ADD Criteria for waiver

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t19

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I am currently in the process of applying for a waiver from DODMERB after they denied my application due to a history of ADD. I have completed 3 years of my college career with a GPA of 3.0. I'm wondering what specific criteria DODMERB considers when granting a waiver for a history of ADD. In support of my application, I've submitted various documents, including evidence that I ceased taking medication for ADD during high school when I was 17 years old. At present, I fall within the age range of 20-25.

Additionally, I've provided recommendation letters from professors and official documentation from my university, attesting to the fact that I do not have any accommodations. I've also been an active participant in my NROTC unit. Any guidance or assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
 
My understanding is that they are super conservative on this. Anecdotally, I’ve heard that, even if you meet accession standards, they might still DQ you as a means of notifying the waiver authority about the history of ADD. That said, I would think you’d be able to get a waiver based on the above.
 
t19 said:
I am currently in the process of applying for a waiver from DODMERB after they denied my application due to a history of ADD. I have completed 3 years of my college career with a GPA of 3.0. I'm wondering what specific criteria DODMERB considers when granting a waiver for a history of ADD. In support of my application, I've submitted various documents, including evidence that I ceased taking medication for ADD during high school when I was 17 years old. At present, I fall within the age range of 20-25.

Additionally, I've provided recommendation letters from professors and official documentation from my university, attesting to the fact that I do not have any accommodations. I've also been an active participant in my NROTC unit. Any guidance or assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
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First, I admire your perseverance.

Second, go to the DoDMERB home page and read every item on the left-hand side, including Contacts. Process, FAQs, etc., so you have a better understanding of how this works.

Items to note:
- You do not apply for a waiver. The commissioning program decides if a waiver will be requested.
- DoDMERB does not deny applications. They evaluate exam info and medical history against the DoD medical accession standard, and find the candidate either meets or does not meet standards (Q/DQ). They provide the decision to the commissioning program.
- Each commissioning program has its own waiver authority and waiver policy. They evaluate each case on its merits, per policy and precedent. The waiver policy criteria are not published.
- Demonstrated strong academic performance over time without benefit of Rx or accommodations is an important factor. The more time - without ADD support - of high functioning, successful performance in all aspects of your midshipman life you have, the better.

DoDMERB home page:


DOD Accession standard:


There is a chance, as waivers have been granted in this area. The frequency and criteria are unknown.
 
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If you Google, you should be able to find the DoD accession standards. IIRC, the ADHD stuff is on page 50.
 
t19 said:
I am currently in the process of applying for a waiver from DODMERB after they denied my application due to a history of ADD. I have completed 3 years of my college career with a GPA of 3.0. I'm wondering what specific criteria DODMERB considers when granting a waiver for a history of ADD. In support of my application, I've submitted various documents, including evidence that I ceased taking medication for ADD during high school when I was 17 years old. At present, I fall within the age range of 20-25.

Additionally, I've provided recommendation letters from professors and official documentation from my university, attesting to the fact that I do not have any accommodations. I've also been an active participant in my NROTC unit. Any guidance or assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
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DODMERB doesn’t waive you. DODMERB will either find you meet (Q), or don’t meet (DQ) set standards. And then it is up to each waiver authority (ie: USNA) to issue a waiver for you (if you are found DQ).

Question: are you on a NROTC scholarship? As a senior in college (you say ‘completed 3 yrs of college’)? That’s not clear in your post. If so, were you DQ’ed and then waived for NROTC? IMO, I would strongly consider finishing up through NROTC and commissioning in May (is that correct), instead of starting over.

You have a lot under your belt, without meds. That’s a positive. Know that each situation is considered individually, so you cannot compare your specific circumstance to another, as far as a waiver granted or not.
 
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To Clarify, I am a Senior in NROTC who has been battling for a Waiver for three years. I was recently DQ'ed by DODMERD, and my file is supposed to be with NROTC now; I was hoping there was some published statement about Waiver guideline policy on ADD.

Thank you all for your clarification that there is no official guideline.
 
t19 said:
I am currently in the process of applying for a waiver from DODMERB after they denied my application due to a history of ADD. I have completed 3 years of my college career with a GPA of 3.0. I'm wondering what specific criteria DODMERB considers when granting a waiver for a history of ADD. In support of my application, I've submitted various documents, including evidence that I ceased taking medication for ADD during high school when I was 17 years old. At present, I fall within the age range of 20-25.

Additionally, I've provided recommendation letters from professors and official documentation from my university, attesting to the fact that I do not have any accommodations. I've also been an active participant in my NROTC unit. Any guidance or assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
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Yes, they look for time off meds and off accommodations. Time is the only answer. Depends on type of meds taken and length of time you took them. Could be 1 year to 5 years. Just as an FYI NROTC and afrotc are stricter on this than arotc. You could switch, so that's something to look into as well.
 
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