- Joined
- May 31, 2008
- Messages
- 7,992
In the near future, I will be leaving the Forums, not DoDMERB. I will let you know exactly when I will sign off. Team DoDMERB has stood up another opportunity to have questions answered at "HelpDesk@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil" It is operational now and staff members are gladly willing to assist you. Our current website is also up and running (https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil)
I've clearly paid my dues in many long hours on nights and weekends and enjoyed assisting the Forums posters (approx 10%) and the "lurkers" (approx 90%). But the staff has counseled me that they are ready for the challenge and realistically, the government, just like any other organization, will not be answering questions on a 24 hour basis like this. That said, there are be a larger number of folks to answer questions during NORMAL duty hours, Mon-Fri, 6:30 AM - 4 PM MST. And needless to say, they will do a better job than me too
We will be converting to a new computer system/website in the Fall of 2011. Our determined goal is to have the new website be capable of answering almost all questions that have an answer. We will provide detailed information regarding the process for those that are detailed oriented. The website will provide short, to the point answers for people that just want the "short answer." "HelpDesk@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil" and our toll free number 800-841-2706 will be available. We want our website to be like an ATM---If you can get 99% of your desired transactions accomplished when YOU want the answers, why would you go stand in line to see a bank teller? We want to do the same thing at DoDMERB--give you the information when YOU want it, not when we're available to give it to you. Also, if we can provide you the information you require on the website 24/7, that frees up more staff time to process applicant cases and improve our turn-around time on DoDMERB determinations.
Some questions are unanswerable @ the time they are posed. I can't tell you how many times per day, 7 days per week, I receive questions from 14 year olds or parents or whomever that say "What are my chances?" The reason we require an exam and a history is to evaluate an applicant's medical status. Often times, we require additional tests, consults, and/or information. If DoDMERB determines an applicant does NOT meet standards, an applicant may be eligible for medical waiver consideration. So asking us "what are the chances" slows down the process becasue DoDMERB and the medcial waiver authorities don't exactly deal in "chances." We utilize a careful review of each and every applicant. My charge to the staff is, "treat every applicant's file as though it is your promotion file, because if you don't, that's the level of effort will provide in reviewing your promotion file."
Medical waiver consideration is based on a "contingent award" of an ROTC scholarship or a determination by a Service Academy Admissions office that an applicant is competitive in all other areas of the Academy application process, to potentially receive an offer of appointment. Under that circumstance, the Admissions office directs the medical folks to review an applicant for a medical waiver. DoDMERB can't and will not predict what that decision will be. The Academy has to perform their own review and risk analysis to arrive at their waiver decision. The Academy will notify the applicant of that decision via letter.
So, thanks for all the cards and letters, I'm still here for a bit, but when the staff gives me the final go ahead, I'll be signing off...to the delight of some and the chagrin of others, I'm sure
I've clearly paid my dues in many long hours on nights and weekends and enjoyed assisting the Forums posters (approx 10%) and the "lurkers" (approx 90%). But the staff has counseled me that they are ready for the challenge and realistically, the government, just like any other organization, will not be answering questions on a 24 hour basis like this. That said, there are be a larger number of folks to answer questions during NORMAL duty hours, Mon-Fri, 6:30 AM - 4 PM MST. And needless to say, they will do a better job than me too
We will be converting to a new computer system/website in the Fall of 2011. Our determined goal is to have the new website be capable of answering almost all questions that have an answer. We will provide detailed information regarding the process for those that are detailed oriented. The website will provide short, to the point answers for people that just want the "short answer." "HelpDesk@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil" and our toll free number 800-841-2706 will be available. We want our website to be like an ATM---If you can get 99% of your desired transactions accomplished when YOU want the answers, why would you go stand in line to see a bank teller? We want to do the same thing at DoDMERB--give you the information when YOU want it, not when we're available to give it to you. Also, if we can provide you the information you require on the website 24/7, that frees up more staff time to process applicant cases and improve our turn-around time on DoDMERB determinations.
Some questions are unanswerable @ the time they are posed. I can't tell you how many times per day, 7 days per week, I receive questions from 14 year olds or parents or whomever that say "What are my chances?" The reason we require an exam and a history is to evaluate an applicant's medical status. Often times, we require additional tests, consults, and/or information. If DoDMERB determines an applicant does NOT meet standards, an applicant may be eligible for medical waiver consideration. So asking us "what are the chances" slows down the process becasue DoDMERB and the medcial waiver authorities don't exactly deal in "chances." We utilize a careful review of each and every applicant. My charge to the staff is, "treat every applicant's file as though it is your promotion file, because if you don't, that's the level of effort will provide in reviewing your promotion file."
Medical waiver consideration is based on a "contingent award" of an ROTC scholarship or a determination by a Service Academy Admissions office that an applicant is competitive in all other areas of the Academy application process, to potentially receive an offer of appointment. Under that circumstance, the Admissions office directs the medical folks to review an applicant for a medical waiver. DoDMERB can't and will not predict what that decision will be. The Academy has to perform their own review and risk analysis to arrive at their waiver decision. The Academy will notify the applicant of that decision via letter.
So, thanks for all the cards and letters, I'm still here for a bit, but when the staff gives me the final go ahead, I'll be signing off...to the delight of some and the chagrin of others, I'm sure
I guess we'll have to go back to pure speculation here 
