AROTC Waiver help...

My son was just notified he will need a waiver for his 4 year AROTC scholarship. What are the real chances of him getting this? He was disqualified because of codes

D224.91-dislocation of patella (happened last October)
D226.40-current or history of osteochondral defect. (This was because he had a bone injury from dislocation of the patella-surgically repaired in october)

He has made a full recovery, cleared by his surgeon for full activity with no restrictions and has no residual effects from the injury (which was caused during football) he went on to wrestle this year and place at the state level, runs track, and participates in RAIDERS in JROTC at his school.

How do we get past these codes of disqualification if they can't Physically assess him for the review and see is capable of any physical activity.

Is there a way to submit additional information for the waiver review (i.e.: doctors letter stating he has full ROM, no residual complications)

Please help...he is distraught he is going to loose his scholarship.

He should know that they will waive him if they can but this is the process.
Promptly follow the instructions they send for additional information.
Be careful with sending information not requested.
My son's DoDMERB technician was very helpful.

AJC said:

He should know that they will waive him if they can but this is the process.
Promptly follow the instructions they send for additional information.
Be careful with sending information not requested.
My son's DoDMERB technician was very helpful.

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Since he is a 4yr ROTC scholarship winner, it says that he will automatically be reviewed for a medical waiver. However, after reading here it seems that for AROTC he has to request a waiver. Is this correct? He has contacted his DoDMERB technician for help. Right now his status just shows "pending waiver submission/review"

They waiver process starts automatically for AROTC winners.
They have selected him, they want to keep him.
His status indicates the process has begun.
Has he received any requests for additional medical information (AMI) yet?

For what this is worth to you, we were in same boat, different issue, for my son as well. I know it’s hard to “relax and let the process take its course” but that’s all you can do. Because he was a scholarship winner Cadet Command will automatically initiate waiver process. Make sure you provide DoDMERB with any information they request, AND ONLY WHAT THEY REQUEST.

In the end my son received waiver for AROTC and through West Point as well.

Hard to do, I know because I too was on pins and needles, but keep the faith. As said above, they issued him a scholarship because they want him. Now you just have to go through the process.

Request your DS's ENTIRE medical record and become intimately familiar with it. A simple DQ keyword like 'eczema' embedded in a progress note could complicate the situation, whether your DS had eczema or not. Keep in mind that as a physician evaluates a patient, they will use diagnostic keywords to describe the possibility of a condition. The problem is that DODMERB seems to then be obligated to followup on the potential existence of that condition, further delaying the waiver process. Good luck to both of you....

AJC said:

They waiver process starts automatically for AROTC winners.
They have selected him, they want to keep him.
His status indicates the process has begun.
Has he received any requests for additional medical information (AMI) yet?

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Not as of yet. Do the request come through the DoDMERB site? If so then he has not received anything. We check it daily. He has also contacted his DoDMERB technician for information.

migs said:

For what this is worth to you, we were in same boat, different issue, for my son as well. I know it’s hard to “relax and let the process take its course” but that’s all you can do. Because he was a scholarship winner Cadet Command will automatically initiate waiver process. Make sure you provide DoDMERB with any information they request, AND ONLY WHAT THEY REQUEST.

In the end my son received waiver for AROTC and through West Point as well.

Hard to do, I know because I too was on pins and needles, but keep the faith. As said above, they issued him a scholarship because they want him. Now you just have to go through the process.

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Thanks! It's nerve racking to say the least!

You should see it on the portal first.
It will come via postal mail.
My son sometimes got emails first but not always.

Know that at this time of year the Cadet Command surgeon’s office is focused on clearing graduating seniors who should be commissioning, and Cadets getting ready for camp before they start digging into the high school winner. I would also disagree with the suggestion to request all medical records. Until DODMERB/Cadet Command ask for medical records you shouldn’t offer any information. They will ask for what they need. No need opening a can of worms before you need to.

A good ROO can help with this process, but we don’t start seeing statuses until later in the summer. I often have to poke the surgeon’s office when a file seems to be sitting in one place too long.

clarksonarmy said:

Know that at this time of year the Cadet Command surgeon’s office is focused on clearing graduating seniors who should be commissioning, and Cadets getting ready for camp before they start digging into the high school winner. I would also disagree with the suggestion to request all medical records. Until DODMERB/Cadet Command ask for medical records you shouldn’t offer any information. They will ask for what they need. No need opening a can of worms before you need to.

A good ROO can help with this process, but we don’t start seeing statuses until later in the summer. I often have to poke the surgeon’s office when a file seems to be sitting in one place too long.

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Has Cadet Command ever just denied a waiver without requesting additional information? How likely is this? Or do they always request additional information?

They could deny the waiver without additional information. If it’s a condition that doesn’t meet Army standards it doesn’t matter what additional information is provided. Here is a link to part one of a three part blog post that explains the DODMERB process pretty well. https://goldenknightbattalion.com/2011/03/16/dodmerb-part-1-open-up-and-say-ahhhh/

Sadly, my DS had a DQ for history of osteochondral defect as well. He is an AFROTC scholarship recipient. Automatically had wavier review due to scholarship status. Waiver was denied. Air Force dreams are shot. It is especially hard to swallow because he is a varsity track athlete, XC as well. He has had no symptoms for a year. Seems that the air Force sees it as a pre-existing condition. Trying to move on and get excited for college without ROTC. Perhaps you will have a better outcome. Not sure how strict they are with dislocation history, and I think sometimes if there was a surgical correction a waiver could be possible.
Best wishes. I don't wish this kind of disappointment on anyone.