directorate of admissions the corps starts here! field force training: candidate file management

Directorate of AdmissionsDirectorate of Admissions The Corps Starts Here!The Corps Starts Here!

Field Force TrainingField Force Training::

Candidate File ManagementCandidate File Management


EVERYONEEVERYONEwho is appointed to a Service Academywho is appointed to a Service Academy

must be FULLY QUALIFIEDmust be FULLY QUALIFIEDwith a NOMINATIONwith a NOMINATION

The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line


Meet age requirement U.S. citizen Qualified academically Qualified leadership Demonstrated character & integrity Qualified on the Candidate Fitness Assessment Qualified medically

What Does Fully Qualified What Does Fully Qualified Mean?Mean?


Regional Commander:• Age, citizenship• 1st evaluation of…Academic, Leadership, CFA,Character & Integrity qualification

Admissions Committee:• Final evaluation of... Academic, Leadership, CFA,Character & Integrity qualification

DoDMERB:• Medical qualification

How Does One BecomeHow Does One BecomeFully Qualified?Fully Qualified?


West Point seeks well-rounded young people who demonstrate excellent academic ability, leadership potential, and physical aptitude.

ACADEMICACADEMICABILITYABILITY

60%60%

ACADEMICACADEMICABILITYABILITY

60%60%LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIPPOTENTIAL POTENTIAL

30%30%

LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIPPOTENTIAL POTENTIAL

30%30%

PHYSICALPHYSICALAPTITUDEAPTITUDE

10%10%

PHYSICALPHYSICALAPTITUDEAPTITUDE

10%10%

CADET

Whole Candidate ConceptWhole Candidate Concept


Academic (60%)• High school rank• SAT and/or ACT• Transcript

Leadership (30%)• Extra-curricular activities• Athletic participation• Teacher evaluations

Candidate Fitness Assessment (10%)– basketball throw– pull-ups (men & women) / flexed-arm hang (for

women who cannot do one pull-up)– shuttle run– abdominal crunches– push-ups– one mile run

Evaluation ProcessEvaluation Process

Top 20% of High School Class-------------------------------- 76%Valedictorians---------------------------------------------------- 8%Salutatorians------------------------------------------------------ 5%National Merit Scholarship Recognition-------------------- 15%National Honor Society----------------------------------------- 63%Boys/Girls State-------------------------------------------------- 18%Class or Student Body President----------------------------- 18%Scouting Participant-------------------------------------------- 42%

Eagle Scout or Gold Award Winner----------------- 15%Varsity Letter Winners---------------------------------------- 88%

Team Captain-------------------------------------------- 53%

Mean SAT: Verbal - 630, Math - 652Mean ACT: English - 28, Math - 29, Sci/Reas - 28, Reading - 30


Profile for a Recent ClassProfile for a Recent Class


Statistical data can identify top candidates 4 categories of candidates

– Unknown– Non-competitive– Competitive– Admissible

Quality EvaluationQuality Evaluation


Candidates that have not fully completed CQ

Sent letter informing them of missing information required.

File closed after 60 days

““Unknown” CandidatesUnknown” Candidates


• Referred to as “screened” candidates• Sent letter informing file is closed until over-all

or academic record improves.• CQ included with letter for rescreening

****** Opportunity to re-apply ******

Non-Competitive CandidatesNon-Competitive Candidates


Sent non-committal letter (non-com)• Encourages file improvement• Instructions to seek nomination• Provides additional information about

USMA and the Army Full-scheduled

• Candidate Kit • CFA• Schedule Medical Exam

Competitive CandidatesCompetitive Candidates


Non-Committal Letter of Assurance (LOA)

– Reserved cadetship contingent upon:• nomination

• medical qualification

• candidate fitness assessment

• file completion

45-60days

45-60days

AdmissableAdmissable


Talent Searches (PSAT - 100k, PLAN - 15k, NRCCUA - 105k)

Mailings – Juniors (week 1 Oct)– Sophomores (week 2 Oct)– Freshman (week 3 Oct)– 8th Grade (week 4 Oct)– 7th Grade (week 1 Nov)– 5th/6th Grade(week 2 Nov)

Summer Leaders Seminar (SLS)– Summer program at USMA for juniors– Two one-week sessions

Pen & Banner

EncouragementLetter

Pen & Banner

EncouragementLetter

Nurturing for Future CandidatesNurturing for Future Candidates


• Use of Admissible Mailings … generally 5

• 1st - Med/legal fact sheet, photo, elements of excellence, catalog

• 2nd - Photo, PT article, officers booklet, soldier almanac, summer’s video, ethics book

• 3rd - Parent’s Club almanac, new cadet book, parking pass, final semester transcript notice

• 4th - Supe/Comm/Dean/Cadet COC video

• 5th - Summer training schedule, P.O. Box #

Nurturing Offered CandidatesNurturing Offered Candidates


AOG Civil Prep Scholarship Program– Fully qualified with a nom

– 1 year program at military junior college

United States Military Academy Preparatory School– Located at Fort Monmouth, NJ

– 10 month program prior to West Point

– Strong leadership potential, but need academic remediation

Strengthening our Officer Strengthening our Officer Candidate PoolCandidate Pool


West PointParents Club

West PointParents Club

Field ForceField Force

West PointSociety

West PointSociety

ROTCUSAREC

Local Army unitsPosts, camps, stations

ROTCUSAREC

Local Army unitsPosts, camps, stations

CongressionalStaffs

CongressionalStaffs

School VisitsSchool Visits

Candidate InterviewsCandidate Interviews

RegionalCommanderrequirements

RegionalCommanderrequirements

CDCCDC

CPRC SchedulingCPRC Scheduling

Congressional District Coordinator Congressional District Coordinator (CDC)(CDC)


1. Candidate contact

2. High school visitation

3. College Fairs & Academy Days

4. CPRC & outreach

5. Special events

6. Local Congressional “Liaison”

6 Primary Responsibilities6 Primary Responsibilities


Initial contact with mailings

Introductory call to candidate (June to August)

FF Website drives follow-up

Formal interview

Candidate ContactCandidate Contact


Second Step Kit• P = Personal Data Record Form• R = Request for Secondary School Transcript Form• T = Transcript (H.S. - # semesters)• C = College transcript, if applicable• S = School Officials’ Evaluations (# received)• A = Candidate Activities Record Form• G = Essay or Candidate Statement Form• CFA = Candidate Fitness Assessment

Admissions/Field Force Website

Applicants can access Candidate Website to view status

Tracking CandidatesTracking Candidates


Importance of interviews Prioritizing Good versus poor interviews Location Time

InterviewsInterviews


Establish Relationship with Counselors• Check for … Catalogue/Take One poster

• Use Parents Club/WPS

• POC/twice a year visit

• Recruit for Ed Visit and/or Ed Workshops

• Discuss open files … or lack of open files

High School VisitationHigh School Visitation


College Fairs & Academy DaysCollege Fairs & Academy Days

Appearance! Be engaging- don’t sit behind the table Use your force multipliers

– WPS– WPPC– Cadets

Plan ahead for reference materials

– Path Guides/Take One Poster/Catalogue– Order online


Purpose:– Actuate/excite/provoke/arouse/incite/encourage/

persuade/invite ... interest in USMA among potential candidates

– Conduct other USMA public relations functions Pursue media coverage

– TV & radio– PAO– Newspapers

Cadets are a valuable resource … use them wisely

Cadet Public Relations Council Cadet Public Relations Council (CPRC) Programs & Outreach(CPRC) Programs & Outreach


• Hometown Visit Program– Thanksgiving– Spring Break– Graduation Week

• Candidate Orientation Visits– Daily Orientations– Overnight Orientations

• Special Trips– Congressional Academy Days– Major By-Invitation Candidate Meetings

• Academic Individual Advanced Development Program– Liaison Officer Conference– Summer Leaders Seminar (SLS)– Boys and Girls State

CPRC ProgramsCPRC Programs


Know when CPRC is conducted Include CPRC in 18-month plan Request CPRC support when submitting plan Help create cadet itineraries Conduct By-Invite meetings during Hometown Visits Inform Congressional offices of CPRC visits Coordinate all CPRC engagements at least one month out Send cadet itinerary at least one week prior to departure Confirm CPRC engagements at least 3 days prior to

arrival Submit After Action Report NLT two weeks after visits

Field Force ResponsibilitiesField Force Responsibilities


Special EventsSpecial Events

By-Invite

Founder’sDay

EducatorLuncheon

AwayFootballGames

AwardCeremonies


Fall TravelFall Travel Purpose:

– To make contact with candidates of the current admissions cycle and provide counseling and status of admissions files

– Face-to-face contact with Field Force• FF Workshops• Educator Workshops

Spring TravelSpring Travel Purpose:

– To make contact with potential candidates for the next admissions cycle

– Face-to-face contact with Field Force• FF Workshops• Educator Workshops


• One out of five Congressional districts either do not nominate or do not nominate qualified candidates.

• Assistance with Selection Committees– WPS/WPPC/MALO

• Must have positive local coordination with congressional offices

Congressional LiaisonCongressional Liaison


West Point Parents Clubs

West Point Societies Media

Civic Organizations, Boy Scouts

Congressional Staffers

Recruiting Stations, ROTC

Force MultipliersForce Multipliers


Queries on AOG database and Reserve database Nurture relationships with WPSs and WPPCs Improve bond with both Sr and Jr ROTC

programs Communication with Recruiting Stations Personal recommendations

**More People…Less Work…Better Results**

Recruiting / Maintaining theRecruiting / Maintaining theField ForceField Force

directorate of admissions the corps starts here! field force training: candidate file management

Documents