<p>In the AFA forum, someone alluded to congress critters who make NO nominations because they don’t believe in the military. Is this really the case?</p>
<p>No that would be a violation of federal law. I used to work for a congressman who was very anti-war but he knew his obligation and would never do such a thing. Sounds like urban legend to me.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that one before from someone who went to USAFA (when they had punch cards for the computers, if that gives you a clue). They said the same thing.</p>
<p>Another urban myth.</p>
<p>I agree with boss and shogun, it’s an urban legend–or another effort to ‘demonize’ liberal democratic MOCs (not my labels). Unfortunately, our BGO told my daughter not “to bother applying for a nomination from one of our senators, because she (the senator) is anti-military.” We ignored his advice and my mid ended up being named principal nominee from this senator. It was complete BS.</p>
<p>Additionally, there are many photos of this senator on her website visiting our troops in Iraq and at Navy hospital burn centers in San Diego.</p>
<p>shogun-</p>
<p>Glad it’s another urban myth. Too bad it can’t be on Mythbusters. :D</p>
<p>Not to open a can of worms, but just because a congressman or woman opposes the Iraq war does not make them “anti-military.” Quite the contrary. The Congressman I worked for was one of the best when it came to veterans issues especially the Agent Orange issue after Vietnam. The way we treat veterans is a disgrace and something the “pro-military” people have to answer for.</p>
<p>Slightly off-topic, but it is possible that a MOC could have no noms for a particular year. Each MOC can have up to 5 people (mids/cadets) at each SA at one time. If one of the MOC’s people leaves – either graduates or attrites – that opens up a slot. Thus, if you do the math, you’ll see that MOCs generally have 1 vacancy per SA each year, with 2 vacancies once every approximately 4th year. The SAs try to help the MOCs “manage” their vacancies so that each has at least one open slot each year. However, it is up to the MOC. </p>
<p>Let’s assume that the MOC has 3 vacancies at USMA this year b/c 1 of his cadets graduated and two attrited during the year. In theory, he could nominate 30 people for those 3 vacancies. However, if all those 3 of these newly chosen cadets end up staying at USMA for the full 4 yrs, there will be at least one year going forward where he will have 0 vacancies – b/c he can only have 5 total cadets at USMA at any one time and he now has 3 in one class. That leaves at least one class with 0 of this MOC’s cadets and, when that class graduates, it won’t oepn a new vacancy for this particular MOC.</p>
<p>Thus, USMA (or any of the other SAs) would likely recommend that he only nominate for 1 or 2 of the 3 vacancies this year (depending on what classes his other 2 cadets are in) and save that one opening for a year in which he wouldn’t otherwise have an opening. That said, it is up to the MOC, and if he wants to fill all 3 slots this year, there could come a year when he has zero. </p>
<p>BTW, I think an MOC would be crazy to do the above, but don’t believe there is any law preventing it.</p>
<p>Our MOC has more than five kids at West Point and the Air Force Academy this year, and will have more than five next year. How is that possible if they are only allowed five? There must be some “fudge” in the number of kids a MOC can have at a given institution…</p>
<p>USNA1985-</p>
<p>I think you brought the thread back on topic.</p>
<p>Thank you! :D</p>
<p>Members also “trade” nominations and slots as well.</p>
<p>If there are kids who are triple qualified in a district where all the Members slots are filled, if there is a Member who has extra slots they will sometimes work a deal where they use an unused slot from that Member.</p>
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<p>Never heard that one – although it could be true. I would think, however, this could create problems when it’s time to “return the favor,” to to speak. And, I think it would create havoc in recordkeeping. Still, this is the Congress and they make the rules.</p>
<p>It can be the case, of course, that more than one of an MOC’s noms receives an appointment. Thus, assume the MOC nominates 10 candidates for his one vacancy. One of those individuals will be slotted against that MOC. The other go into the infamous “pool.” Some of those remaining 9 may be offered an appointment. However, they are slotted against SecNav, the Supe or some other source and not against the MOC. </p>
<p>I would be very surprised if certain MOCs got more slots than 5 at one time b/c the number is based on the law. But, as noted, maybe not impossible.</p>
<p>FWDAD:</p>
<p>A MOC can have more than 5 cadets at an academy from his/her district since cadets from the district can receive nominations from alternative sources such as presidential, senate, vice-president and nominations earmarked for active and reserve enlisted military. The most common is for cadets receiving letters of appointment (LOA) and recruited athletes.</p>
<p>Someone quoted herein a statute that prohibits Congressman from appointing non-residents.<br>
I don’t recall the statute and have not read it. In any event, I can tell you from personal knowledge that Congressman who do not have enough residents to fill their slots sometimes “offer” their appointments to others and that some mechanism exists to make this work.</p>
<p>here is an example of how that might work. Rep A from Colorado has 4 Mids at USMMA and one availble slot but three great kids who are all triple Q’d.</p>
<p>Rep B from South Dakota who has sent one kid to USMMA in the last eight years has slots. Rep B nominates two of the three great kids from Rep A’s district.</p>
<p>(All quotes below from the U.S. Code.)<br>
The law actually differs based on the SA. </p>
<p>The requirements for USNA, for example, don’t specifiy that the candidate reside in the district from which he/she is nominated.<br>
<a href=“3”>quote</a> Ten from each State, five of whom are nominated by each Senator from that State.
(4) Five nominated by each Representative in Congress.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>However, this section regarding redistricting definitely gives the impression that they must be residents:</p>
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</p>
<p>This is the law regarding West Point:</p>
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</p>
<p>Without boring you with the vagaries of statutory construction, the above language certainly suggests that the nominees must be residents of the district from which they receive the nom.</p>
<p>However, I don’t dispute that the MOCs can get around the law. After all, they wrote it. :)</p>
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</p>
<p>More true words have never been written !</p>
<p>My brain just barfed, in part because of the convoluted legislation. </p>
<p>Since I’m confused most of the time by this, maybe I should run. :p</p>
<p>US CODE Title 10.6958(b):
“Each candidate for admission nominated under clauses (3) through (9) of section 6954 (a) of this title must be domiciled in the State, or in the congressional district, from which he is nominated, or in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, or the Virgin Islands, if nominated from one of those places.” </p>
<p>Very straight forward. Congressmen swapping appointments has not happened in at least 30 years or so. It did, in fact, used to be common but no more. They also traded appointments between the academies, a WP for USNA, etc. Academy Admissions Office guards against candidates being appointed from the wrong district.</p>
<p>That just reminded me of how old I am and how long ago I worked on the Hill. I don’t know whether to thank you or curse you ;)</p>