Who do I apply to?
- Thread starter seb.g.b
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Nominations FAQ
Below are answers to many Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) re the nomination process. Thanks to USNABGO08 for assistance. As always, we've made every effort to be accurate but the below has not been reviewed or approved by any SA or MOC contact. NOTE: Nominations are a fairly complex...
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It's based on the address you put on your application with the academy. That is which Member of Congress's portal you will be routed to. You can change which portal you appear in by contacting the academy and changing the address on your application. You can call the MOC's office and verify you appear in their portal and just explain the situation. At this point double-check deadlines as its possible one has already passed so you'd want to be put into the other MOC's portal.
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Generally, even children whose parents live in two different places have ONE official domicile which should be established in the divorce decree. I
expect that this information is readily available to you, do you have a drivers license? If so, which address is on it? Do you go to a public school, where?
expect that this information is readily available to you, do you have a drivers license? If so, which address is on it? Do you go to a public school, where?
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Find which district is less competitive and apply to that one.
CGA applicant 2024
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Nope
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A man of few words. I like that. Shows you're a competitive CGA applicant. And you obviously have an extensive knowledge about nominations since one is required for the CGA right? I wouldn't dare question an expert.
Maybe you should chip in your two cents of advice to help the OP. Just a thought.
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You can only apply for nomination from one MOC. That MOC can be any MOC willing to give you a nomination - there are no restrictions on whom a MOC can and cannot nominate.
In practice you must apply in the district of your home residence, but unusual circumstances have led to candidates applying for nominations outside of their home district. Apply in your home district (where you go to high school) unless there is a compelling reason to apply elsewhere.
The bottom line is that the MOC must agree to allow you to apply if your home residence is not in the district. In such a case, coordination with the SA is essential to avoid confusion.
In practice you must apply in the district of your home residence, but unusual circumstances have led to candidates applying for nominations outside of their home district. Apply in your home district (where you go to high school) unless there is a compelling reason to apply elsewhere.
The bottom line is that the MOC must agree to allow you to apply if your home residence is not in the district. In such a case, coordination with the SA is essential to avoid confusion.
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Not quite correct. We often see students who attend private schools outside of their district and at times outside of their state. The guidance is to apply from their home which is defined as their legal domicile. That is generally where their parents live and in the case of divorce, is established in the divorce decree.
Students attending school out of state can apply in the district in which the school is located, if the MOC will accept the application. I know of a few instances when this has occurred.
One applicant attending boarding school across the country applying to both USNA and USMA. USMA assumed he would apply for a nomination in his home district and assigned an RC and FFR from that area. USNA assigned an Admissions Counselor and BGO from the location of the school.
The applicant called the MOC office in the school's location and was told they would be happy to accept the application since the school was an important constituent in the district. Applicant decided to apply in home district anyway since process was already started with home district MOC.
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USNA can and often does assign Admissions people based on the candidate's location but congressional nominations are supposed to be from the LEGAL DOMICILE and the USNA admissions Noms and Appointments group should catch the attempt to subvert this. The BGO does not have to be from the Congressional district. My BGO area crosses two congressional districts and I've helped out with candidates from other districts and in one case, a different state.
Its actually pretty simple to understand and is put into place to avoid exactly the stuff that people have been suggesting like CHOOSING to apply from the less competitive district or, as some have tried in the past, the Senators from the less populated state. There have been plenty of candidates who think they can apply from both Mom AND Dad's Districts but all of this is designed to make it ONE Congressman and that is from the legal domicile.
I was in a hurry in the previous post and neglected to add a few details: The situation arose when his BGO told him that the file indicated he was applying for the nomination in the boarding school's district (probably an admin error). The USNA Admissions Counselor advised the candidate that he could apply for a nomination in either location, but not both. Even though he could have applied to the other MOC, the candidate chose the home district, flew 3,000 miles on a Friday to attend Saturday MOC interview, then flew 3,000 miles back to school on Sunday.
I know of three instances of candidates receiving nominations to USMA from a MOC outside of their home of record. A fourth was a college re-applicant, but I assume used the college address to establish residency in the MOC's district.
The bottom line is that by law MOC's control nominations, SA's control appointments. An applicant cannot unilaterally choose to apply for nomination outside of the home of record, but can request to do so. There is no attempt to subvert the process when it is done with good reason, approved by the MOC, and coordinated with the SA.
I know of three instances of candidates receiving nominations to USMA from a MOC outside of their home of record. A fourth was a college re-applicant, but I assume used the college address to establish residency in the MOC's district.
The bottom line is that by law MOC's control nominations, SA's control appointments. An applicant cannot unilaterally choose to apply for nomination outside of the home of record, but can request to do so. There is no attempt to subvert the process when it is done with good reason, approved by the MOC, and coordinated with the SA.
From another thread, I learned that candidates must have different nominations if they are applying to two service academies. My DD wants to apply to USNA and USAFA. She is one of those kids that lives 50/50 with each parent. She will probably apply for a nomination from the same district as her HS which is also one parent's house. She'll use this one for her 1st choice academy. But, from where should she get the other nomination for the other academy? Can one apply for a nomination from their House representative as well as the two Senate representatives?
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Take a deep breath to help clear the mind of the nomination muddle!
Applicants to all Academies (not USCGA, they are not under the nom system) should follow the advice given on each Academy website, which is usually “apply for all nominations for which eligible.” For the 3 DOD Academies, that means VP, 2 Senators, 1 Representative, and any of the Presidential, Service-related, JROTC or ROTC noms that might apply.
The applicant will find all the guidance for applying for noms for multiple academies on the state elected officials’ websites. They may all differ on formats, deadlines, required items, etc.
The same District should be used.
It may be helpful to review the Stickies at the top of thIs forum.
I assume we are talking about next year’s cycle, for the Class of 2025? Many submission deadlines have already passed for elected official noms, and interviews are well underway. Many of the elected officials hold information sessions or “Academy Nights.” Worth attending.