Medical for Navy Indoc

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Flygirl_osu

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Sep 26, 2023
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Hi! My son received a 4-year NROTC scholarship and turned in his paperwork for Navy Indoc. They (not sure who "they" are but I think they are staff from Great Lakes Training Center) keep emailing him with questions on dates from previous surgeries, medications, procedures, etc... BUT... he is already DODMERB qualified for Navy ROTC. He is ahead of the game because he went through the DODMERB process early on due to starting a West Point application. I've told him to tell them this via email, in case they just aren't tracking, but he refuses. At this point I'm trying to make summer plans and would really like to know which session he'll go to, but this back and forth is killing me. It's been weeks. Is this normal? Or are they just assuming he doesn't have DODMERB qualification yet and going through the motions when they don't need to? Anyone have any insider knowledge?
 
Understand that DoDMERB clears a candidate based on the requirements of a specific location(USNA, USMA, NROTC, ETC). West Point may have different requirements than the NROTC. NROTC may have different requirements than USNA. Though they might be similar, they are not universal. A DoDMERB physical is good for 2 years, but each selection location still has DodMERB check to see if they are qualified. So if he was found qualified by DoDMERB for West Point(and I think you imply that) that does not mean he as been found qualified by NROTC. He should be able to go onto his DoDMERB account to see if NROTC has requested a check.

Are you sure "they" is from NSTC(Great Lakes) and not DoDMERB? NSTC doesn't usually ask for this type of info as that is what DoDMERB is for. NSTC just want a completed sports physical from a doctor (which your son should have included with the other info he submitted) Look at below.


from the 3rd page medical requirements:
"To be medically eligible to participate in NSI, you must complete a Pre-participation
Physical (Sports Physical) signed by your primary care provider and you must be medically
eligible for all sports without restriction during the current school year (15 August 2023 to
present). If you’ve suffered an injury that required surgery or physical therapy, you must get a
new sports physical. If you are not medically eligible for all sports without restriction, you will
be on medical hold until your DODMERB physical is complete and you will be required to
attend NSI the following summer.
All Midshipman Candidates are required to provide a copy of their immunization record
as proof that they have received all mandatory vaccinations listed on the NSI Package Checklist.
A newborn sickle cell blood test is also required prior to participating at NSI. If your Sickle Cell
Test (SCT) is positive, please contact the CMGO for further guidance."


You might want to have your DS check to see who is asking for this information. Regardless of who it is though. He needs to assist in providing them with the info they are requested. It doesn't have to always make since why they want it to your son. He just has to do it. It is good training for his future military career.
 
Ihavenoidea said:
Understand that DoDMERB clears a candidate based on the requirements of a specific location(USNA, USMA, NROTC, ETC). West Point may have different requirements than the NROTC. NROTC may have different requirements than USNA. Though they might be similar, they are not universal. A DoDMERB physical is good for 2 years, but each selection location still has DodMERB check to see if they are qualified. So if he was found qualified by DoDMERB for West Point(and I think you imply that) that does not mean he as been found qualified by NROTC. He should be able to go onto his DoDMERB account to see if NROTC has requested a check.

Are you sure "they" is from NSTC(Great Lakes) and not DoDMERB? NSTC doesn't usually ask for this type of info as that is what DoDMERB is for. NSTC just want a completed sports physical from a doctor (which your son should have included with the other info he submitted) Look at below.


from the 3rd page medical requirements:
"To be medically eligible to participate in NSI, you must complete a Pre-participation
Physical (Sports Physical) signed by your primary care provider and you must be medically
eligible for all sports without restriction during the current school year (15 August 2023 to
present). If you’ve suffered an injury that required surgery or physical therapy, you must get a
new sports physical. If you are not medically eligible for all sports without restriction, you will
be on medical hold until your DODMERB physical is complete and you will be required to
attend NSI the following summer.
All Midshipman Candidates are required to provide a copy of their immunization record
as proof that they have received all mandatory vaccinations listed on the NSI Package Checklist.
A newborn sickle cell blood test is also required prior to participating at NSI. If your Sickle Cell
Test (SCT) is positive, please contact the CMGO for further guidance."


You might want to have your DS check to see who is asking for this information. Regardless of who it is though. He needs to assist in providing them with the info they are requested. It doesn't have to always make since why they want it to your son. He just has to do it. It is good training for his future military career.
Click to expand...
Thanks, he has his DODMERB clearance for West Point, Army ROTC, AND Navy ROTC. He has provided everything they've asked for so just waiting for them to get back to him. In his Indoc Application materials there was both the sports physical form AND a medical form that appeared to be the first step for DODMERB. He filled everything out, even though he was already DODMERB cleared. Maybe that confused the issue?
 
Flygirl_osu said:
he has his DODMERB clearance for West Point, Army ROTC, AND Navy ROTC. He has provided everything they've asked for so just waiting for them to get back to him.
Click to expand...
This statement is contradictory to me, so forgive me. If he has DoDMERB qualified for NROTC, then he should not be waiting for them to get back to him. It will say "Qualified" and he is good to go. If he is waiting for DoDMERB, then that is usually so they can see if he is qualified under the NROTC requirements. That is why I asked who is requesting the additional medical information(AMI). That is usually done by DoDMERB and not the NSTC. NSTC does not handle medical information or clearance. They only check to see if you have a sports physical signed by a doctor that is good to go for NSI activities.

The sports physical is seperate and required for NSI no matter if you are DoDMERB qualified or not per the NSI packet I linked in the last post.
 
This is what I "think" happened here. Some NROTC scholarship winners have already been DODMERB cleared during their academy application process. But many do not even start that process. If someone fills out the sports physical AND lists a series of medical issues, the NSTC team will hand those off to a medical reviewer who will start asking questions. This happens because the Admiral wants to be assured that every candidate has been formally screened to undergo the physical training which is part of NSI.

If DS were to send an email and attach the DODMERB "fully cleared" letter, this should calm the waters. Otherwise, he may wind up being assigned to phase III or not go at all while NSTC tries to figure out if he is screened or not. NSTC does not always have immediate access to the DODMERB letters.

He can also reach out to his prospective unit and they might be able to help.
 
GWU PNS (emeritus) said:
This is what I "think" happened here. Some NROTC scholarship winners have already been DODMERB cleared during their academy application process. But many do not even start that process. If someone fills out the sports physical AND lists a series of medical issues, the NSTC team will hand those off to a medical reviewer who will start asking questions. This happens because the Admiral wants to be assured that every candidate has been formally screened to undergo the physical training which is part of NSI.

If DS were to send an email and attach the DODMERB "fully cleared" letter, this should calm the waters. Otherwise, he may wind up being assigned to phase III or not go at all while NSTC tries to figure out if he is screened or not. NSTC does not always have immediate access to the DODMERB letters.

He can also reach out to his prospective unit and they might be able to help.
Click to expand...
Thank you! This is very helpful and is exactly what I thought might be the case. Will have him attach the dodmerb fully cleared letter and hope that fixes it.
 
Confirmed the emails were coming from NSTC. My son just emailed them back tonight and attached his Navy ROTC DODMERB medical clearance letter. Hope this clears it all up.
 
This may or may not apply to you, but the CMGO told me that DODMERB clearance doesn't affect NSI medical clearance.
 
Maybe they want to start building his actual Navy medical record that he’ll have for the rest of his time in the Navy? It’s a physical folder that grows thicker as more papers get put in it.

I am unsure if the DoDMERB exam stuff goes in that folder, I don’t recall seeing mine in there.
 
One aspect of your original post noted an eagerness to understand your summer training schedule so that perhaps as a family you can organize summer travel "At this point I'm trying to make summer plans and would really like to know which session he'll go to, but this back and forth is killing me. It's been weeks. Is this normal? "

The best advice I can share on this is to make your family plans, but to understand that NROTC summer training plans can and do change, and in some cases your future midn will only get orders/flight itineraries 48 hours before departure so the rest of you may have to go on without 'em, and certainly buy a refundable ticket for the mid. "Semper Gumby" is a term someone coined about being ever flexible about all of this. Some travel coordinators are rock stars... others, um, not so much. For NSI, since there are specific scheduled events, best bet would be to schedule your vacation when it's not one of these windows so you won't collide if there are any changes.

Real examples of waiting for a firm schedule that doesn't arrive or changes last min from other Midn in recent years:
  • Waiting for orders for Cortramid , 2 days before advised now going to the other one (west vs east or whatever).
  • Flew to CT for a summer sub cruise, got there, checked into hotel, then got a phone call advising to "fly home" - flew back a week later to join a different sub.
  • Summer cruise dates shift to a different state departure, and from a 13 day cruise to an 8 night/ 9 day cruise due to the schedule of the boat.
  • Moving from one PCS duty station to another- got orders on a Tuesday to be 3 states away on a Friday- had to scramble to book a rental truck and car tow attachment, break lease, adjust lease on other end, yeah and drive 13 hours too - all in less than 3 days.

    Overall, the simplest thing to do when given a request for information or an order is to provide the information or follow the order. He's not joining a debate team. I like providing the additional info too as others advised but definitely advised to just keep it simple, provide the info - avoid arguing/appealing/debating with them that they should not need it, or should already have it?

    Semper gumby (and peace, and humptiness, forever).
 
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