Hello all,
My name is Todd and I applied to both the USAFA and for the AFROTC scholarship. Received my DoDMERB packet in the mail, filled out the survey, indicating that I have asthma and was on ADVAIR for a period of time, took the physicals, and received my disqualification. I then proceeded to go to a pediatric pulmonologist, took a spirometry, passed with almost every statistic above 100%, had the doctor write an affidavit, and submitted to DoDMERB. I didn't even receive a waiver submission to the academy (probably because I waited until 1/31/12 to submit the completed packet and someone else was already qualified with a nomination, possibly the primary), however I did receive a Type 2 AFROTC scholarship. A waiver was submitted and consequently denied due to having listed being on ADVAIR at the time I had taken the DoDMERB survey.
After talking to my mom about this whole deal, when I asked when I had been diagnosed with asthma, she said I had never been diagnosed (I have had the same PCP for my entire life). When asked why I had been assigned as having asthma, she replied that she didn't know when it caught on but somehow it did. Believe me, I don't understand this whole situation, but I know my mom wouldn't lie to me about that. Evidently as a child I had some kind of airway infection and had been preventativly prescribed an inhaler. When I was prescribed ADVAIR (which I was on during the DoDMERB survey), I had contracted a some kind of viral respiratory infection and was given it as a preventative measure; had refills, never used them. I was on my schools varsity cross country team for two years, one of which we were state runner up; my time (I have records if they request), was 17:15 for a 5k, which is ~ 3 5:35 miles back to back to back. I also ran track and have a recorded 2:08 minute 800m.
SO, my question is, for anyone familiar with the DoDMERB process, how can I go about explaining this situation? Since I have had the same PCP my entire life, I was planning on making an appointment tomorrow and explaining this whole situation for her, and then she can look through my records to determine where this entire thing started, pull them out, make copies, and explain the situation to DoDMERB. I know that it is possible to request a reevaluation of my case by the waiver review board if new information is submitted. At this point, it's not even about receiving the scholarship money (well, maybe a little bit), but more of attaining my dream.
If they determine that not even being diagnosed with asthma and just thinking I have it isn't enough to grant a waiver, I have read that it is possible to join my schools detachment as a non-scholarship cadet, and that a satisfactory completion of one or two years may persuade the review board to grant a waiver. Is this true?
Respectfully, and thanks a ton,
Todd Jarolimek
My name is Todd and I applied to both the USAFA and for the AFROTC scholarship. Received my DoDMERB packet in the mail, filled out the survey, indicating that I have asthma and was on ADVAIR for a period of time, took the physicals, and received my disqualification. I then proceeded to go to a pediatric pulmonologist, took a spirometry, passed with almost every statistic above 100%, had the doctor write an affidavit, and submitted to DoDMERB. I didn't even receive a waiver submission to the academy (probably because I waited until 1/31/12 to submit the completed packet and someone else was already qualified with a nomination, possibly the primary), however I did receive a Type 2 AFROTC scholarship. A waiver was submitted and consequently denied due to having listed being on ADVAIR at the time I had taken the DoDMERB survey.
After talking to my mom about this whole deal, when I asked when I had been diagnosed with asthma, she said I had never been diagnosed (I have had the same PCP for my entire life). When asked why I had been assigned as having asthma, she replied that she didn't know when it caught on but somehow it did. Believe me, I don't understand this whole situation, but I know my mom wouldn't lie to me about that. Evidently as a child I had some kind of airway infection and had been preventativly prescribed an inhaler. When I was prescribed ADVAIR (which I was on during the DoDMERB survey), I had contracted a some kind of viral respiratory infection and was given it as a preventative measure; had refills, never used them. I was on my schools varsity cross country team for two years, one of which we were state runner up; my time (I have records if they request), was 17:15 for a 5k, which is ~ 3 5:35 miles back to back to back. I also ran track and have a recorded 2:08 minute 800m.
SO, my question is, for anyone familiar with the DoDMERB process, how can I go about explaining this situation? Since I have had the same PCP my entire life, I was planning on making an appointment tomorrow and explaining this whole situation for her, and then she can look through my records to determine where this entire thing started, pull them out, make copies, and explain the situation to DoDMERB. I know that it is possible to request a reevaluation of my case by the waiver review board if new information is submitted. At this point, it's not even about receiving the scholarship money (well, maybe a little bit), but more of attaining my dream.
If they determine that not even being diagnosed with asthma and just thinking I have it isn't enough to grant a waiver, I have read that it is possible to join my schools detachment as a non-scholarship cadet, and that a satisfactory completion of one or two years may persuade the review board to grant a waiver. Is this true?
Respectfully, and thanks a ton,
Todd Jarolimek