Heat Stroke

ematheny

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2016
Messages
12
Can you be kicked out of an ROTC unit (any branch) for a history of heat strokes? Even though I haven't suffered a heat illness during my times with my unit.
 
A history of heat illness is disqualifying, but is eligible for a waiver. If you are going through Dodmerb, expect to go through the waiver process. Good luck.
 
My cousin was an O1 in the Army and he was medically discharged after he had a heat stroke while AD. He had no history at all regarding heat stroke, this is a guy that played FB throughout HS and in college in 90+ degree weather in full pads, but being in Iraq during the summer and wearing all that gear while in a Humvee can cause heat stroke regardless of how much water he drank. They sent him back to the states and placed him through medical tests, needless to say the Army decided they needed to part ways.

I am assuming you are not on scholarship, because you would have to mention this on your DoDMERB intake questionnaire and that is where you would place that you have a history of heat stroke. From there they will determine if the history merits a qual, remedial, a disqual. If it is the latter two than you will go through the process of being waived or denied. I don't know for other ROTC branches, but AFROTC will require a DoDMERB exam prior to commissioning even if you were never on scholarship. Thus, somewhere along the line it will come up. Just get your medical records in order and have an explanation of why it occurred.
 
Another anecdote - but first, if you really want this, go through the process, so that you know you have given it your best shot. All decisions are rooted in the needs of any given service. Waivers are given when a service decides a particular need outweighs an associated risk - at that moment in time.

We had a USNA sponsor mid who had truthfully reported a history of one incident of heat exhaustion prior to entering service. After USNA and while at TBS at Quantico, this Marine 2LT suffered another heat-related incident. Marine Corps convened a medical board and discharged the officer. But - the needs of the service could be different at another time.

Don't give up until you are ready.
 
Last edited:
If I remember correctly, once you have a heat injury you are much more prone to getting another one.
 
Thanks for the responses, if I didn't report it to dodmerb and on scholarship would this be considered fraudulent enlistment? Could I still get a waiver?
 
Thanks for the responses, if I didn't report it to dodmerb and on scholarship would this be considered fraudulent enlistment? Could I still get a waiver?

Your health and your honor are two of the more important parts of your life.

Answer questions truthfully, but also with just what is needed. If you received an actual medical diagnosis from a healthcare professional for a heat-related illness, then you have a history. If you threw up after working out in the heat and diagnosed yourself with "heat stroke," that's different.

Step back and think why the medical history and health conditions are so stringent for the military. A "broken" unit member impacts the combat readiness of the group, and in the most extreme cases, puts others at risk. The standards aren't about you, it's about the welfare of the group.

My two cents - be truthful. Go through the DODMERB DQ and Service waiver process, and see where the journey takes you. Worst case, there are many ways to serve the country that don't require getting over the DODMERB bar.
 
Back
Top