(a)
The authorized strength of Air Force Cadets of the Academy (determined for any year as of the day before the last day of the academic year) is 4,400 or such lower number as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force under subsection (j). Subject to that limitation, Air Force Cadets are selected as follows:
(1)
65 cadets selected in order of merit as established by competitive examination from the children of members of the armed forces who were killed in action or died of, or have a service-connected disability rated at not less than 100 per centum resulting from wounds or injuries received or diseases contracted in, or preexisting injury or disease aggravated by, active service, children of members who are in a “missing status” as defined in section
551
(2) of title
37, and children of civilian employees who are in “missing status” as defined in section
5561
(5) of title
5. The determination of the Department of Veterans Affairs as to service connection of the cause of death or disability, and the percentage at which the disability is rated, is binding upon the Secretary of the Air Force.
(2)
Five cadets nominated at large by the Vice President or, if there is no Vice President, by the President pro tempore of the Senate.
(3)
Ten cadets from each State, five of whom are nominated by each Senator from that State.
(4)
Five cadets from each congressional district, nominated by the Representative from the district.
(5)
Five cadets from the District of Columbia, nominated by the Delegate to the House of Representatives from the District of Columbia.
(6)
Three cadets from the Virgin Islands, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from the Virgin Islands.
(7)
Six cadets from Puerto Rico, five of whom are nominated by the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and one who is a native of Puerto Rico nominated by the Governor of Puerto Rico.
(8)
Three cadets from Guam, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from Guam.
(9)
Two cadets from American Samoa, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from American Samoa.
(10)
Two cadets from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from the commonwealth.
Each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress, including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, is entitled to nominate 10 persons for each vacancy that is available to him under this section. Nominees may be submitted without ranking or with a principal candidate and 9 ranked or unranked alternates. Qualified nominees not selected for appointment under this subsection shall be considered qualified alternates for the purposes of selection under other provisions of this chapter.