Waiver Denied

gad.choi

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2010
Messages
2
So basically I'm just writing this to give anyone else with a similar medical situation a heads up, and even if you're in the same boat as me, don't give up. Your situation could be different, I'm just giving you a little insight behind my specific case.

Anyways earlier today my admissions officer called me and told me even though I had a "stellar" application (I'm not bragging or anything, I'm just giving you an idea, but I'm going to Stanford on a full academic ride and I absolutely murdered my CFA) the surgeon was denying my waiver request. I was initially disqualified for a D155.70 which is myopia greater than -8.00. My right eye is -8.00 diopters and my left eye is -8.25 diopters.

My admissions officer told me that the surgeons were pretty lenient about eyesight up to about -5.00 diopters. However, the surgeon's are very strict about keeping the -8.00 mark. He said that the reason for the surgeon denying my waiver was threefold.

1. My vision will deteriorate and being in a combat situation as well as being responsible for the lives of other men, having my eyesight past a certain point is dangerous. Especially if I should lose my glasses.
2. My vision could cause me to fail to graduate as a commissioned officer. So basically I would be a wasted investment. (I'm giving you the short of it, he didn't say wasted investment, he was a lot nicer about it)
3. PRK is not a suitable treatment for my situation as it is unable to correct myopia of my caliber.

Unfortunately for me, this was absolute crushing news. However, he did tell me that ROTC is much more lenient. He said that you can usually push their limit to around -10.00 diopters so ROTC is definitely something I'm looking into.

Basically good luck to all of you candidates for 2015, I wish I could say see you in June but unfortunately West Point is not for me. It sucks but it's all good. Hopefully 4 years from now, we'll all graduate together with our shiny gold bars. Anyways good luck!

P.S. I bet I'm the only who'll ever say this, but I'm pissed I don't get to go to plebe summer.
 
gad.choi, I am sorry to hear about your situation, and wish you the best at Stanford. I was impressed by your wording and tone. Don't take this personally, because it is meant in general terms. How could this representative of the Army direct you towards ROTC? The three reasons the Army is giving you for not being able to attend the USMA, are very significant. If you graduate from USMA or ROTC, you will be an officer in the Army, and will still not be able to see at an acceptable level, without your glasses.

I would have expected more from that representative.
 
How could this representative of the Army direct you towards ROTC? The three reasons the Army is giving you for not being able to attend the USMA, are very significant. If you graduate from USMA or ROTC, you will be an officer in the Army, and will still not be able to see at an acceptable level, without your glasses.

I would have expected more from that representative.

Here is the deal - the reason why USMA won't take a chance on him is that Congress mandates that 80% of all males who graduate from USMA MUST commission in a Combat Arms branch.
He is not eligible for Combat Arms and hence to admit him as a plebe KNOWING that he won't commission Combat Arms is just too risky.
However, there is a fair chance that he can commission in the Army through ROTC and serve in support. ROTC does not have the same mandate and they also commission officers for the Guard and Reserve. ROTC is much more likely to take a chance that he will be eligible to be commissioned in 4 years when he graduates. The Army will spend much less money on him and fewer resources through ROTC.

This is why waivers are so variable. It is indeed possible to get a waiver for ROTC and not for USMA.

gad.choi - good luck to you in whichever path you choose.
btw - plebe summer is at Navy. At West Point they call it Beast.
 
JAM, thanks for your reply. I have a follow-up question on, "ROTC is much more likely to take a chance that he will be eligible to be commissioned in 4 years when he graduates." This infers that there is a chance that he will not be eligible to be commissioned at the end of ROTC. Shouldn't that criteria be set up front? It sounds like the chances of his eye sight improving are remote. What other "chance" would they be taking?
 
There is always a chance that a cadet will not be eligible to be commissioned. The chance for him is probably greater than the otherwise healthy cadet, since there is a good chance his eyesight will get worse. I have no idea what that risk is - but apparently there is some risk.

If the Army was to assume some risk and allow him to enter a commissioning program and spend money on him..... it's much cheaper and hence more likely that would happen through ROTC instead of USMA.
There is the possibility that ROTC will deny his waiver as well, though.
 
There is always a chance that a cadet will not be eligible to be commissioned. The chance for him is probably greater than the otherwise healthy cadet, since there is a good chance his eyesight will get worse. I have no idea what that risk is - but apparently there is some risk.

If the Army was to assume some risk and allow him to enter a commissioning program and spend money on him..... it's much cheaper and hence more likely that would happen through ROTC instead of USMA.
There is the possibility that ROTC will deny his waiver as well, though.

Aviation aside, there are no medical standards attached to branches. The idea that he could be commissioned into a "support" role vice "combat arms" (not an existing branch classification any longer) is unfounded and should not be perpetuated.

The infantry and the ordnance corps fire the same weapons on the same ranges and maneuver in the same battlespace.
 
Okay. I never said there were medical standards attached to a branch. There are medical standards attached to commissioning. I am not going to argue with you but talk to the officers in the admissions department who explain why someone would get a ROTC waiver and not a USMA waiver. In fact, this was one of the reasons my daughter's reginonal commander explained to her when she was seeking a medical waiver.
And explain it to cadets who develop health problems but are commissioned anyway.
Explain to him why - given #1 his admissions officer referred him to ROTC.
Done here.
 
Okay. I never said there were medical standards attached to a branch. There are medical standards attached to commissioning.

Except that by suggesting that he couldn't be in "combat arms" but could commissioned in a "support" branch, you were absolutely saying that there are lower medical standards for branches you define as "support."

The likelihood of a waiver has nothing to do with what branch category the individual will one day commission into, which is how your comment makes it sound.
 
I bet I'm the only who'll ever say this, but I'm pissed I don't get to go to plebe summer.

Thank you, gad.choi! When those complaining phone calls from my plebe start coming, I will manage to restrain myself from pointing out how many people would love to trade places with him. Good luck to you.
 
Yeah, but I still feel like PRK can correct my eyes to around 20/40? And that's good enough where it won't be a danger in a combat situation. So laser surgery is still a viable option
 
Most of the information provided here has been misleading, inaccurate, and provided by folks that don't know specific details about this particular situation, as well as the general situation. So, while you may continue your discussion, it does nothing to assist Gad and the original issue. Any and all waivers are individually considered with the myriad of variables that go along with each individual case. Each Academy and ROTC program view a specific candidate in general the same, but certainly can and have in some (not most) instances, different waiver decisions. Whether that is right, wrong, or indifferent....it IS the reality and happens.

Gad - I will send you a separate email later today with regards to viable options for YOU.:thumb:
 
2 words: Laser surgery
Iwheel isn't laser eye surgery automatically disqualifying with dodmerb?

and gad.choi i'm really sorry to hear. i'm in a predicament with my hearing and just hoping for that waiver. good luck in everything you do and be sure to make a difference wherever you end up. hooah!
 
So basically I'm just writing this to give anyone else with a similar medical situation a heads up, and even if you're in the same boat as me, don't give up. Your situation could be different, I'm just giving you a little insight behind my specific case.

Anyways earlier today my admissions officer called me and told me even though I had a "stellar" application (I'm not bragging or anything, I'm just giving you an idea, but I'm going to Stanford on a full academic ride and I absolutely murdered my CFA) the surgeon was denying my waiver request. I was initially disqualified for a D155.70 which is myopia greater than -8.00. My right eye is -8.00 diopters and my left eye is -8.25 diopters.

My admissions officer told me that the surgeons were pretty lenient about eyesight up to about -5.00 diopters. However, the surgeon's are very strict about keeping the -8.00 mark. He said that the reason for the surgeon denying my waiver was threefold.

1. My vision will deteriorate and being in a combat situation as well as being responsible for the lives of other men, having my eyesight past a certain point is dangerous. Especially if I should lose my glasses.
2. My vision could cause me to fail to graduate as a commissioned officer. So basically I would be a wasted investment. (I'm giving you the short of it, he didn't say wasted investment, he was a lot nicer about it)
3. PRK is not a suitable treatment for my situation as it is unable to correct myopia of my caliber.

Unfortunately for me, this was absolute crushing news. However, he did tell me that ROTC is much more lenient. He said that you can usually push their limit to around -10.00 diopters so ROTC is definitely something I'm looking into.

Basically good luck to all of you candidates for 2015, I wish I could say see you in June but unfortunately West Point is not for me. It sucks but it's all good. Hopefully 4 years from now, we'll all graduate together with our shiny gold bars. Anyways good luck!

P.S. I bet I'm the only who'll ever say this, but I'm pissed I don't get to go to plebe summer.

Gad, I'm so sorry to hear about your DQ, your qualifications sound great, and I'm sorry USMA won't give you the waiver. I will say that it sounds like you're going to have a great back up plan in Stanford, and that's nothing to sneeze at! It sounds like you'll reach your goal of becoming an Army Officer. Plus, your attitude sounds excellent! :thumb: Wait for Mr. Mullen to make the final decision.
 
Most of the information provided here has been misleading, inaccurate, and provided by folks that don't know specific details about this particular situation, as well as the general situation. So, while you may continue your discussion, it does nothing to assist Gad and the original issue. Any and all waivers are individually considered with the myriad of variables that go along with each individual case. Each Academy and ROTC program view a specific candidate in general the same, but certainly can and have in some (not most) instances, different waiver decisions. Whether that is right, wrong, or indifferent....it IS the reality and happens.

Gad - I will send you a separate email later today with regards to viable options for YOU.:thumb:
THIS IS THE ONE E-MAIL YOU SHOULD LISTEN TOO LIKE GOSPEL! :thumb:

Sorry for the "shout" but I can't say enough about Larry Mullen. He is THE man that can tell you the absolute answer, no guesses, speculation, etc., he will know THE answer.

You may or may not like his answer, but you will have no questions remaining once you work with him.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
haamed415 - The answer to your question is NO.:thumb:

Mamimus/Flieger83 - The final decision was made by West Point. Gad and I closed out and we wished him luck:thumb:
 
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