artificial lens/juvenile cataract surgery waiver

[williamsdr3]

My son is starting the SA application process here in 11th grade now and seems to be a pretty competitive candidate. We were shocked to find out that his artificial lens and resulting very minor cataract surgery due to the eye injury sustained in one eye in childhood might be DQ material. Has anyone gotten a waiver for this? His good eye is perfect and the injured eye is corrected to 20/20 with regular contact lens which honestly he never wears except for baseball/depth perception on fly balls. He is applying to USMA, USAFA, and USNA with preferences probably in that order. His backup plan is Corps of Cadets at TAMU for which he is an auto-admit already but he really wants to take a commission (can do either in the Corps) and serve in the military after college. Worried in TX...

 

[kp2001]

I would be surprised to see them waiver an intraocular lens. There is too high a risk of future dislocation, especially if it was placed due to trauma.

Overall you never know unless you apply, but I would definitely have a solid backup plan (as you do already).

 

[Capt MJ]

I had hoped Dr. @kp2001 would pop up with one of his thoughtful and informed responses, and he did. Thank you.

@williamsdr3 I know you and DS are just boarding the rollercoaster, but keep us posted.

 

[williamsdr3]

Thank you kp2@2001 and CaptMJ for your help. Are high potential candidates more likely to get waivers (depending on the condition)? Also the AROTC scholarships and other services' ROTC scholarship qualifying stds are the same, right? Wondering if my son should hold off until Fall or near deadlines to apply for those after more is clear going through SA app process in order not to waste everyone's time. Thank you.

 

[Capt MJ]

In Waiver World, there are undoubtedly some things never waived, some things sometime, some by SA but not for ROTC, some routine waivers. It will all depend on the policy for that Service, that commissioning route, the needs of the Service, at the moment a candidate’s record is under review. IF only x waivers for a certain conditionwere allowed for a particular accession cycle, I would think they would be given to those who best fit the goal of the commissioning source.

I would not slow down on any other paths. In general, the advice around here is “submit your BEST package as EARLY as you can.” The DODMERB and waiver process, if initiated, can drag on.

If it is a final no, then the deck is cleared sooner for taking other career paths.

 

[kp2001]

Thank you kp2@2001 and CaptMJ for your help. Are high potential candidates more likely to get waivers (depending on the condition)? Also the AROTC scholarships and other services' ROTC scholarship qualifying stds are the same, right? Wondering if my son should hold off until Fall or near deadlines to apply for those after more is clear going through SA app process in order not to waste everyone's time. Thank you.

Apply early, you won’t be wasting anyone’s time. As mentioned above every Service has slightly different requirements. From what I know (and I will freely admit to not being 100% on this) the waiver decision is made independent of the final “should this candidate be admitted” decision except in extremely rare cases.

In this case there isn’t much wiggle room as there would be for say color blindness as there is no officer position that would reduce the risk of future harm. His risk of a problem with the lens over the next 10 years (1yr HS, 4yrs USNA, 5yrs min service commitment) is the same or higher than it is now with any service selection. Because the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, lens dislocation, and open globe (unfortunately his wounds from the cataract surgery and whatever penetrating trauma to the eye he suffered never completely heal and are always weak spots to reopen in future events) is not negligible these will all need to be taken into consideration by the waiver authority.

As an aside I would highly advise he not participate in any combative-type events if he is admitted or participates in the Corps of Cadets at TAMU. (Boxing, pugil stick training, any training where strikes to the head are anticipated.