DoDMERB for 2017
- Thread starter Art.Perea
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another13mom
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When the portal opens for applications, if things go as they did a few years ago, they won't send the DODMERB exam info until they have received a transcript, SAT scores, a completed application (your part, w/ essay questions, etc.), and, if I remember correctly, a teacher recommendation. No point in gov't spending $$ for the exams (eyes, medical) until they know you are academically in the realm of possible admission. If you know of a potential issue, you should start your application as early as possible. We knew of an issue, but by being very proactive, had it cleared up by early Sept. The folks at DODMERB are very helpful.
Things to do:
Ensure that you are competitive. Do well this year. Reach for leadership positions. Be awesome. If you are not competitive, you will not be considered for a medical waiver. On the other hand, if you are LOA material (and the condition is waiverable) you will immediately be considered for a medical waiver.
Finish the application as soon as possible. All of it. It opened right after SLS in July last year. Once you complete most of your application, call your liaison officer, if he or she has not already called you. Start prepping for the CFA at SLS, if you're going. Knock it out at SLS, or by September.
The thing to realize is that not everyone who is medically disqualified will even be considered for a waiver. Make sure you are competitive enough for waiver consideration. That starts with a strong and complete application.
I had a similar experience applying for USNA. I got a status letter informing me of an approved medical waiver yesterday. Do everything you can, and things will hopefully work out. Even if they don't, at least you did everything you could.
Ensure that you are competitive. Do well this year. Reach for leadership positions. Be awesome. If you are not competitive, you will not be considered for a medical waiver. On the other hand, if you are LOA material (and the condition is waiverable) you will immediately be considered for a medical waiver.
Finish the application as soon as possible. All of it. It opened right after SLS in July last year. Once you complete most of your application, call your liaison officer, if he or she has not already called you. Start prepping for the CFA at SLS, if you're going. Knock it out at SLS, or by September.
The thing to realize is that not everyone who is medically disqualified will even be considered for a waiver. Make sure you are competitive enough for waiver consideration. That starts with a strong and complete application.
I had a similar experience applying for USNA. I got a status letter informing me of an approved medical waiver yesterday. Do everything you can, and things will hopefully work out. Even if they don't, at least you did everything you could.
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TheChicagoan
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Hey that's some really helpful advice nuensis. I just want to verify something though - Having braces/dental correcting "stuff" at the time of the DoDMERB is a disqualification right? But if it's gone by the start of my Senior Year then...
Because like the OP I guess I should make sure that I can qualify/be good enough for a waiver.
-TheChicagoan
From what I've gathered in this forum, braces are fine as long as they are removed before you report and there are no complications (infections and whatnot).
another13mom
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Maybe applications for 2013 class opened earlier; my son had both exams before the end of June, cleared a remedial by early Sept. He was gone for most of the summer, so we were happy to get the preliminary exams out of the way before he left and schedule the rest of the stuff for as soon as he returned.
I had a similar experience as the two mentioned above. I did not attend SLS, and had only started my application, when all of the DODMERB stuff began pouring in. I got my medical exams quickly out of the way, July time frame, and was quickly found to be not qualified. Soon after that, I was fortunate enough to receive a waiver, September time frame.
The funny thing with the waiver is that I received it while maybe half of my application was done. That part never made sense to me, from what I hear of other folks' stories.
The funny thing with the waiver is that I received it while maybe half of my application was done. That part never made sense to me, from what I hear of other folks' stories.
I should make it clear that my experience was with the U.S. Naval Academy. While they may be similar, they are not the same. In fact I had originally posted gouge for USNA without realizing that this was the wrong forum. I changed some of the names, assuming that my experience with DoDMERB would still be applicable in this situation.
Apologies if I am mistaken. I suppose as a Navy guy I should probably stay away from the Army forum.
Apologies if I am mistaken. I suppose as a Navy guy I should probably stay away from the Army forum.
from what I know, for West Point, the Regional Commander determines the medical exam. This might explain some different standard for getting DoDMERB medical examination.
Once your medical exam is done, you will be either qualified, remedial (means additional testing by DoDMERB is required to make a determination), or disqualifed.
Not all disqualify conditions are waiverable and SAs have different standards. A good example is partial color blindness. My understanding is that West Point grants medical waiver for partial color blindness, but Navy and Air Force won't.
Once your medical exam is done, you will be either qualified, remedial (means additional testing by DoDMERB is required to make a determination), or disqualifed.
Not all disqualify conditions are waiverable and SAs have different standards. A good example is partial color blindness. My understanding is that West Point grants medical waiver for partial color blindness, but Navy and Air Force won't.
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This is what our RC posted - he was commenting on what the differences will be in this year's application as compared to past years:
The really significant process difference will come this summer. We will open the full applications of our competitive candidates as usual in late June/ early July. However, we will not open the DoDMERB medical exam at that point. We will require all candidates to complete some portion of the application before we authorize the medical exam. I don't think we will authorize any medical exams until early August, but we haven't decided on those exact dates yet.
May not be the case across the board but I know this year they cut off Dodmerb exams (due to funding) for other than the top candidates late in the season - they're trying to avoid next year spending money on the exams for candidates who aren't serious about the process.
The really significant process difference will come this summer. We will open the full applications of our competitive candidates as usual in late June/ early July. However, we will not open the DoDMERB medical exam at that point. We will require all candidates to complete some portion of the application before we authorize the medical exam. I don't think we will authorize any medical exams until early August, but we haven't decided on those exact dates yet.
May not be the case across the board but I know this year they cut off Dodmerb exams (due to funding) for other than the top candidates late in the season - they're trying to avoid next year spending money on the exams for candidates who aren't serious about the process.