Chances of receiving nomination/appointment

wfbaldwin

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Oct 18, 2008
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Hey, I know this sounds as though its been talked about again and again but, after reading through the many posts on asthma, I still have a few questions.

Right now I'm a junior in high school, take all advanced/AP courses, and have had all A's in school. I am on the varsity wrestling team and run cross country. I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma when I was about 9 or 10. Ever since, I have taken a daily inhaler, Flovent, even though my symptoms are minimal. The inhaler never really seemed necessary to me, and though I also have a fast-acting inhaler, I almost never use it.

So, are my chances of going to USMA utterly ruined because I am still on meds? If not, I feel I can safely abandon the medicine, but if I did so right now, would that make any difference to the Academy or do they just look at the fact that I have been on meds for so long?

My family is a big military one, mainly on the my dad's side. My dad was in the 82d, my uncle went to USMA, does this help at all or are my hopes just ruined because of my long-term asthma treatment?
 
wfbaldwin - you should copy and paste your question on the DoDMERB subforum on this site. LE MUllen currently works at DoDMERB (the medical reviewers for ROTCs and service academies) and he addresses concerns like yours all the time.

You should also do a forum search regarding asthma and Flovent. Other hopefuls have posted here for advice and you may find some encouraging information.

Your military family background, athletic and academic calibre look great so it looks like your only hitch might be the asthma and/or medication.

Good luck :smile:

I think LE Mullen may have specifically addressed Flovent recently. But that may have been at an Academy Night.
 
Hey, thanks a lot. I was hoping the military background might help, cause almost every male on my dad's side served. Anyways, thanks again.
 
I think you should see another doctor. Exercise induced asthma sounds a bit strange especially considering your extreme training load.

See if you cannot determine the validity of that condition. The age when it was diagnosed and then your ability to compete seems strange - but I am not a Dr. Make sure your Dr wasnt applying the current "chic" medical condition of the time when all you were was out of shape. But again, I am no expert.

Start the application process in the spring 2009 for ROTC as well as USMA so you can go through the DODMERB exam in the early summer. That way you will know exactly where you stand.

Asthma is a seriously considered medical condition and DODMERB does not apply conditional gradients - it is pass or fail.
 
Well, I am quite sure that I do have it, as the summer between freshman and sophomore year, I could run 9 or 10 miles without much trouble, but I got lazy over the break and at the end could only run 3 or 4 without losing air.

So, though I know I still have it, I also know that with regular and intense training, I get over it. As far as the DoDMERB exam, that is definitely pass/fail. But, I did not know how likely it would be for USMA/ROTC to grant a waiver for a case like mine.
 
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