Okay, RKO123, I’ll go ahead and say it – FALSE! My son applied to several SAs and for an AROTC scholarship, so I’ve seen the “process” to date and have deciphered most of the hieroglyphics. The PMS’s “check DODMERB” interpretation you mention above seems to be off the mark.
As far as I know, SA applicants are the only ones who take a DODMERB physical right off the bat as part of the application process, whether or not they apply for an AROTC scholarship. AROTC scholarship applicants who don’t apply for SA admission don’t take the DODMERB physical exam until after they’ve been awarded a scholarship. So, CC telling you now to “check DODMERB” means they have awarded you a scholarship, pending approval of the physical exam you’ll take next.
DODMERB only updates a person’s status at the request of one of the military agencies (USMA, USNA, USAFA, AROTC, NROTC, AFROTC, etc.) My son’s DODMERB status popped up as “Qualified” (that’s what you want to see) for USMA and USAFA way back in September, but his status for Army ROTC didn’t pop up until early January, after he’d been awarded a scholarship by the 2nd (December) board and CC forwarded his "offer extended" information to DODMERB. So, the reason the PMS’s explanation doesn’t seem right is because if you’ve just been awarded a scholarship from the 3rd (January) board, you don’t have a previous Army ROTC medical status that can be updated.
After you’ve seen the “check DODMERB” status you’ll receive something in the mail from Concorde, Inc., a DODMERB contractor that sets up physical exam schedules. You’ll have to log on to Concorde’s website to complete 3 medical appointments: physician, optometrist, and audiologist. After you take your physical exams set up by Concorde, Concorde will then forward the exam forms to DODMERB for review. After reviewing the forms, DODMERB will determine your medical qualification status and post same to your account. That’s why CC wants you to “check DODMERB.”
Anyway, your “check DODMERB” status will probably disappear very shortly and you’ll see your list of offered schools. CC will send your “offer extended” status to DODMERB probably within the week, and DODMERB will then create an account for you on the DODMERB website.
How’zat? Clear as mud??