation from my teachers, however, I don't see anything regarding letters of recommendation on the Vice President nomination page. Do I not need letters of recommendation for the vice president nomination application? Additionally, do my teachers who are writing the letters need to send them to my senator and state rep? Does this just mean they change who the letter is addressed to accordingly and email them?

 

[Capt MJ]

I am currently a Junior and am starting the process of applying for nominations from my state rep, senator, and the vice president. My state rep and senator require 3 letters of recommendation from my teachers, however, I don't see anything regarding letters of recommendation on the Vice President nomination page. Do I not need letters of recommendation for the vice president nomination application? Additionally, do my teachers who are writing the letters need to send them to my senator and state rep? Does this just mean they change who the letter is addressed to accordingly and email them?

The VP nom evaluation and selection process is handled by the service academy, with no direct involvement by VP staff. The SA will of course see everything submitted on you. Follow the instructions and you’re done.

Each U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative can run their nom application and selection process how they wish: their deadlines, material requested, how submitted, interviews/no interviews, etc. Do what is required by their website. If you have questions, call the staffers who coordinate the SA nom process. Don’t guess or assume.

You should be applying to 2 U.S. Senators and 1 U.S. Representative. Noted you said “my senator.”

 

[smokey%]

The VP nom evaluation and selection process is handled by the service academy, with no direct involvement by VP staff. The SA will of course see everything submitted on you. Follow the instructions and you’re done.

Each U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative can run their nom application and selection process how they wish: their deadlines, material requested, how submitted, interviews/no interviews, etc. Do what is required by their website. If you have questions, call the staffers who coordinate the SA nom process. Don’t guess or assume.

You should be applying to 2 U.S. Senators and 1 U.S. Representative. Noted you said “my senator.”

I can only find the service academy nomination page for one of my senators (senator Bob Casey). My other senator is John Fetterman and I can't seem to find a page with the service academy nomination application for him online.

 

[Capt MJ]

Screenshot. Scroll.

 

[smokey%]

Thank you so much! Do my teachers who are writing the letters send them to all 3 people (my senators and state rep). Do they need to make 3 separate copies changing who it is addressed to (1 copy addressed to state rep, 1 copy addressed to senator, and 1 copy addressed to other senator)?

 

[NavyHopefulMom2027]

Thank you so much! Do my teachers who are writing the letters send them to all 3 people (my senators and state rep). Do they need to make 3 separate copies changing who it is addressed to (1 copy addressed to state rep, 1 copy addressed to senator, and 1 copy addressed to other senator)?

You will likely get instructions on who and how these things need to be sent. It would be good to identify your recommenders and give them a heads up that you will be applying to SA(s) and ask if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation. Then pause and wait until you get all your data gathered in one spot. So you can inform your recommender on how the recommendations need to be sent. They will be three separate processes.

All of the members of congress have their own process. They may be identical to each other or completely unique. It will likely be some version of the recommender emailing the letter to the MOC staffer. A link sent to the recommender for them to fill out directly. A request that the recommender seal the letter in an envelope and return to you in for you to include in a mailed packet. Or an address for the recommender to mail the letter.

Once you have started the nomination process you can send the email to your recommender and update them on how to complete the recommendations. For example:
Sentor A requests that you print your recommendation letter and seal it in an envelope and return to me before 11/1 so I can include it in my application packet.

Sentor B requests that you email his staffer at susiestaffer@senate. gov the due date for this recommendation is 10/31

Rep C will send a link where you can upload the recommendation. You should receive that link at bestteacher@bestschool. edu shortly and the due date for that is 11/15.

It will be very helpful for both you and the recommender to have all of the information in one spot for reference.

You don't need to micromanage how they address them. They may choose to personalize each one, they may choose to make a generic to Whom it may concern, or Dear Nominating Committee. That will not make a difference at all to the receiving person.

And then be sure to profusely thank them for their recommendation.

Good luck!

 

[Capt MJ]

If you are applying to multiple academies, take steps to remind your letter writers what the goal is for that letter. Noting Smokey is an ideal candidate for the Air Force Academy when you are requesting a nom for Navy is not the best impression.

The entire application process is a test of your executive coordination skills, project management, attention to detail, time management, determination, problem-solving, patience, communications, critical thinking and ability to think through a problem from beginning to end. All desirable traits in junior military officers.

 

[A1Janitor]

Like Capt MJ said - everyone has their specific rules.

In NY - my son got the letters handed to him by teachers in sealed envelopes. And he forwarded them to each in a larger packet to one Senator and his MOC.

One Senator wanted a pdf sent - but that was because there was something happening in 2019 with powdered substance being mailed - and mail was halted. I forget the details- but remember the mini crisis to make sure it was properly sent.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Thank you so much! Do my teachers who are writing the letters send them to all 3 people (my senators and state rep). Do they need to make 3 separate copies changing who it is addressed to (1 copy addressed to state rep, 1 copy addressed to senator, and 1 copy addressed to other senator)?

I hope that you're not expecting a State Rep to nominate you to a Service Academy because just as a State Senator (see other thread), those STATE LEVEL positions do not have nominations to give.
You need to apply for nominations from your two US Senators and your Congressperson (US Congressional Representative).
.
You were probably thinking about the correct people but words have meanings and there actually are State Reps and State Senators who have nothing to do with Service Academy nominations.

 

[smokey%]

I hope that you're not expecting a State Rep to nominate you to a Service Academy because just as a State Senator (see other thread), those STATE LEVEL positions do not have nominations to give.
You need to apply for nominations from your two US Senators and your Congressperson (US Congressional Representative).
.
You were probably thinking about the correct people but words have meanings and there actually are State Reps and State Senators who have nothing to do with Service Academy nominations.

Yes sorry I got congressman and state rep mixed up haha

 

[Jabor3]

Thank you so much! Do my teachers who are writing the letters send them to all 3 people (my senators and state rep). Do they need to make 3 separate copies changing who it is addressed to (1 copy addressed to state rep, 1 copy addressed to senator, and 1 copy addressed to other senator)?

Yes. This exectly.

Senator Casey and almost certainly Senator Fetterman will use a portal. The LOR (addressed to them individually, properly, and signed) needs to be sent to them according to the instructions they provide. It is possible that Sen. Fetterman will require as did his predecessor that the ENTIRE application (essay, transcript, all LORs, photo, etc) be sent in one single PDF document. Pay attention to the specific requirements.

I don’t know what district you’re in but it’s not uncommon for the U.S. Representative to come online or open up the application info much later than the senators, and run the due dates and interviews later as well.

These will not be due for a long time but may be due as early as Sept 1 so know that a portion if not all of this needs to be done by guidance and teachers over the summer.

Meet with each recommender before school ends. Have a clear description on paper for them on the requirements and due dates. Trust but verify that things get done and sent. They won’t be using their usual system (Naviance for most) and this may be something that requires extra steps etc than they’re used to. My son created a tracking system and followed up respectfully as needed but I recall it was ongoing throughout the summer because Senator Toomey had that early due date. Leadership and organization needed throughout this process that’s for sure!

Good luck and go PA!!

 

[smokey%]

Yes. This exectly.

Senator Casey and almost certainly Senator Fetterman will use a portal. The LOR (addressed to them individually, properly, and signed) needs to be sent to them according to the instructions they provide. It is possible that Sen. Fetterman will require as did his predecessor that the ENTIRE application (essay, transcript, all LORs, photo, etc) be sent in one single PDF document. Pay attention to the specific requirements.

I don’t know what district you’re in but it’s not uncommon for the U.S. Representative to come online or open up the application info much later than the senators, and run the due dates and interviews later as well.

These will not be due for a long time but may be due as early as Sept 1 so know that a portion if not all of this needs to be done by guidance and teachers over the summer.

Meet with each recommender before school ends. Have a clear description on paper for them on the requirements and due dates. Trust but verify that things get done and sent. They won’t be using their usual system (Naviance for most) and this may be something that requires extra steps etc than they’re used to. My son created a tracking system and followed up respectfully as needed but I recall it was ongoing throughout the summer because Senator Toomey had that early due date. Leadership and organization needed throughout this process that’s for sure!

Good luck and go PA!!

My school has a future plans center and I met with the counselor there to discuss the service academy and nomination application process. He told me to ask my teachers to send their LORs to him and he would send the LORs to their respective recipients. Would this be appropriate or should my teachers directly send them?

 

[Jabor3]

My school has a future plans center and I met with the counselor there to discuss the service academy and nomination application process. He told me to ask my teachers to send their LORs to him and he would send the LORs to their respective recipients. Would this be appropriate or should my teachers directly send them?

Well it really doesn’t matter what happens on your end; what matters is that the MOC receives the LOR and the rest of the application in the exact format that they require. So whatever process you decide makes the most sense to achieve that goal is the path you should take.