Posted on Jan 10, 2018
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to help a young lady obtain the required nomination to attend the Air Force Academy?
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The daughter of a member of my VFW Post has been nominated to the US Air Force Academy by our local Representative to Congress, and has qualified in all other respects. She has even received conditional admittance. However, she still requires a Military affiliated, Presidential or Senatorial nomination to make the second nomination requirement by a deadline of January 30. Unfortunately, politics is in play here and California's two Senators are unlikely candidates to come to the rescue. Obviously, this is a time-sensitive request and any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 12
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Jack, I'm a USAFA grad, and it looks like the nomination process has not changed.
https://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/nominations/ Congressional Nominations are most common (VP and P noms are VERY competitive, and can be more political), and although the site says, "You should request a nomination from both of your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative." You are not required to get a Congratulations letter from more than one of them. If she has received a Congratulations letter from her US Representative to Congress and is now a "Nominee" in the USAFA's admittance site, she's passed that hurdle.
https://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/nominations/ Congressional Nominations are most common (VP and P noms are VERY competitive, and can be more political), and although the site says, "You should request a nomination from both of your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative." You are not required to get a Congratulations letter from more than one of them. If she has received a Congratulations letter from her US Representative to Congress and is now a "Nominee" in the USAFA's admittance site, she's passed that hurdle.
Nominations | Air Force Academy
To apply to the United States Air Force Academy, you must meet admissions requirements more stringent than at a typical university or college. Prospective students, or cadets, must seek and achieve nomination by a legally recognized nominating entity such as a Member of Congress, the Vice President or select other officials.
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CPT Jack Durish
Thank you for the confirmation. I was beginning to suspect as much as I researched deeper
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Here is how my nephew got into the AF Academy. Something to look at.
https://www.academyadmissions.com/the-experience/prep-school/prep-school-program/
https://www.academyadmissions.com/the-experience/prep-school/prep-school-program/
Prep School Program | Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, popularly known as the "Prep School," prepares a diverse group of cadet candidates to succeed and lead at the United States Air Force Academy. If you apply to the Academy and are not accepted, you may receive an appointment to the Prep School.
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CPT Jack Durish
Thank you. I have encouraged the family to follow this discussion thread and hopefully they will heed all the good advice
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Like the other responses, she doesn't need a second. As a matter of fact, our (Virginia) Members of Congress work together to ensure they are not "double" nominating. This ensures the max number of nominations for Virginians. Here's a good site for anyone (parent or student) interested in a service academy. https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php
United States of America Service Academy Forums
A discussion forum for service academy candidates, cadets and midshipmen, parents and alumni
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I'd still continue working on the CA Senatorial nomination, she has passed the major hurdle and further nominations are icing on the cake. Agree that COL Mikel Burroughs is a good source for getting a military affiliated nomination. If your VFW friend isn't originally from California he/she should also look at the chance of getting a Senatorial nomination from one of the senators from his/her home state.
I also went through this process in 60s for Coast Guard Academy. I wasn't my senators first choice for this 2nd nomination but did ultimately get accepted as a third alternate. Based on this, I pretty much wrote off CG Academy and accepted a football scholarship at a civilian school. Scholarship required me to report on August 1; about mid August I was notified that I was now the first candidate for the CG Academy from my home state. I decided to stay put and declined the offer, but point is you never know what's going on with military academy appointments.
I also went through this process in 60s for Coast Guard Academy. I wasn't my senators first choice for this 2nd nomination but did ultimately get accepted as a third alternate. Based on this, I pretty much wrote off CG Academy and accepted a football scholarship at a civilian school. Scholarship required me to report on August 1; about mid August I was notified that I was now the first candidate for the CG Academy from my home state. I decided to stay put and declined the offer, but point is you never know what's going on with military academy appointments.
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Unless the process has changed, something sounds jumbled. I believe all the Academies use the same process. Here's how it went for me:
1) Contacted Navy recruiter
2) Referred to Navy Blue and Gold Officer (Retired Career Officer USNA Alumni Volunteers) I am relatively sure that the USAFA has a similar network. The candidate should know who this is. My Blue and Gold Officer was great and very active. Some of my fellow Plebes did not have the same level of support from their Blue and Gold officer. But this person should be able to give you a definitive answer that is actually based on the young lady's file.
3) Completed application
4) Service Academies notified State Interview board who was academically qualified.
5) Sports scholarships are nominated by the superintendent from academically qualified candidates. (These candidates typically knew by Thanksgiving.)
6) Interviewed by nominating board (Each Senator and Representative has a quota for how many nominees they may have at any service academy at any one time. In my day it was four, and they nominated 5 for each vacancy they had.) The Arizona Senators and Representatives held a consolidated interview board. The academically qualified children of medal of Honor recipients are not part of the quota and are automatic. California may use an entirely different process.
7) Primary Nominees are notified of acceptance and are requested to send letters of intent by a specific date. (I knew I was a primary nominee and acceptance before Christmas.)
8) State vacancies left by declined nominations are filled from the alternate lists. (These Candidate typically knew by the end of January.)
9) Seats left unfilled are filled at large from those remaining from state boards and listed as Presidential or Vice Presidential Nominees. (These candidates typically knew by the end of February.)
10) Blue and Gold Officer make weekly contact and if at any time prior to three days prior to Induction Day a vacancy occurs the next person on the list is notified. Unverified rumor was that the class of 81 had a candidate who was notified and given less than 4 hours to get on a plane. probably not true but its a good sea story.
I don't know for a fact, but it sounds like the young lady in question was not a primary nominee and is somewhere on the prioritized wait list. Should enough vacancies occur she will be notified. In my day the Blue and Gold officer hand delivered a telegram.
1) Contacted Navy recruiter
2) Referred to Navy Blue and Gold Officer (Retired Career Officer USNA Alumni Volunteers) I am relatively sure that the USAFA has a similar network. The candidate should know who this is. My Blue and Gold Officer was great and very active. Some of my fellow Plebes did not have the same level of support from their Blue and Gold officer. But this person should be able to give you a definitive answer that is actually based on the young lady's file.
3) Completed application
4) Service Academies notified State Interview board who was academically qualified.
5) Sports scholarships are nominated by the superintendent from academically qualified candidates. (These candidates typically knew by Thanksgiving.)
6) Interviewed by nominating board (Each Senator and Representative has a quota for how many nominees they may have at any service academy at any one time. In my day it was four, and they nominated 5 for each vacancy they had.) The Arizona Senators and Representatives held a consolidated interview board. The academically qualified children of medal of Honor recipients are not part of the quota and are automatic. California may use an entirely different process.
7) Primary Nominees are notified of acceptance and are requested to send letters of intent by a specific date. (I knew I was a primary nominee and acceptance before Christmas.)
8) State vacancies left by declined nominations are filled from the alternate lists. (These Candidate typically knew by the end of January.)
9) Seats left unfilled are filled at large from those remaining from state boards and listed as Presidential or Vice Presidential Nominees. (These candidates typically knew by the end of February.)
10) Blue and Gold Officer make weekly contact and if at any time prior to three days prior to Induction Day a vacancy occurs the next person on the list is notified. Unverified rumor was that the class of 81 had a candidate who was notified and given less than 4 hours to get on a plane. probably not true but its a good sea story.
I don't know for a fact, but it sounds like the young lady in question was not a primary nominee and is somewhere on the prioritized wait list. Should enough vacancies occur she will be notified. In my day the Blue and Gold officer hand delivered a telegram.
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CPT Jack Durish I've got a friend that graduated from the Air Froce Academy there in California - I'll reach out to him to see what he can offer - standby brother!
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CPT Jack Durish
Thank you. I've been looking over the requirements after posting and am beginning to wonder if multiple nominations are required or "nice to have". Any idea?
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
CPT Jack Durish - According to my friend he obtained Congressional Appointment by contacting his local Congressional Senator. Only one appointment/nomination letter is needed, but you can have more than one (two is normal). In addition to the appointment by a Congressman (Senator or House Representative) they need the required GPA, proof of Community Involvement, and athletic helps as well. If they are really good athletes that can be a plus, from a recruitment standpoint. The academies will recruit as well. Looks like you have some solid information from others.
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CPT Jack Durish
COL Mikel J. Burroughs - I have encouraged the family to follow this discussion and hopefully they will heed the advice
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Not sure what the politics are now (I went through politics as well)... when I was looking for an appointment, I went to the Blue and Gold Meetings (USNA not USAFA). Usually, there are a ton of retired and active officers that have quick contacts. Not sure where she lives, but a google search of Air Force Academy Parent's Club + City should get her in the ballpark. Here is the SE Texas version as an idea of what she should look for:http://www.setxafapa.org/
Due to the time constraints she has, I would get ahold of someone there, make sure all of her paperwork is ready to go, and keep calling. If she knows any big business types that may have congressional contacts, may be another route. Also, she could go to the prep school for a year (as a bonus, the prep school candidates seemed to do better).
Reread that she is a daughter of VFW member, by father in law was post President and he worked to get area kids into the academies, so not sure if they might be another route. I would flood every possible avenue and hope something shakes loose.
Long shot, but the Superintendent's have a number of last minute slots that are available to them. Worth a call...
Hope this helps and best of luck to her! Sorry for the spitball flow of the post.
Due to the time constraints she has, I would get ahold of someone there, make sure all of her paperwork is ready to go, and keep calling. If she knows any big business types that may have congressional contacts, may be another route. Also, she could go to the prep school for a year (as a bonus, the prep school candidates seemed to do better).
Reread that she is a daughter of VFW member, by father in law was post President and he worked to get area kids into the academies, so not sure if they might be another route. I would flood every possible avenue and hope something shakes loose.
Long shot, but the Superintendent's have a number of last minute slots that are available to them. Worth a call...
Hope this helps and best of luck to her! Sorry for the spitball flow of the post.
The South East Texas parent club site for those who have children at the US Air Force Academy or Prep School.
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Besides the US Senators from CA, she can also seek nomination(s) from her US Representatives from her region/district.
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CPT Jack Durish
She already has the nomination from the Rep for our District but still requires one from any of the others mentioned in my posting
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What defines a military affiliated nomination? Maybe the highest ranking member of the VFW chapter could write one.
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CPT Jack Durish
Good question. Generally, "military affiliated nomination" is limited to those who are children of deceased or disabled veterans. In this case, the child's father is a disabled veteran, but not 100% disabled and, thus, not qualified under this provision.
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SPC David Willis
CPT Jack Durish - Interesting, that would probably be the easiest route to make happen especially within the VFW but still that's tough. Best of luck to her!
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