A few months ago on the DoDMERB thread Mr. Mullen posted his new email address. It is different, quite long. I believe it was due to a promotion. I am not sure he works directly with candidates anymore. However, he did put it out there if anyone needed him.
~ Mr. Mullen was the one that was instrumental in setting up the help desk at DoDMERB. Once it was set up, he than resigned his moderator position from here as the go to medical poster.
That being said, I would not contact him. The answer was already stated, which you quoted. mom22gals stated so. Aggie also stated yes.
~ If you look back even when he was here MullenLE was a deputy director, basically anytime you have the word deputy in the GS world you are getting tons of work emails a day, while you put out fires and attend meetings.
~~ IMPO I believe being here as the med. go to answering questions non-stop and his job as the deputy director at DoDMERB, he was instrumental in creating the help desk at DoDMERB. He saw the need for candidates.
Have you 1st tried the help desk at DoDMERB?
I understand your concern right now, but you need to understand that all DoDMERB does is DQ according to the standards set forth. It is the commissioning source that waives. Since, you already knew he has a torn ACL and will need surgery, than you are probably going directly into the waiver pile. That will go up the chain for the USAFA medical world. They will be the ones to decide yes or no for the waiver.
~ AFROTC is considered a different commissioning source even though they go ADAF too. So, it is possible that one or the other waivers, but the other doesn't. Just like it is possible that both can say yes, and both can say no.
I am just not sure how much Mr. Mullen would be able to assist right now from your standpoint. It is pretty straight forward. He has a torn ACL, he will need surgery. That is a DQ. The results of the surgery will impact the waiver. After the surgery would be when I would contact him, the help desk or a DoDMERB consultant (companies that you hire) to see exactly what the AF medical board will look for in the wording of his condition.
~ Sometimes, it can be how the doc writes the results you supply that can be an issue. Many docs do not work with the military, and thus, do not know there are key words that can be important.
Again, jmpo, but right now, I would stay on top of it, wait for the DQ paperwork and follow their instructions. I would have my DS place his emphasis on the following:
1. Getting those nominations
~ No nomination, no appointment
2. If they have not done the CFA, talk to their ALO about how he can submit without it, or if he can at all.
3. Finishing their AFROTC scholarship application
~ You have stated that he will hopefully be healed by April, what if it is not healed until May, and USAFA says NOPE due to healing time frame, but AFROTC decides he is in the window?
4. Applying to plan B schools.
I wish him the very best, but this is an insane roller coaster ride with very little control of what occurs next. Take one at a time according to priority.
In the end just remember the adage...DoDMERB DQs, commissioning source waives.