Definition of "not physically qualified"

Micro8s

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I was looking at the career opportunities on the naval academy website and i clicked on the link that said "Restricted Line & Staff Corps" and it said that "Midshipmen who are not physically qualified to serve in the warfare areas but who can be commissioned as active duty officers can choose from a wide variety of alternatives and pursue a career all the way to the flag officer rank of admiral." I was wondering whether that meant they could not pass a physical test (cannot pass a certain mile time for example) or does it mean something that is out of that persons hands that prevents them from being physically able to serve "in the warfare areas" like a serious injury? I might be overthinking it but i would just like some clarification :)
 
micro8s,

In most circumstances, medical reasons (i.e. color blind, etc) prevent a MIDN commissioning into an Unrestricted Line community (think ships, planes, submarines). Not being able to complete the PRT or other "physical" activities (that don't stem from a medical condition) is not a reason USNA will commission a MIDN into a Restricted Line/Staff Corps community. If a healthy/medically good-to-go MIDN cannot pass the PE program at USNA, there is a good chance he/she will be asked to leave.
 
allergies is another one that can pop up during your college years...especially food allergies to things like soy, gluten, etc...
a lot of BBall players are TOO tall and end up going Supply Corps (a restricted line community)
 
I have seen Mids get NPQ'd for a number of reasons - Being too tall (over 6'6" qualifies someone to go unrestricted line - so yes a few hoopsters each year), color blindness, loss of hearing, some years a few Mids unfortunately get cancer (but thankfully survive, but most are NPQ'd), allergies, and some sports injuries can be severe enough. Each year also a few Mids are not qualified to be commissioned due to diseases or other items... most of these have been be from cancer, diabetes, Chrones disease, or severe cases of depression. These are just the ones I have seen, but I am sure there are others out there.
 
6'6" and taller all go URL?

Hey Hoops-

Are you sure it is 6'6"? Also, is it mandatory for anyone 6'6" and taller goes URL? I always thought it was 6'8", but now I am not sure. Thanks!

'89


I have seen Mids get NPQ'd for a number of reasons - Being too tall (over 6'6" qualifies someone to go unrestricted line - so yes a few hoopsters each year), color blindness, loss of hearing, some years a few Mids unfortunately get cancer (but thankfully survive, but most are NPQ'd), allergies, and some sports injuries can be severe enough. Each year also a few Mids are not qualified to be commissioned due to diseases or other items... most of these have been be from cancer, diabetes, Chrones disease, or severe cases of depression. These are just the ones I have seen, but I am sure there are others out there.
 
89 I thought it was 6'6", but could be 6'8". If I remember right, it doesn't make it mandatory NPQ. We had a guy that was 6'8" go Marines. He was just a really tall target and had to dig a really deep fox hole! I think they have the option to URL. I know a few guys who were around that height that went URL and some went SWO or Marines. I think most didn't fit in cockpits and I think subs were too small for them.
 
There are many reasons people can be DQ'ed and there are different standards for each warfare specialty. When I was there, one guy was DQ for flight due to eyes (this was pre-PRK and LASIK), DQ for subs due to allergies, and DQ for surface due to multiple and serious ankle/leg injuries. He went Cryptology.

Another friend was NPQ due to eczema from day 1. Went supply.

Had a football player blow out his knee. DQ for aviation. Went USMC ground.

A decent number of mids have health issues arise during USNA that will DQ them for one or more warfare specialties. This is the reason USNA is so particular in admitting students. If they take a bunch with medical issues coming in, and then get more during the 4 yrs at USNA, they will end up with too many DQ (restricted line/staff) officers and not as many as they want going into warfare specialties.
 
My son, USNA '11, said it wasn't as straightforward as height -- it was a series of ergonomic measurements re: torso, legs, etc. taken well into the USNA experience (I forget if it was late 2/C year or early 1/C). He's 6'7" and was DQ'd from both Navy and USMC flight options --not a problem for him, as he wanted USMC ground.
 
If I were to get a waiver for eczema, woul I automatically be NPQ’d and made to go restricted line?
 
A decent number of mids have health issues arise during USNA that will DQ them for one or more warfare specialties.

I agree. You have to pass DODMERB to be considered for an appointment to get into USNA. Failing PRT AFTER you start USNA could be a reason to be separated.
 
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Probably not. None of us know the exact answer. Really it comes down to your pre-commissioning physical done 2/C year. The doctors will make a determination then.
 
My son, USNA '11, said it wasn't as straightforward as height -- it was a series of ergonomic measurements re: torso, legs, etc. taken well into the USNA experience (I forget if it was late 2/C year or early 1/C

Correct... sometime before graduation , I seem to recall late 2/C year, every Midshipman has a pre-commissioning physical used to evaluate qualification for different warfare specialties/service selection. This is separate and distinct from the DODMERB process for admission, although issues identified by DODMERB often come into play when determining qualification. For aviation, ergonomics are taken to determine not only qualification in general , but for qualification in a particular platform. It used to be that leg length from hip to knee (femur ?) was significant factor in aviation selection because the A4 Skyhawk had a small cockpit and would result in injury if you had to eject ...since the TA4 was used as a advanced trainer at the time , this prevented even those of average height but long femur from going jets.

Each warfare community has its own requirements, so the result is you can be NPQ for one community, but not necessarily limited to URL.
 
A good example of the above - we sponsored a Mid who was bound and determined to go aviation, then space. Aero major, NASA internships, near the top of his class - during pre-comm physical in 2/c (junior year), he was found to have a thyroid condition requiring medication that dq’ed him from aviation but okayed him for subs and surface. He chose subs and did well.

So, as noted in posts above, each warfare community has its own standards, based on the mission and physical demands of that specialty. The outcome of the pre-comm physical determines fitness for commission, or not (some conditions are a DQ across all specialties), and which specialties.

For those found to be DQ for all line warfare communities, the mid’s particular DQ and the needs of the Navy will determine which restricted line and which staff communities are offered as commissioning options.

Failure to meet physical fitness standards and test performance are completely different issues.
 
If I were to get a waiver for eczema, woul I automatically be NPQ’d and made to go restricted line?

The short answer no, you won't automatically get DQ'd. However, just because they give you a waiver for admission, does not mean they are obligated to give you one to commission in the service of your choosing. I have well controlled eczema (i.e. I haven't used prescription meds since middle school) and I was given waivers for every service selection at pre-coms. However, I have a good friend with active eczema that was DQ'd for aviation. I also know of someone that was DQ'd during firstie year for eczema and subsequently was not permitted to commission. So it varies significantly based on how mild your condition is and, frankly, luck.
 
If I were to get a waiver for eczema, woul I automatically be NPQ’d and made to go restricted line?

The short answer no, you won't automatically get DQ'd. However, just because they give you a waiver for admission, does not mean they are obligated to give you one to commission in the service of your choosing. I have well controlled eczema (i.e. I haven't used prescription meds since middle school) and I was given waivers for every service selection at pre-coms. However, I have a good friend with active eczema that was DQ'd for aviation. I also know of someone that was DQ'd during firstie year for eczema and subsequently was not permitted to commission. So it varies significantly based on how mild your condition is and, frankly, luck.

Thank you for the insight. It appears that I will be relying on a lot of luck to get medically waived in the first place. My eczema has been under control for years (I would say non-existent) with the use of regular daily moisturizing lotion. However, ONE prescription was accidentally renewed and filled. The tube of cream is still in my drawer, unopened (quality seal still in tact), and in the original packaging. I do not know if there is a way for me to prove this to DODMERB.

How common would you say the eczema is among midshipmen? And, are those who get waived usually very strong candidates?

Thank you for your time, BDHuff. Help from current midshipmen is invaluable.
 
Thank you for the insight. It appears that I will be relying on a lot of luck to get medically waived in the first place. My eczema has been under control for years (I would say non-existent) with the use of regular daily moisturizing lotion. However, ONE prescription was accidentally renewed and filled. The tube of cream is still in my drawer, unopened (quality seal still in tact), and in the original packaging. I do not know if there is a way for me to prove this to DODMERB.

How common would you say the eczema is among midshipmen? And, are those who get waived usually very strong candidates?

Thank you for your time, BDHuff. Help from current midshipmen is invaluable.

I was paranoid like you, I kept my unopened medication to prove to DODMERB if necessary. I ended up not needing to.

How common is Eczema? I don't know, I know a few people that have it. As for waivers, do you mean for admission or for service selection? For service selection, the Navy cares 0% about how good of a midshipman you are. It is solely based on your medical condition. For admission? I don't know, it might help to be a strong candidate, but again, the use of prescription meds and the severity of your condition plays a role. You appear to be in a similar position that I was in regards to my eczema. Thankfully, mine hasn't given me too much trouble thus far (not quite out of the woods yet). Hopefully things will be the same for you.
 
I was paranoid like you, I kept my unopened medication to prove to DODMERB if necessary. I ended up not needing to.

How common is Eczema? I don't know, I know a few people that have it. As for waivers, do you mean for admission or for service selection? For service selection, the Navy cares 0% about how good of a midshipman you are. It is solely based on your medical condition. For admission? I don't know, it might help to be a strong candidate, but again, the use of prescription meds and the severity of your condition plays a role. You appear to be in a similar position that I was in regards to my eczema. Thankfully, mine hasn't given me too much trouble thus far (not quite out of the woods yet). Hopefully things will be the same for you.

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate you taking the time to help out on SAF. While I realize medical issues are out of my control, stories like yours help to quell the nerves!
 
I was looking at the career opportunities on the naval academy website and i clicked on the link that said "Restricted Line & Staff Corps" and it said that "Midshipmen who are not physically qualified to serve in the warfare areas but who can be commissioned as active duty officers can choose from a wide variety of alternatives and pursue a career all the way to the flag officer rank of admiral." I was wondering whether that meant they could not pass a physical test (cannot pass a certain mile time for example) or does it mean something that is out of that persons hands that prevents them from being physically able to serve "in the warfare areas" like a serious injury? I might be overthinking it but i would just like some clarification :)

Basically, this means that you are restricted from certain jobs. For instance, Pilot, CSO, or Special Forces. The best thing you can do to figure out what this means is to check in with your personnelist or recruiter and ask them what the deal is. Most likely there is something wrong medically such as Asthma, vision, etc. I would check cause some of these things can be overturned.
 
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