Waiver Deadline is April 15

jbrowerdallas

Dallas Mom
5-Year Member
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Apr 4, 2011
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My DS accepted his appointment to USMA on December 6, dislocated his shoulder on December 17 (in a wrestling tournament), had arthroscopic surgery to repair shoulder on January 9, was DQ'd by DoDMERB on January 25.

We've been told by USMA that a waiver will have to be approved by April 15 or DS won't be able to report for R-Day on July 2. In order for waiver to be granted, USMA wants a release to full, unrestricted activities from doctor. Here's the issue: DS's doctor says DS won't be ready for full release by April 15 but WILL be ready for full release by the end of June (before R-Day). Does anyone know if that April 15 date is flexible at all? How about a having a "release" from doctor by April 15 that releases DS by June 30?

If I had know that I should have wrapped DS in bubble wrap and put him in a corner until he reported on R-Day, I would have done it. He's a 4-year varsity wrestler and captain of the team - what else was he supposed to do but wrestle? So dissapointed. Just trying to work through the process and would like some clarification/further information about the deadline date.

Any help would be appreciated!
 
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Medical opinions can vary between doctors.

Your doctor is giving you his opinion.

Have your son examined by a different doctor who may have a different opinion.

I'm not saying you should "doctor shop" until you find one who will do what you want, but realistically, his surgery was ~23 days ago, and he has another ~75 days until April 15th, and the current doctor is making a prediction as to whether he will be completely healed by that time.

A new doctor's examination, a new review of the records - may result in a different opinion that meets the deadline.
 
A second opinion

Luigi59, thank you for your reply and suggestion. I've been a bit worried about how it would "look" if we submitted another doctor's opinion that was favorable if DS's surgeon is still saying "no". Does the waiver review committee see that as normal or does it throw up a red flag that we may be trying to manipulate the process to our benefit?

I would never want USMA to question our course of action. We ALL want what is best for DS. I would never send him on to R-Day if there was any chance at all that he wouldn't make it because of his shoulder. That wouldn't benefit anyone. Injuring out of Beast would be worse than what we are dealing with now.
 
Remember when they report they will do a physical right there. Medical turnbacks are rare, but they occur.

As far as being seen as a manipulation perspective; if you are going to a specialist ask if they are DoDMERB qualified. They will not send up red flags if they are, and even if they aren't you have the right to a 2nd opinion. They may require a 3rd, and that is why if the doc is DoDMERB it can be helpful.
 
Remember when they report they will do a physical right there. Medical turnbacks are rare, but they occur.

As far as being seen as a manipulation perspective; if you are going to a specialist ask if they are DoDMERB qualified. They will not send up red flags if they are, and even if they aren't you have the right to a 2nd opinion. They may require a 3rd, and that is why if the doc is DoDMERB it can be helpful.

Thanks for your input! I'll ask a 2nd opinion doctor if he's DoDMERB qualified. I've even offered to fly DS up to USMA to have their doctors check him out. Apparently is has been done in the past but RC didn't seem to favor to my offer.

Keeping the faith...
 
I would think being in TX, you could find DoDMERB docs since there are major military installations in your state, i.e. Brooks. Granted that is a drive, but my point is it would be cheaper than flying to NY
 
Remember when they report they will do a physical right there. Medical turnbacks are rare, but they occur.

It is the "April 15" deadline that seems to be in question, not the R-Day status.
 
Find a civilian, former military doctor who can evaluate your son and have that doctor talk to DoDMERB to see if the 15 April date can be flexed at all

best of luck
 
A Sad Day...a follow up on our saga.

Although we were told that the waiver review deadline at USMA was April 15 and what they needed to grant my DS's waiver was a "Release to Full, Unrestricted Activities", we received word today from DS's RC at USMA that his waiver has been denied. We didn't even get the opportunity to present the "Release" from his surgeon - which we were to get on April 5 at his next follow up appointment after surgery. The surgeons agree that he'll heal with no further issues. We are unfortunately a victim of a chart that says his injury/surgery takes 6 months to recover from. I guess missing the 6 month mark by 7 days makes is a "no go". (Surgery was 01/09/12 / R-day 07/02/12)

I have no words for the crushing disspointment that our family feels at this moment. However, my DS is holding his head high knowing that he was an LOA recipient and had already accepted his appointment to USMA before being injured and DQ'd. He plans to reapply next year.

This is one of those times when life truly isn't fair... but we must trust the system.
 
I believe there is an appeal process- have you checked into that?

I sure hope there is another chance for your son- it is so painful to think that it might be so arbitrary.
 
Did the RC say anything about a medical turnback.
I don't know a lot about it but my basic understanding is that WP will reserve a spot for the candidate in the next year's class and if medically qualified the next year, then the candidate gets the appointment.
 
DS has been offered an LOA for class of 2017 but has to complete the application process again, get a nomination and be medically qualified. I haven't spoken to the RC yet but am curious about how much of DS's application picks up from this year, and how he will medically qualify next year if he didn't get the waiver this year. We have so many questions. On another note, DS also received a AROTC scholarship which could take care of our Plan "B" but it is contigent on the waiver as well.
 
jbrow,

Have you e-mailed Larry Mullen (Deputy Director of DoDMERB) about this yet? He may tell you the exact same thing you have heard, or he may give you some new instructions/thoughts moving forward. He is a good resource, either way.

E-mail your DS name, last 4 of the SSN, and a concise version of the issue (think 1-2 paragraphs max) to larry.mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil. Feel free to tell him Joe Papp @ Concorde suggested that you e-mail him.

Hope the result is favorable; Concorde (and DoDMERB!) wants to see the applicants who deserve to be in, be in.



Cheers,
Joe
 
I've emailed Mr. Mullen and received some feedback from him within moments of my inquiry. I so appreciate the willingness to help. Thank you.

We are "bucking up", moving forward with Plan "B" for this coming year and DS will reapply again next year. He'll be a cadet sooner or later!
 
I'm thrilled to report that DS's waiver has been approved for USMA Class of 2017! Couple that with the LOA he has in hand and he's 2 steps closer to an appointment (again) to USMA! His MOC nomination interview is next week. What a wild ride this has been. I so appreciate all the effort that has been made on DS's behalf to get him to this point. I know in my heart that the struggle over the last year will make him a better cadet and officer. The only downside here: he's going to miss his buddies in the Corps at Texas A & M... a great group of dedicated young people.

Patience and perseverance win again!
 
Congrats!!! :w00t:

I remember when you started this thread last year and am so glad that things are working out for the Class of 2017!
 
I'm thrilled to report that DS's waiver has been approved for USMA Class of 2017! Couple that with the LOA he has in hand and he's 2 steps closer to an appointment (again) to USMA! His MOC nomination interview is next week. What a wild ride this has been. I so appreciate all the effort that has been made on DS's behalf to get him to this point. I know in my heart that the struggle over the last year will make him a better cadet and officer. The only downside here: he's going to miss his buddies in the Corps at Texas A & M... a great group of dedicated young people.

Patience and perseverance win again!

Sad that he didn't get in last year. Very happy he is on the road this year. CONGRATS to your DS.

:jump1::jump1::jump1::jump1::jump1::jump1:
 
I am a candidate for the class of 2017 at USAFA and USMMA and a wrestler as well. I am Dodmerb qualified and based upon info from the USMMA people I hope to be receiving an LOA/Conditional Acceptance at some point before the wrestling season begins. (I am NOT a recruited athlete for wrestling). So if I get an LOA is the general feeling that I should quit wrestling and anything else where I might get injured. What do most other people do in this situation?
 
As the mother of a wrestler, I would never say "quit wrestling" to ensure your medical qualification. You are a wrestler and part of what the SA's like about you is that you are a wrestler. IMO, (even having gone through the drama we went through with my DS) you should finish up your high school wrestling career as an active participant. All I would say is be mindful of potential injuries, don't expose yourself unnecessarily, and have a solid Plan B in place should the worst happen. Obviously, each individual's situation is different. But, for my DS, I can't imagine that he would have been happy if he had walked away from his sport, his team and his coach just to ensure that he remained medically qualified.
 
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