Advice? Medical waiver

CraZ

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2010
Messages
13
Long story short...my son received AFROTC scholarship, dq'd for peanut allergy, medical remedial, denied. Accepted at Norwich (electrical engineering) as well as U of MD (we live in MD). Basically, without the scholarship, MD will cost less, and it has a great engineering program. However, my son wants to pursue a military career. If he has any hope of military, he would choose Norwich.

We have a family friend who attended Duke on AFROTC scholarship, although it was 10 years ago, who receievd a medical waiver for peanut allergy. So, my question, is there a contact person that could tell me...straight...that there is zero chance, 1%, or good chance that an appeal or waiver next year could work? We can accept what they say, regardless, but my son would just like to hear it.

Thanks in advance.

Craig
 
Best person to contact is Mr. Larry Mullen whose contact info is all over this section of the board. If you send him the information he asks for in his signature line you will get a response back from the ultimate authority on this type of thing faster than you could ever imagine.

He is as they say "tha man" when it comes to DoDMERB issues.
 
Best person to contact is Mr. Larry Mullen whose contact info is all over this section of the board. If you send him the information he asks for in his signature line you will get a response back from the ultimate authority on this type of thing faster than you could ever imagine.

He is as they say "tha man" when it comes to DoDMERB issues.

KP

I have emailed Larry several times and he has been very helpful. However, I know no one ever wants to say "never", and that is what my son needs. This entire peanut allergy blind-sided him. He is being dq'd because of a mild reaction at age 1. I don't think any of us thought it would be an issue.

Craig
 
However, I know no one ever wants to say "never", and that is what my son needs.

Unfortunately I don't think you would get that for a little while. This would come after the waiver request was reviewed and adjudicated.

The big reason is that every case is different. One person could get a waiver for what seems to be the exact same reason as someone else who was denied. There can be some very subtle nuances to cases that make them mean a world of difference in a medical opinion.

I would say keep the dream alive...if the family can afford Norwich then by all means go there if for nothing else the first year. If the final word comes that the waiver was denied then you can make the decision to transfer to MD. I always vote for keeping as many options open as possible.

If it's tight financially I can totally understand the concern, but if the family can do it, I say go to Norwich while awaiting final word on the waiver.
 
Thanks again KP.

Unfortunately, we may be at the point you mentioned. My son submitted remedial tests and physician visit and the waiver was denied by AFROTC. I am waiting to hear something from them to see if there is some other avenue or appeal we can follow. I have heard that AROTC may be more likely to grant a waiver. We need to begin talking to them and see if his engineering major could be a good fit or him and Army.

Craig
 
Craig - There is NO one on this website that can provide a more straightforward answer than we have provided you. That said, here is the analogy =

Stock X is selling for $110 a share today. Is there anyone out there that can even give me a 1% chance of assuring me that the stock will rise next year to $210 per share? I have a freind that 10 years ago bought Stock Y at $110 per share and it went to $210...so why couldn't the same thing happen to Stock X? This is the only thing I've ever wanted. There HAS to be a way!!!

Moral - Could it happen? It could. Will it happen? You'll never know until you try. The only guarantees in life are death and taxes....and neither of those seem to be the least bit "iffy:)":thumb:
 
Larry

Can I talk to your friend?:thumb:

Fortunately I took a few days off to fish this weeknd...well get my chores done so I can fish. I spent most of the morning on the phone, on my son's behalf, with AFROTC at Norwich, AROTC at Norwich and the Engineering admissions counselor at Norwich. AFROTC put the scholarship in perspective for me.

AROTC and Engineering put the rest in perspective for me and we are headed down that road...as we speak.

As I think I mentioned before, I have not been as educated with all of this as I probably should have. My son did 99% of the legwork and I have been playing catch-up...and I did a lot of that today. Everyone has been extremely helpful..and in this high-tech world it is easier to ask for help via email/blog than to even pick up a cell phone.:eek: But, sometimes, you can't see the forest for the trees. I have been bothered because my son, like many on this board, want a military career and not just a free education. Having said that...life sucks sometimes and, being a card player, I always tell my kids you need to play the hand you are dealt. My son is doing exactly that and I think now, as I always have, that everything will work out.

thanks again for all of your help. Now that I am more up to speed, I hope I can help others in the future. Now how bout those fish.:biggrin:

Craig
 
Back
Top