<p>Well, actually, the Academy has other ways of moving vacancies around. For example, even though you are from Maryland, it is possible that you could technically count against vacancies from Wyoming because Wyoming has so few people and perhaps no truly qualified candidates came forward from that state (or they were barely qualified). This is sort of like the “horse trading” which they do on other issues.</p>
<p>However, you still have to get nominated through a MOC (or POTUS or VPOTUS). With the Wyoming scenario above, perhaps Cardin has only one current vacancy, but he nominates a typical slate of ten candidates (including you). USNA might choose somebody else for Cardin’s slot, but assign you to Wyoming. </p>
<p>Your job is to get the nomination. Period. Knowing that you have an LOA should not change your personal approach to this at all. You still have to go through the process. What happens behinds the scenes is irrelevant to you. Forget about it. It is absolutely trivial and unimportant.</p>
<p>If you get the nomination, you will get in. That’s all you need to concern yourself with. How the USNA sorts this out is not worth thinking about.</p>