A system and method for managing node status in a MANET includes each node identifying node status data and clusterhead priority value data in data packets. Clusterhead priority values define which node dominates in the event of a clusterhead collision. Clusterhead priority values prevent clusterhead switching based solely on first to declare. Each node may define a specific set of redundancy factors when determining if the node should be characterized as a gateway node. The specific set of redundancy factors is based on node capabilities to promote stability in gateway selection.