Is ROTC Medical Evaluation pretty low key?

Lizzy

5-Year Member
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May 27, 2011
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My child just completed her medical evaluation for ROTC. She isn't pursuing a scholarship at this time, only joining as a sophomore in college. She had her eye exam last week and the medical today. When she relayed what happened in her exam I was surprised that it didn't appear more thorough. For example, when she was asked about family medical history, she was only asked if both of her parents were alive and well, nothing about anything specific. They also didn't take any blood from her, only urine. Everything I have read led me to believe they conduct more rigorous examinations. At her eye exam they ran her through a bunch of tests but never diluted her eyes, which I always thought was standard for any eye exam. Maybe they didn't do this at her eye exam because she flew through the eye tests (20/13 long vision and very acute short vision - they kept asking her if she wanted to be a pilot). :smile:

Anyway, I just thought I would ask since it just didn't seem as rigorous as I expected.
 
It is the same admissions physical given to service academy applicants (though they receive another one after they report in, if offered an appointment.) They do not draw blood for DoDMERB physicals. I also don't think that my son had his eyes dilated for the eye exam either, though I'm not sure about that. Had you daughter had any conditions which require a waiver, then you would have found the process more comprehensive indeed...
 
Do you know if she will receive a more rigourous one if she receives and accepts a commision after college? It just seemed that my son who went in as enlisted had a more intense check-up.
 
For example, when she was asked about family medical history, she was only asked if both of her parents were alive and well, nothing about anything specific.
As I recall from my children's experiences with DoDMERB physicals over the last two years, there was an extensive medical history that needed to be filled out on-line prior to the actual physical itself. Perhaps I mis-remember.
 
It was the shortest physical I've ever had. Touch toes, bend arms, duck walk, hearing and vision. That's basically all I did. No hernia check or anything down there at ALL. I think my doc was a bit slack.
 
If she is not joining ROTC this year, I am curious of why she did it, especially since the exam is only valid for 2 yrs. Plus, from what I understood, due to fiscal cut backs they are not giving the exam until the scholarship is awarded this yr, but that could be AF only.

I know for AFA they will not be doing the exam until the candidate is considered qualified (in other words has a nom).

Our DS will be commissioned next May into the AF, and last month they flew him to Wright Pat for a 3 day exam, but he has a pilot slot so that maybe the reason for such a thorough exam. The exam including everything, even an EEG along with the traditional, eye, ear and dental.

It maybe that your child does not have a scholarship, thus, for the military they are just making sure that they are healthy, comparable to a school physical. Our DS's back in 07 included everything and took @ 1 hour to complete, it did include hernia, auditory and dilating the eyes. However, as I stated earlier I know the AF is using the exams as a way to trim costs and thus, they may look at the exam for ROTC entrance as a cost they can save by ordering a shorter exam, and giving the full up prior to commission. Either way if there are any physical issues that you know of, including surgeries, allergies, or long term medication, it is best to get the paperwork in order now. The reason why is you never want to be behind the 8 ball when it comes to DodMERB.

Good luck
 
I know for AFA they will not be doing the exam until the candidate is considered qualified (in other words has a nom).
My USAFA son took his DoDMERB exam in June of 2010 and received his passing evaluation back on July 1st. Well before the nomination process. I believe with the USAFA that you must complete a certain percentage of the application process before you will be notified to schedule your DoDMERB physical. Not just the online application but actually submitting documents/supporting paperwork. Obviously....the earlier the better.

The previous year my daughter was not able to schedule her DoDMERB physical until after being awarded an AFROTC scholarship. From what I've read on these boards that is still how it works for AFROTC.
 
Do you know if she will receive a more rigourous one if she receives and accepts a commision after college? It just seemed that my son who went in as enlisted had a more intense check-up.

I agree with your assesment - the enlisted physical(MEPS)is more involved than the DoDMERB. DS did both due to not being selected for a ROTC scholarship, even after being DoDMERB qualified. The background information was very intense for DoDMERB, but so was the MEPS pre-screen. During the MEPS they draw blood, a urine collection, a breathelizer(spelling??) and a much more involved physical movement/ortho screening. Hearing and vision were also checked at both exams, to my recollection, neither dilated the eyes. MEPS was an entire morning to complete - primarily because the do the entire physical in groups(except the no underwear parts). I think because MEPS is often done the same day as shipping to BCT and swearing in that there is no time, like the 4 years of ROTC training, to catch some medical issues.

It sounds like the more involved physical will be just before commissioning, especially AF for the pilot spots, which makes complete sense.
 
Agagles,

Just last week Flieger said on the AFA forum, that although they did the super secret handshake, but have yet to receive the official paperwork, starting class of 16, the system has changed to be more like AFROTC where the exam will not be given until further into the system. Yes, prior yrs for AFA you took it when you became an applicant, now it will be when you are a qualified applicant, thus, you have a nom.

Basically they are following suit of AFROTC since if they paid for every candidate it would costs tons more money and they still would have the same amount of awarded scholarships/apptmts. By waiting until they are seen as "truly" competitive it saves not only money, but also stress on the DodMERB system. Afterall, you know and I know that just for the AFA under the old system, @ 6600 make it to applicant, but only 3300 get noms. That is 3300 less exams, and g*d knows how many less referrals due to DQs. That's just AFA, imagine how many for ROTC, if they gave the exam before they were boarded?

Back to the OP. If your DD wants to be a pilot; re:doc ? pilot, and since you did not say which branch, all I can say is "YES" for AFROTC they will go through a vary detailed exam.

Additionally, they will be required to take another exam for SFT. It may be that AFROTC has decided to save costs by delaying the exam that my DS went through in 07 to upon getting selected for SFT. The reason why is also fiscal. If you are not selected for SFT, even as a scholarship recipient, you do not get promoted to PMC, hence, no commissioning via ROTC. It would make sense for them not to do the thorough exam until that point since it would save the DOD money. Only about 50% of AFROTC cadets over the pass 2 yrs went to SFT. For DS his SFT exam was like your DDs. It could just be possible that they switched it to more intensified exams as you go up the line.

Trust this Mom, you live in absolute fear for that Pilot exam. Out of the 40 cadets DS went with 10 failed their 1st EEG, and had to go for a more intense one. 5 cadets got nailed for eyesight, DS who did not need a waiver for AFA/AFROTC DodMERB, got hit for UPT, waiver already given, and is typically given. Just pointing out that there are different levels. He was fine for the overall, but when it came to his career, he didn't meet the base line. Ironically, his eyesight improved from the exam he took in 07 (20/40) to this one,(20/20) it was something with dipo-somethings or another.

PS. for those with kids that are on the cusp for PRK, that is why they wait until they are in their 20's to perform it, because your eyes are still changing. Had we done it for our DS, who really tried pushing us on it, he would have done it for nothing since his eyesight corrected themselves. It is not only expensive, but you will go through a waiver process for it, and opening yourself up for more intensified exams/paperwork.
 
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Lizzy,

Just curious, did ROTC pay for it and sent you to specific docs, or did they send your forms and asked you to go to your doc?

I ask that because I know for DS he was required to go to specific docs, but for his SFT exam, he could go to his own docs and submit the forms they gave him for the exam. They did not pay for it.

At least for AD AF, they rotate the exam every other yr. One yr it is called the "short physical", than the next is the "long". Long is head to toe, blood work, eyes, ears, etc. Short is sim. to a sports physical, weight, vision, etc...in other words, okay we just want to make sure you are still alive and meet the mins. That is until they reach the big 4-0!
 
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Just last week Flieger said on the AFA forum, that although they did the super secret handshake, but have yet to receive the official paperwork, starting class of 16, the system has changed to be more like AFROTC where the exam will not be given until further into the system. Yes, prior for AFA you took it when you became an applicant, now it will be when you are a qualified applicant, thus, you have a nom.

Basically they are following suit of AFROTC since if they paid for every candidate it would costs tons more money and they still would have the same amount of awarded scholarships/apptmts. By waiting until they are seen as "truly" competitive it saves not only money, but also stress on the DodMERB system. Afterall, you know and I know that just for the AFA under the old system, @ 6600 make it to applicant, but only 3300 get noms. That is 3300 less exams, and g*d knows how many less referrals due to DQs.

I don't know whose budget the DoDMERB physical comes out of but we taxpayers are paying irregardless. Many kids are applying to more than one academy. West Point is continueing business as usual in this regard so many kids are going to have their DoDMERB done early anyway. I think USNA is continueing as usual as well. If AFA waits until nominations before scheduling, kids with any medical issues may have a difficult time getting remedials/waivers done in time. However, AFA may save a few bucks out of their budget.
 
DS2 has no desire for an SA apptmt., so I can't and won't say if USMA and USNA are doing business as usual.

We are diverting off the thread. The fact is the OP had the "short" physical and I think that this maybe more of an issue regarding the branch and how they operate.

Additionally, it is important to understand that somewhere down the pike that you will be checked from head to toe, so if you honestly know of an issue that it is a DQ, get your ducks in a row now, because the one thing I do know is that I don't have enough fingers/toes to count on for the candidates/cadets that learned during the process they had an issue they never knew was an issue until they did DoDMERB
 
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Afterall, you know and I know that just for the AFA under the old system, @ 6600 make it to applicant, but only 3300 get noms. That is 3300 less exams, and g*d knows how many less referrals due to DQs.
I must have missed Flieger's post about the upcoming changes. I will say that this does change the dynamic of the USAFA process. How many young people with noms will then not be able to pass DoDMERB (or get a waiver)? I thought I read somewhere that it is a fairly large percentage that can't pass DoDMERB (30%), but perhaps I mis-remember. Either way this change should make the nomination process interesting along with any LOAs given out before DoDMERB. :cool:
 
I found the post.

flieger83 said:
Also let me add one thing; and this will apply to EVERYONE this coming cycle.

Due to costs...do NOT be surprised if your applicant isn't scheduled "early on" for a DODMERB physical. While we ALO's haven't been given the entire "double-secret handshake and decoder ring" YET...we have been briefed that to save costs "early on" and (my guess) throughout this upcoming cycle, folks won't be scheduled for those things that cost the gov't (think DODMERB physical) until they're considered a "qualified" candidate.

That means you have a nomination, or USAFA has "early tagged you as a full-fledged qualified candidate", and the like.
 
It depends on the time of the year, due to the amount that they have to process. Generally though it takes anywhere from a week to two weeks. It is the waiver process that takes longer since the commissioning authority (ROTC--- A/AF/N) has their own evaluation authority.
 
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