nicknoodles
Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2015
- Messages
- 15
Here is some background information. I have had mild hearing loss since I was 5. At that age I was given hearing aids at and as I grew older, I wore them less and less. In high school I rarely wore them and still excelled in school. My senior year of high school I applied to the USNA and nrotc scholarship and did not recieve either. I was medically disqualified for my hearing loss, but was told that I still had the opportunity to get a waiver (my hearing exceeded the standards at 2000Hz). Since I wasn't appointed to the academy or scholarship, I was never given a waiver. I was told by the academy that I was not denied an appointment because of my disability. After being rejected, I still wanted to become an officer and did not give up.
Flash forward to the present, I am a freshmen at NC state in the college of engineering. I joined the Naval ROTC college program here in hopes to one day pick up a scholarship or advanced standing. The program has been tough (waking up early everyday, preparing uniforms, pqs, etc) and I am always busy. However, I knew that all the hard work would pay off if i could one day gain a commission. At my orientation (about 8 weeks ago) we filled out paperwork and I marked that I had hearing loss. This alerted my active duty staff and we worked to sort it all out. I gave them my most recent hearing test, took another hearing test, and showed them a letter from dodmerb saying I could receive a waiver. It took me a few weeks to get all of this done.
2 days ago I spoke with my advisor and was informed that due to my hearing loss, I would not be able to commission in the Navy or Marine Corps. I was heartbroken. I called the Navy medical professionals and they told me the same information. My parents told me that I could still serve the military as a civilian, but I know it wouldn't be the same experience as being a SWO. Even though I cant commission, my advisor said I could stay with the program if i wanted (i would be able to stay until my junior year). It's been very hard lately to sit through my navy labs and classes and learn about communities I can't join. I'm undecided on what I want to do. I didn't mind the hard work when I knew it could one day pay off and I've already made friends with the program. However now that I know i can't commission, I already find it hard to find some motivation. I think i'm going to stay until the semester is over or if it gets too challenging. Any advice on what I should do is appreciated.
Flash forward to the present, I am a freshmen at NC state in the college of engineering. I joined the Naval ROTC college program here in hopes to one day pick up a scholarship or advanced standing. The program has been tough (waking up early everyday, preparing uniforms, pqs, etc) and I am always busy. However, I knew that all the hard work would pay off if i could one day gain a commission. At my orientation (about 8 weeks ago) we filled out paperwork and I marked that I had hearing loss. This alerted my active duty staff and we worked to sort it all out. I gave them my most recent hearing test, took another hearing test, and showed them a letter from dodmerb saying I could receive a waiver. It took me a few weeks to get all of this done.
2 days ago I spoke with my advisor and was informed that due to my hearing loss, I would not be able to commission in the Navy or Marine Corps. I was heartbroken. I called the Navy medical professionals and they told me the same information. My parents told me that I could still serve the military as a civilian, but I know it wouldn't be the same experience as being a SWO. Even though I cant commission, my advisor said I could stay with the program if i wanted (i would be able to stay until my junior year). It's been very hard lately to sit through my navy labs and classes and learn about communities I can't join. I'm undecided on what I want to do. I didn't mind the hard work when I knew it could one day pay off and I've already made friends with the program. However now that I know i can't commission, I already find it hard to find some motivation. I think i'm going to stay until the semester is over or if it gets too challenging. Any advice on what I should do is appreciated.