Confused

[RevDrKEDSR]

This entire Waiver process has really soured me. Luckily Son still wants to serve. Last night Im looking at Twitter and the Coast Guard has a "Break the Stigma" campaign for Mental Health Awareness Month. students are talking about how they are trying to break the stigma and that its ok to talk to someone if you are having issues.
I'm confused because that's what we did for our son and now that very thing may stop him from serving.

 

[Capt MJ]

This entire Waiver process has really soured me. Luckily Son still wants to serve. Last night Im looking at Twitter and the Coast Guard has a "Break the Stigma" campaign for Mental Health Awareness Month. students are talking about how they are trying to break the stigma and that its ok to talk to someone if you are having issues.
I'm confused because that's what we did for our son and now that very thing may stop him from serving.

I recognize this is frustrating and on the face of it, contradictory.

It’s an apple and orange situation.

Apple. The standard for accession into the military is set very high for good reasons. Military duty is often performed in high-stress, harsh, remote operating conditions far from advanced medical care, where the safety of the unit may often depend on everyone being as healthy as possible. People who would not be physically or mentally affected by the everyday work world may have pre-existing issues or conditions triggered in intense or arduous situations. The military attempts to minimize future risk to operating units by setting the standard higher than the civilian workplace.

Orange. On the other hand, once in the Service, every effort will be made to address a military member’s physical or mental condition before medically separating them. All the Services, the Veterans Administration, veterans’ groups, are supporting an atmosphere of being more open about getting help for mental health issues. There is a culture of “suck it up,” and that needs to be adjusted.

The military, by its very nature, is utilitarian: “The good of the many outweighs the good of the few.”

 

[LineInTheSand]

The waiver process is no fun.... it's all ups and downs.... and most of the time it feels like downs... until it doesn't.

 

[Disneymom]

We are still waiting for a waiver, the wait is awful, the process is so confusing.....everyone says be patient....but the clock is ticking. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the same boat.

 

[GeorgiaGus]

This is the first time I have even been in situation where I am so conflicted about potentially mutually exclusive situations.

On one hand, I want to be a cheer leader and encourager and express hope those with various medical issues get their waivers.
If the CG got you this far in the process, they see the applicant as a potential benefit to the CGA (which in and of itself is a high mark and worthy or honor ). And I want the USCGA Calls of 2025 to be the best possible combination of candidates. I want to trust the judgement of admissions.
Those who got direct appointments got them because their over all profile presented as better or higher than my (a wait-lister) lower or lessor profile.

On the other hand,
As a waitlister, and in perfect health and no DoDMERB issues...I want those spaces to open up for me and those with lower or lessor profiles.
I confess, I feel guilty about secretly hoping you all don't get your waivers, so a spot opens up for me on the wait list. Which sounds awful and selfish.

I mean, its strange, because most of us want to encourage each other, but in a sense we are in competition.

It really is puzzle they are putting together to build out a class. And each person's profile has to be complete and true to measure up to what Capt MJ calls "The standard for accession". Standard A at ~90-100% + Standard B at ~90-100% + Standard C at ~90-100% = "standard for accession". For one person an area of lower profile presentation may be fitness, for another a medical issue, for yet another a behavioral issue, or a lack of leadership experience, for me maybe high enough academic proficiency. One thing I am sure of, Admissions is trying to put together the best possible class they can from the pool of applicants. The fact that a applicant made it this far says a lot.

So,, "good luck?" I guess.

 

[Mere2033]

This entire Waiver process has really soured me. Luckily Son still wants to serve. Last night Im looking at Twitter and the Coast Guard has a "Break the Stigma" campaign for Mental Health Awareness Month. students are talking about how they are trying to break the stigma and that its ok to talk to someone if you are having issues.
I'm confused because that's what we did for our son and now that very thing may stop him from serving.

My DD started a Mental Health Awareness club at her highschool just so kids can come and talk about their issues and discuss things with various speakers my daughter brings in. Sad that for those kids that want to apply to a service academy have to be so careful even if it’s just to “get things out” with a professional. My 14 year old son wants to apply in the future and I know he would love to talk to someone about day to day pressures so I ended up getting him some work books instead. Hopefully that’ll work for him.

 

[CGAHOOPSDAD]

This entire Waiver process has really soured me. Luckily Son still wants to serve. Last night Im looking at Twitter and the Coast Guard has a "Break the Stigma" campaign for Mental Health Awareness Month. students are talking about how they are trying to break the stigma and that its ok to talk to someone if you are having issues.
I'm confused because that's what we did for our son and now that very thing may stop him from serving.

Trust the process, I initially felt the same way. DS was DQ'd for "History of Anxiety". He was deferred from EA and received conditional appointment to CGAS on March 26th. Remedial was requested. DS had questions about what was needed for remedial, he reached out to Mr. Mullen who is an amazing asset and he put my son at ease somewhat. He explained with everything going on in the world with shootings and mental health being the assumed issue the branches have really started to look in to candidates and that if remedial is provided and if issues are truly just normal adolescent growth issues then waiver should/could be granted. DS received email today from waiver authority that waiver has been granted. Its been a long and stressful wait but one that has been well worth it. Long story short, seems academies are ok with normal "talking to someone" they just want to make sure there aren't any serious mental health issues. This is my opinion only.