AFROTC ANXIETY WAIVER

B

Bernarr4

New Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
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7
I'll try to make this short and sweet! I'm currently an AS200 enduring my FTP smester here at Embry Riddle. This is the semester where I compete for a rated enrollment allocation, to go to field training this summer. Currently I'm in the process of getting my DoDMERB sorted out and I found out today that I got disqualified pending a waiver for a history of anxiety disorder or D232.10. I'm extremely worried since I thought I would become qualified without a problem since I met all these criteria straight from (DoDD 6130.3):

p. History of anxiety disorders (300.01), anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (300.00), panic disorder (300.2), agoraphobia (300.21, 300.22), social phobia (300.23), simple phobias (300.29), other acute reactions to stress (308) UNLESS:

(1) The applicant did not require any treatment in an inpatient or residential facility.

(2) Outpatient care was not required for longer than 12 months (cumulative) by a physician or other mental health professional (to include V65.40).

(3) The applicant has not required treatment (including medication) for the past 24 continuous months.

(4) The applicant has been stable without loss of time from normal pursuits for repeated periods even if of brief duration; and without symptoms or behavior of a repeated nature that impaired social, school, or work efficiency for the past 24 continuous months.



I'm not sure why I got disqualified, but I would like to get some input on what I can do. Two years and a half ago I smoked marijuana for the first and last time. I had expirienced my first panic attack during the high which left my mind in a state of panic for about three months. The event was very traumatizing. I was given medication that I took only a handful of times, and according to the doctors notes, I was diagnosed with GAD. It's been more than two years since I took medication. What I'm trying to say is that the anxiety was brought on by smoking and I didn't have any prior experiences with anxiety ever. The anxiety was very short lived but it was obviously enough to get me disqualified.

What steps should I take next?

What are the chances of getting qualified?

Should I take a mental evaluation to prove that I'm fine and strengthen my waiver?
 
I would contact Larry Mullen, Deputy Director for DoDMERB. His contact information can be found on this DoDMERB web page https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/Con...ate) Reference Document as of 12 May 2016.pdf

It has been reported at least once that DoDMERB has issued a DQ even though a candidate met the standards and the answer they got from DoDMERB was that they wanted to forward the information to the commissioning source and have them decide via a waiver. Here is what they specifically wrote "I have an email quoting the reviewer for DS saying even though DS meets the standard, the reviewer wants the waiver authority to know about the condition and consider. " It was in this thread https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/rules-or-guidelines.52018/#post-512406

There is a recent post where someone met the eye standard, but they were still DQ. The waiver outcome is still pending. That thread is here https://www.serviceacademyforums.co...dically-disqualified.51825/page-2#post-532742

Please let us know how it goes. Best of luck.
 
So I decided to send Mr Mullen and email... worst decision of my life. I just got back from a meeting with my cadre about said email. I jumped the chain of command and I messed with a lot ofpeople by doing this. I was also told that I was going to be receiving a scholarship...not anymore.
 
Bernarr4 said:
So I decided to send Mr Mullen and email... worst decision of my life. I just got back from a meeting with my cadre about said email. I jumped the chain of command and I messed with a lot ofpeople by doing this. I was also told that I was going to be receiving a scholarship...not anymore.
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First and foremost, I am sorry to hear this. Everyone who posts here does so with the best of intentions to help candidates like you move forward and not backwards. @5Day is one of those folks and then some. He always posts thoughtful and common sense advice.

I don't believe that @5Day had any intention for you to bypass the chain of command regarding your DoDMERB. Throughout the process, your cadre should be kept informed and be a primary source of information. The SA forum in my opinion, is a source for secondary information and opinions on "gray areas."

In addition, I am puzzled on just how an "inquiry" to Mr. Mullen resulted in "messing with a lot of people." Can you elaborate more specifically on why the Cadre was so upset?
 
You shouldn't have contacted Larry Mullen directly as generally he only wants PMSes contacting him. Although,you may have met the minimum standards that you listed above, DODMERB tends to DQ everyone with a history of anxiety disorders, as people who have them, don't generally adapt well in a military environment.

However, you could get a waiver based on the information that you provided. The waiver has to be initiated by your ROTC program. Providing additional documentation to include a recent/current mental eval would most likely help you with the waiver. Talk to whoever initiates the medical waivers in your ROTC program about what you should provide them.

You can't receive a scholarship if you are DQed, and I assume that you never had a legitimate scholarship offer. Regardless, you can recover from your setback as contacting Larry Mullen is not an unforgivable event. Do your best in the ROTC program and work with them to submit a waiver.
 
Bernarr4 said:
So I decided to send Mr Mullen and email... worst decision of my life. I just got back from a meeting with my cadre about said email. I jumped the chain of command and I messed with a lot ofpeople by doing this. I was also told that I was going to be receiving a scholarship...not anymore.
Click to expand...
I deeply regret giving out such bad advice, and there is no way I would have even imagined that it would have caused you to lose you scholarship. I am so sorry. I assumed that you were looking for a path outside of you chain of command to get information on why you were DQ. I truly thought I was giving good advice. I would never have thought that the ONLY answer was "ask your chain of command".
 
AROTC-dad said:
First and foremost, I am sorry to hear this. Everyone who posts here does so with the best of intentions to help candidates like you move forward and not backwards. @5Day is one of those folks and then some. He always posts thoughtful and common sense advice.

I don't believe that @5Day had any intention for you to bypass the chain of command regarding your DoDMERB. Throughout the process, your cadre should be kept informed and be a primary source of information. The SA forum in my opinion, is a source for secondary information and opinions on "gray areas."

In addition, I am puzzled on just how an "inquiry" to Mr. Mullen resulted in "messing with a lot of people." Can you elaborate more specifically on why the Cadre was so upset?
Click to expand...
I stepped over a lot of toes doing what I did. My actions made it seem as if I didn't confide in the staff at my detachment, and that they were incompetent. Mr Mullen sensed this and CC'd my detachment commander in his first reply. That's how my cadre found out. My commander was extremely upset and so was the rest of the chain.
 
MohawkArmyROTC said:
You shouldn't have contacted Larry Mullen directly as generally he only wants PMSes contacting him. Although,you may have met the minimum standards that you listed above, DODMERB tends to DQ everyone with a history of anxiety disorders, as people who have them, don't generally adapt well in a military environment.

However, you could get a waiver based on the information that you provided. The waiver has to be initiated by your ROTC program. Providing additional documentation to include a recent/current mental eval would most likely help you with the waiver. Talk to whoever initiates the medical waivers in your ROTC program about what you should provide them.

You can't receive a scholarship if you are DQed, and I assume that you never had a legitimate scholarship offer. Regardless, you can recover from your setback as contacting Larry Mullen is not an unforgivable event. Do your best in the ROTC program and work with them to submit a waiver.
Click to expand...


I really wish I would've known that before all this mess haha. As far as the scholarship goes, I didn't elaborate. I was told that I was going to be offered a scholarship once my status changed, so I guess they assumed I would be fine medically.
 
5Day said:
I deeply regret giving out such bad advice, and there is no way I would have even imagined that it would have caused you to lose you scholarship. I am so sorry. I assumed that you were looking for a path outside of you chain of command to get information on why you were DQ. I truly thought I was giving good advice. I would never have thought that the ONLY answer was "ask your chain of command".
Click to expand...
You did absolutely nothing wrong in this matter. Please don't feel bad, you had pure intentions, and for that I thank you! All hope is not lost, and a lot was learned on my end. Bitter sweet experience but I think I'll be fine.
 
DS had a remedial on his DODMERB and his cadre took care of it. Understand these things take time. I also agree with @MohawkArmyROTC in that it would have been impossible for you to have had a scholarship as you are not medically qualified.
 
I can't speak for the AF, but GAD is a no-go for the Army. Generally speaking, the Army has the most lenient psych requirements for the military.
 
@MabryPsyD as a consequence of manning shortages and surge in accessions, the medical standards have become much less harsh. GPA requirements have decreased as well, maniacs!
 
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