What do I need to do?

Strength and Honor

Strength and Honor

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2013
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614
Just got the Army ROTC scholarship, and they say they are going to alert DodMERB that I need a physical. I don't have to do anything from here except wait for the letter from DoDMERB, right?

Also, what all is included in the physical? How long does one usually last? I'm envisioning a normal sports physical, but I know it'd have to be more than that.

I wear contacts and no longer even own a pair of glasses. Should I get some cheap ones for this?
 
Sit back and wait for the letter or email about making an appt. The exam is much more in depth than a normal sports physical. Although folks on here have said their exam was very quick and cursory. I guess it depends on the doc and location. If you have any previous or current health issues now is the time to start gathering records. Good luck. ;)

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congrats on your scholarship!

we had to buy glasses for my son because we too did not have them and he had to go without contacts for 3 days and he is correctable, but definitely needs his contacts.

his exams were pretty standard and he was medically qualified fairly quickly even though there was a surgery on his history and a couple minor concussions.

good luck!
 
I agree it is dependent on the doc. Our DS's doc was thorough, checking everything from the nose to the toes... think everything:wink:
One thing to understand is you will go to a DoDMERB qualified doc. They maybe in your town or 45-60 min. drive. IOW, they don't send you paperwork and you can take it to your family doc. like a sports physical. They have to be certified/qualified/accepted by DoDMERB to give the physical and you go to the,

I do believe that everyone is asked not to wear contacts for 3 days prior.

I have suggested this before, go to your family doc with a CD ROM and ask them to download all of your medical records they have on file.
- Explain you are going to a DoDMERB doc. You don't need to take it with you for your exam, but G forbid you get a remedial, you can send that paperwork faster.

Additionally, as a parent this is something you want your kid to take to college.
--- Our DD (not ROTC) thought I was a Helo/worrywart parent, even though she was the 2nd to go to college. At 2 a.m. she was in intense pain at her sorority. As her friends took her to the ER, she had the common sense to grab that CD ROM. The staff was able to read her entire medical history from shots and allergies to check ups without trying to gain medical information from her.
--- DS1 was required a physical for AFROTC SFT (scholarship cadet. but 2 yrs after his original DoDMERB) he just handed over the CD ROM at the physical. It was a sports physical type...15 mins., 2 booster shots.

I say this because for college, most kids will not live in a 30 min. radius, it is a nice safety net to think about not only for DoDMERB, but college too.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it at all. You have been here for a while, you know your medical history. The only question I would ask you is can you go 3 days without contacts?
 
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I agree it is dependent on the doc. Our DS's doc was thorough, checking everything from the nose to the toes...everything:wink:

I do believe that everyone is asked not to wear contacts for 3 days prior.

I have suggested this before, go to your family doc with a CD ROM and ask them to download all of your medical records they have on file.
- Explain you are going to a DoDMERB doc. You don't need to take it with you for your exam, but G forbid you get a remedial, you can send that paperwork faster.

Additionally, as a parent this is something you want your kid to take to college.
--- Our DD (not ROTC) thought I was a Helo/worrywart parent, even though she was the 2nd to go to college. At 2 a.m. she was in intense pain at her sorority. As her friends took her to the ER, she had the common sense to grab that CD ROM. The staff was able to read her entire medical history from shots and allergies to check ups without trying to gain medical information from her.
--- DS1 was required a physical for AFROTC SFT (scholarship cadet. but 2 yrs after his original DoDMERB) he just handed over the CD ROM at the physical. It was a sports physical type...15 mins., 2 booster shots.

I say this because for college, most kids will not live in a 30 min. radius, it is a nice safety net to think about not only for DoDMERB, but college too.
 
Before your exam you have to fill out a very long questionnaire on-line. you will need dates of every sinus infection, etc you had, what med was given and if it was successful! Our Dr. gave us their "diagnosis" chart and their "medication" chart, which listed dates. It was very helpful to have it organized that way. The Dr also gave copies of any times DS went to the ER , for x-rays, or to a specialist - it was easier to get all of that from one source instead of calling each Dr.
You can collect all of that info ahead of time so you will be ready to go when your DodMERB portal opens.
 
two things to "prepare" for dodmerb
1. no contacts for three days
2. no strenuous workouts and drink gallons of water-there are reports of kids failing the protein urinalysis.

The "trauma" in Dodmerb isnt the actual physical. That was no longer than 30 minutes and the eye exam was maybe two minutes. The problem is in the medical history that you will fill out before hand. There are ten million confusing questions. Be CAREFUL (my oldest son accidentally checked that he took hallucinogenic drugs-luckily we caught the wrong check box and quickly fixed it.) Where you get tripped up is in the questions. This is where you disclose EVERYTHING and then the DQs can start.
 
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