Sorry if this may seem like a dumb question, do you only need a waiver for the scholarship/advanced standing? I currently have several medical dq’s and if I don’t get a waiver on first try, I was going to see if I could try join a unit w/out a scholarship and then reapply. Input is appreciated, because I would no longer meet criteria for one of my dq’s if I went through waiver process freshman year. Input is appreciated, thank you!
joining any rotc unit w/ dq
- Thread starter Scoot27
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GWU PNS (emeritus)
George Washington University Capital Battalion
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What will help facilitate the discussion is which branch are you most interested in? Have you already submitted your medical information to DoDMERB? Did they already say you did not meet certain standards? From there it would be easier to figure your best path available.
Sorry for late response, I am first and foremost interested in NROTC, but am more than happy to do AFROTC or AROTC if that’s where the cards fall. I am not at the point of actively applying for scholarship/waiver yet, but have confirmed with DODMERB I do not meet the standards and have several med dq’s, all but one should be relatively painless to get waivers for.
GWU PNS (emeritus)
George Washington University Capital Battalion
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So if I understand the crux of your question.....you have several medical issues that you believe are currently a dq but there is one or maybe more that you think would resolve themselves in a year.
Speaking from the NROTC standpoint, your medical history won't change that much in a year. If you have "ever" had a condition is the way most of the DODMERB questions are posed. Then the decision is based on the seriousness of the condition, the length of time which has passed since it was resolved, and the long term prognosis. The medical reviewers are considering your long term potential of military service rather than considering if you are healthy enough for participation at NROTC.
My advice is not to delay an application waiting on a medical condition to improve. Apply as soon as your are able to apply and go through the waiver process. Otherwise you risk signing on to a unit as a College Programmer and doing a bunch of work without getting the benefit of that first review by DODMERB and potential review by BUMED.
I believe you'll have to pass medical to go to field training, so have a discussion at the detachment before selecting your branch. Arotc is the most lenient. Make sure you're set up for success.
All of my medical issues that lead to dq's are fully resolved, and it will have been almost three years when I apply in senior year for scholorship and with that a waiver (if scholorship received). I am trying to excel in high school to show that these past medical issues are not a problem, but if I don't receive waiver first shot, I want to try to join the unit without a scholarship, to try to excel in a hard college environment with rigor in major (prob Industrial or mechanical engineering) and active in Unit, to further prove I am fine with rigor and stress, put a little more space between the issues, and overall prove I am good for a waiver if I reapply for it (dq's that I am worried about is adjustment/depression stemming from a really ****ty divorce paired with a temporary condition happening at same time that occurred in elementary school)
By field training do you mean the training in the summers after joining the unit, or the initial boot camp the summer before you join them ( an example being NSI for NROTC). And for me to have a discussion with the detachment I am interested in would the way to go just be to reach out to its head at the college program I am interested in?
Thank you all for your input!
Ihavenoidea
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Some DQ's can get waivers easily, some take some work but doable. Some DQ's are complete non waiverable. NROTC might give you a waiver for your medical conditions, but you will not know until you try. Yes, you can go as a college programmer and join the unit at college. You don't go through DoDMerb until after you are awarded a scholarship as a sideload. So there is the possibility that you could join as a CPer and when awarded the scholarship. Be declined and have to leave the NROTC, or it might take several months before you ge a waiver.
I don't know your medical condition (and frankly none of us need to know). If you understand the possibility of not getting a waiver, and still want to go for it. Then I say do it. Yes, you could not get a waiver and the work you put in as a CPer is not rewarded, but you will not know for sure unless you try.
I don't know your medical condition (and frankly none of us need to know). If you understand the possibility of not getting a waiver, and still want to go for it. Then I say do it. Yes, you could not get a waiver and the work you put in as a CPer is not rewarded, but you will not know for sure unless you try.