Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to help a young lady obtain the required nomination to attend the Air Force Academy?

2018-01-10T13:36:00-05:00

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.

Response by Mara Hedin made Jan 10 at 2018 1:37 PM

2018-01-10T13:37:02-05:00

I wish I could help, but I am going to "bump" this to the rest of my contacts and hope someone can give more insight!!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 10 at 2018 1:38 PM

2018-01-10T13:38:53-05:00

I'd tag COL Mikel J. Burroughs for the largest network pool available.

Response by SPC David Willis made Jan 10 at 2018 1:40 PM

2018-01-10T13:40:39-05:00

What defines a military affiliated nomination? Maybe the highest ranking member of the VFW chapter could write one.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2018 1:41 PM

2018-01-10T13:41:04-05:00

Besides the US Senators from CA, she can also seek nomination(s) from her US Representatives from her region/district.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Jan 10 at 2018 1:48 PM

2018-01-10T13:48:05-05:00

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.

SETXAFAPA

The South East Texas parent club site for those who have children at the US Air Force Academy or Prep School.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jan 10 at 2018 1:51 PM

2018-01-10T13:51:48-05:00

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!

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Jan 10 at 2018 2:27 PM

2018-01-10T14:27:20-05:00

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.

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.

Response by MSgt Michael Bischoff made Jan 10 at 2018 4:37 PM

2018-01-10T16:37:33-05:00

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/

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.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 10 at 2018 5:33 PM

2018-01-10T17:33:52-05:00

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.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jan 10 at 2018 6:51 PM

2018-01-10T18:51:46-05:00

I'd still continue working on CA Senatorial nomination, they really look at qualifications before politics for military academy recommendations. Agree that COL Mikel Burroughs is a good source for a Mitilary Affiliated nomination. Also if friend is in VFW he/she may not be from California, so look to senators from his/her home state in addition to CA.
A bit of follow on advice, I went through this process in 60s for Coast Guard Academy. I wasn't my senators first choice for nomination but did ultimately get accepted as a third alternate. I pretty much wrote that off and went to college on a football scholarship. Scholarship required me to show up beginning of August, around mid August I was notified that I was now the #1 candidate for the Coast Guard Academy from my state. I rejected nomination and stayed put, but moral of story is you never know on Academy entrance.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jan 10 at 2018 7:10 PM

2018-01-10T19:10:04-05:00

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.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Jan 11 at 2018 2:01 PM

2018-01-11T14:01:13-05:00

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

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