<p>Excellent link from one of the WP threads explaining the Nomination, LOA and acceptance processes.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.west-point.org/academy/malo-wa/educators/noms.htmls[/url]”>http://www.west-point.org/academy/malo-wa/educators/noms.htmls</a> </p>
<p>I know it’s WP centric, but all the SAs use similar processes.</p>
<p>Bottom Line: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Two things need to happen to get into an SA. 1) the SA wants you (offers an appointment). 2) Someone needs to nominate you</p></li>
<li><p>MOCs have only 5 people they can sponsor at any SA at one time. For each slot that opens up, they can nominate 10 people. If they offer a “Principal” nomination, the SA must accept that candidate in one of the MOC’s available slots.</p></li>
<li><p>Candidates granted a LOA who get any nomination will be appointed, provided they are remain qualified (academically and physically)</p></li>
<li><p>The SA admissions staff manages the nomination process. If they have 2 candidates they want for one MOC slot, they will use the MOC’s slot for one, and use one of the national pool of slots for the other. This is why they want propsective candidates to get more than one nomination; it gives them flexibility in the process. Profmom, you are correct. Once you have a LOA and a nom, u’r in. It doesn’t matter to you whose nom you use, it matters to the SA admissions staff, as they want to keep their options open for other prospective candidates.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>So, does it matter if you get multiple noms? Yes and no. Yes, because the SA can use multiple sources for your nom and it helps them with their process, and yes, it shows that multiple sources think your SA worthy. No, because ultimately, you only need the one nom.</p>