Hi,
I have mild scoliosis, spinal curvature. It sits at about 28 degrees thoracic, and like almost everyone who posts here, it doesn't affect any part of my life. Nevertheless, the military is pretty rough on backs, few or no waivers are given. Now, I'm applying to NROTC. According to DoDMERB, as long as my thoracic scoliosis is below 30 degrees. See here on DoDI: (page 29)
http://dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/613003p.pdf
But that's not what BUMED says. According to BUMED, any scoliosis above 20 degrees is an unwaiverable DQ. See here: (first page)
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Documents/WaiverGuide/Waiver Guide - Ortho.pdf
Does anyone have any advice or experience here? I don't know what to do. I'll get through DoDMERB, as my physiatrist attests to me being under 30 degrees for thoracic scoliosis, but I don't know about BUMED. How does one affect the other? Any help is greatly appreciated.
I have mild scoliosis, spinal curvature. It sits at about 28 degrees thoracic, and like almost everyone who posts here, it doesn't affect any part of my life. Nevertheless, the military is pretty rough on backs, few or no waivers are given. Now, I'm applying to NROTC. According to DoDMERB, as long as my thoracic scoliosis is below 30 degrees. See here on DoDI: (page 29)
http://dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/613003p.pdf
But that's not what BUMED says. According to BUMED, any scoliosis above 20 degrees is an unwaiverable DQ. See here: (first page)
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Documents/WaiverGuide/Waiver Guide - Ortho.pdf
Does anyone have any advice or experience here? I don't know what to do. I'll get through DoDMERB, as my physiatrist attests to me being under 30 degrees for thoracic scoliosis, but I don't know about BUMED. How does one affect the other? Any help is greatly appreciated.