The board itself has to follow the PA, unless there is something that
@FormerRecruitingGuru knows I believe they would be required to reject the ISPP, it is possible they could slide you over to the regular process, you have a good PFAR and that is what matters, PFA doesn't matter, LOR's don't matter, and recommendations don't matter.
The pull an admiral not in CNRC has with CNRC is almost nil, I have seen guys with recommendations from all levels of admirals get denied because they didn't meet the PA or weren't the best qualified.