Anticipating Waiver Likelihood for ROTC Scholarship

[AidanIV]

I’ve been offered a scholarship for Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC, however, I will require a waiver in order to activate whichever scholarship I accept. Below are the codes in my Dodmerb profile:

R259.10 Applicant pending Disqualification for D241.30 - Asthma/reactive airway disease/exercise induced bronchospasm after age 13 D271.40 - History of systemic allergic reaction to food or additives , must complete AMI(s) before waiver processing may be considered

Both of these medical reasons stem from bad seasonal allergies as a child. My doctor had prescribed an inhaler which I have not used since I was 12, however the prescription auto-renewed past that. I outgrew the allergies and have been running cross country and wrestling for many years with no issues. The reason for the second code I believe is from an allergy test I had as a kid because of the seasonal allergies. The test came back with a possibility of certain food allergies, however I have never had a problem with any foods. Honestly, I have no idea which specific food the code is referring to. I am happy to take any additional tests to prove these are not a problem for me.

My Navy and AF scholarships are to the same school, however my Army scholarship is to another.
My dilemma is that I must commit to a school by May 1, and my decision will depend on which branch is most likely to offer a waiver. Any insight/experience with regards to this would be appreciated.

 

[Impulsive]

I’ve been offered a scholarship for Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC, however, I will require a waiver in order to activate whichever scholarship I accept. Below are the codes in my Dodmerb profile:

Both of these medical reasons stem from bad seasonal allergies as a child. My doctor had prescribed an inhaler which I have not used since I was 12, however the prescription auto-renewed past that. I outgrew the allergies and have been running cross country and wrestling for many years with no issues. The reason for the second code I believe is from an allergy test I had as a kid because of the seasonal allergies. The test came back with a possibility of certain food allergies, however I have never had a problem with any foods. Honestly, I have no idea which specific food the code is referring to. I am happy to take any additional tests to prove these are not a problem for me.

My Navy and AF scholarships are to the same school, however my Army scholarship is to another.
My dilemma is that I must commit to a school by May 1, and my decision will depend on which branch is most likely to offer a waiver. Any insight/experience with regards to this would be appreciated.

Don't make your decision of which school you "think" will offer you a waiver, pick the school you can afford, want to attend, and the service you most want to serve in. Have a Plan B where if the waiver is not granted this year you can still afford to attend, A lot of DQ conditions require a time frame to be waivered and yours could possibly be granted in two years IF you are still in the program. Attending a school you can afford is paramount in case a waiver is NOT granted immediately. Most programs allow "walk-ons" (non-scholarship attendees) to participate without a DoDMERB until they enter their junior year. If you asthma or whatever it is does not effect you for two years of ROTC participation, it is likely your command will go to bat for you to get you qualified.

 

[St.Katherine]

I’ve been offered a scholarship for Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC, however, I will require a waiver in order to activate whichever scholarship I accept. Below are the codes in my Dodmerb profile:

Both of these medical reasons stem from bad seasonal allergies as a child. My doctor had prescribed an inhaler which I have not used since I was 12, however the prescription auto-renewed past that. I outgrew the allergies and have been running cross country and wrestling for many years with no issues. The reason for the second code I believe is from an allergy test I had as a kid because of the seasonal allergies. The test came back with a possibility of certain food allergies, however I have never had a problem with any foods. Honestly, I have no idea which specific food the code is referring to. I am happy to take any additional tests to prove these are not a problem for me.

My Navy and AF scholarships are to the same school, however my Army scholarship is to another.
My dilemma is that I must commit to a school by May 1, and my decision will depend on which branch is most likely to offer a waiver. Any insight/experience with regards to this would be appreciated.

Your primary care physician needs to type a formal memorandum for DODMERB about this:
“My doctor had prescribed an inhaler which I have not used since I was 12, however the prescription auto-renewed past that. I outgrew the allergies and have been running cross country and wrestling for many years with no issues. The reason for the second code I believe is from an allergy test I had as a kid because of the seasonal allergies. The test came back with a possibility of certain food allergies, however I have never had a problem with any foods. Honestly, I have no idea which specific food the code is referring to. I am happy to take any additional tests to prove these are not a problem for me.”
Once completed, submit it to Mr. Mullen.

 

[MullenLE]

DoDMERB usually ignores phsyician letters. Clinical records are far more meaningful.

 

[St.Katherine]

Your primary care physician needs to type a formal memorandum for DODMERB about this:
“My doctor had prescribed an inhaler which I have not used since I was 12, however the prescription auto-renewed past that. I outgrew the allergies and have been running cross country and wrestling for many years with no issues. The reason for the second code I believe is from an allergy test I had as a kid because of the seasonal allergies. The test came back with a possibility of certain food allergies, however I have never had a problem with any foods. Honestly, I have no idea which specific food the code is referring to. I am happy to take any additional tests to prove these are not a problem for me.”
Once completed, submit it to Mr. Mullen.

During the conversation, I can only assume that your primary care physician will suggest a series of clinical test(s) prior to writing this formal memorandum. The clinical tests can then be sent to DODMRB. My main point is to be proactive and keep attacking until you get the desired results.

 

[servacmom]

DoDMERB usually ignores phsyician letters. Clinical records are far more meaningful.

Mr. Mullen - I have a question regarding physician letter vs. clinical record. My son received a single disqualification due to a history of systemic allergic reaction to food or additives. The last time he was tested was in 2011 (skin test only). He has been able to eat items with peanuts in them. so we brought him to the allergist 4 weeks ago and they did skin testing (1 visit) and a food challenge (2nd visit). He passed with no issues. We submitted the letter from the allergist that detailed what they gave for the food challenge and the results. Is there something more we need to provide? My son submitted the paperwork and has been following up with the individual assigned to him at DodMERB. After a week, she gave him someone else to e-mail, but he has not heard anything back and it has been 2 weeks. Thank you in advance for your advice! He is a 4-year scholarship award winner and has worked so hard to get to this point.

 

[MullenLE]

MOM: Google "DoDMERB;" Hit "Questions on the process;" Read paragraph #4.

Son: Send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “servacmom-SAF= Anticipating Waiver Likelihood for ROTC Scholarship.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.

 

[servacmom]

Thank you Mr. Mullen. I just read paragraph #4 and I now know why my son has insisted on doing everything on his own, but just providing me brief updates (ie. uploaded medical docs, still no e-mail response from DoDMERB, etc.). Although I appreciate your offer, I think it is best if my son continues to handle this on his own. I was more curious if he did upload the proper documentation from the allergist given your note about physician letters not looked at. I would assume someone would review the upload and let him know if he needed other documentation to receive a waiver. Thanks again.

 

[MullenLE]

Good....Soooooooo Part II will answer his question if the DoDMERB website does not=

Son: Send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “servacmom-SAF= Anticipating Waiver Likelihood for ROTC Scholarship.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.