Just a mom venting

My DS has reapplied to the Coast Guard Academy after being medically dq'd last year and was not offered an appointment.
This year, he meets the timeframe guideline for a "history of" medical issue so remedials have been requested.

One of the remedials is for an EEG, awake and sleep-deprived, which he has had before and it is not a big deal but it is a time-consuming test. I have mixed emotions that he go through the test knowing the Academy may not even consider him competitive for an appointment. It seems that when costly (to taxpayers) tests are needed to qualify an applicant it would be wise for DoDMERB to see if the Academy is interested in the applicant and wants the test done.

Ok. Done venting. There is no way he would choose not to have the EEG. And I would never suggest he not have it done. I just will feel so bad for him if he goes through this too and does not receive an offer for an appointment. Thanks for listening.

I feel your pain but... I would look at it as a positive. My DS failed PiP test and needs to do remedial with FALANT test but DoDMerb has him medically dq'ed, waiver pending (no request for remedial) and he was a little upset. DS contacted his AO and DoDMerb liason at USCGA and was informed that the remedial would be requested by the Academy if he was to receive an appointment (conditional upon satisfactory passing of FALANT) and that CCEB does not review medicals as part of their evaluation.

This is very different from the information provided on the DoDMerb website and their flow chart which makes it appear that remedials are automatic without input from the SA's. If your DS has received authorization to proceed with remedial, I would think that would be a good thing. But like everything else, I wouldn't read too much into it either. If he really wants an appointment, he has to do it otherwise there is no chance.

I have one that knows a TWE is coming, he just hopes it is the right TWE and he can get his remedial and subsequent appointment.

ProudTexan64 said:

I feel your pain but... I would look at it as a positive.If your DS has received authorization to proceed with remedial, I would think that would be a good thing. But like everything else, I wouldn't read too much into it either. If he really wants an appointment, he has to do it otherwise there is no chance.

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I hear ya! There is no way he wouldn't get the EEG done. He is so hoping for an appointment this time around.

The letter from DoDMERB requesting the remedials was mailed Friday so we should be getting it any day now.

DS exchanged emails with the Academy's DoDMERB liason and he said that the academy is not part of the decision to request remedials...so even though it certainly is a positive step to being medically qualified, the academy doesn't play a part in this step. I find myself looking for as many 'good signs' as possible! Good luck to your son!

Remedials are really annoying but the services are trying to ensure they don't unnecessarily put people in harm's way.

Lest you laugh at that comment, here's an example cited by the Sr. Medical Officer at USNA a number of years ago: Person has asthma that never flares up and, even if it did, would easily be resolved w/an inhaler. FF that person to the Persian Gulf. Lots of dust. Their asthma flares up and there's no inhaler nearby.

The military subjects people to extremes that most of us never face in our daily lives. So, they're extra careful. Going through the process (I had a remedial for tachycardia that they decided was "white coat syndrome") is a pain but in the long run makes sense for all involved -- most importantly the service member.

I completely understand how necessary remedials are and we are definitely looking at remedials being requested this year as a step in the right direction!

As a mom, I want my DS to be qualified medically and want no corners cut for his sake as well as for the sake of all he would be serving with.

I'm just admitting that I wish the SA had input as to whether they want a remedial done -- it would just be that little extra 'positive' we look for in this crazy ride, especially the 2nd time around!
Oh, the waiting and wondering...