tweety_bird
USNA 2025
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2020
- Messages
- 168
Hello,
I am a current applicant for the Air Force, Naval, and Military academies. I was disqualified for "history of femoral acetabular impingement" and "minimal-mild left hip dysplasia", but was granted consideration for a waiver from all three academies. Today, I received a letter from the Air Force saying that my waiver has been denied, but I am able to submit additional medical information.
I visited my orthopedic physician yesterday and asked him to write me a letter that I can submit as AMI, detailing my condition in order to provide more context about my condition.
I used to train in a pre-professional ballet program from age 10 to 17, and I truly don't think that I would even know I had this condition if I had not done ballet. My symptoms were not being able to lift my left leg past 135 degrees to the side because there was some impingement (I could do 180 with the right leg), and not being able to rotate (or turn out) that leg perfectly to the side. These problems seem pretty frivolous, but I was very serious about ballet at the time and not being able to do these things put me at a serious disadvantage. As a result, I decided to go see an orthopedic sports physician to see what the problem was.
After doing some x-rays, he determined that I had mild hip dysplasia and prescribed physical therapy to help me strengthen the muscles around my hip and help me gain some more flexibility.
I am active and am (lower-body wise) running 20-25 miles a week now (I know that isn't a lot, but I am building up to more) plus leg exercises like squats with no problem.
I realize that the reason for DoDMERB is to make sure candidates will not have trouble in the military with their physical limitations, need extra time off, or need extra medical care.
However, I am worried that I have ruined my dreams by having a diagnosis that has only come to my attention because I was doing an activity that required extreme flexibility. In the military, I know I will not be required to have such an extreme range of motion.
Sorry for this super long post. I guess my question is, besides submitting an AMI letter from my physician, what other options do I have to possibly receive a more favorable decision?
Thank you.
I am a current applicant for the Air Force, Naval, and Military academies. I was disqualified for "history of femoral acetabular impingement" and "minimal-mild left hip dysplasia", but was granted consideration for a waiver from all three academies. Today, I received a letter from the Air Force saying that my waiver has been denied, but I am able to submit additional medical information.
I visited my orthopedic physician yesterday and asked him to write me a letter that I can submit as AMI, detailing my condition in order to provide more context about my condition.
I used to train in a pre-professional ballet program from age 10 to 17, and I truly don't think that I would even know I had this condition if I had not done ballet. My symptoms were not being able to lift my left leg past 135 degrees to the side because there was some impingement (I could do 180 with the right leg), and not being able to rotate (or turn out) that leg perfectly to the side. These problems seem pretty frivolous, but I was very serious about ballet at the time and not being able to do these things put me at a serious disadvantage. As a result, I decided to go see an orthopedic sports physician to see what the problem was.
After doing some x-rays, he determined that I had mild hip dysplasia and prescribed physical therapy to help me strengthen the muscles around my hip and help me gain some more flexibility.
I am active and am (lower-body wise) running 20-25 miles a week now (I know that isn't a lot, but I am building up to more) plus leg exercises like squats with no problem.
I realize that the reason for DoDMERB is to make sure candidates will not have trouble in the military with their physical limitations, need extra time off, or need extra medical care.
However, I am worried that I have ruined my dreams by having a diagnosis that has only come to my attention because I was doing an activity that required extreme flexibility. In the military, I know I will not be required to have such an extreme range of motion.
Sorry for this super long post. I guess my question is, besides submitting an AMI letter from my physician, what other options do I have to possibly receive a more favorable decision?
Thank you.
