Discharged from AFROTC - can you still wear uniform?

[fencersmother]

Please make an APPOINTMENT with a cardiologist. YOu are very unlikely to actually have an appointment with one at the ER. You will see an ER doc, or a PA -

And you'll be wasting everyone's time.

 

[hotwheelsearl]

Okay, well, just to clarify, there is no 'apply for a DQ' once you DoDMerb is updated AFROTC HQ will tell you if you are disqualified and what they need from you. If they want you to do remedials, you will do them. First things first, get to a real freaking doctor and find out whats wrong, for all you know you could have some nasty heart burn. Once you know what it is, report it to you Cadre, they'll get you updated, then you can move on.

Do you want to be DQ'd?

Thank you again for the clarification. When I first started researching things, I was led to literature regarding disenrollment investigations and the like - so I (erroneously) figured that a medical DQ was something that you had to actively seek, not automatically get awarded. Now that I think of it, having to "apply" would be ridiculous. I feel stupid.

To answer your question, no, I do not want to get DQ'd. I've worked my butt off to get into Field Training this year, and I'm looking forward to becoming a POC next year. But since things are not looking too great, I figured it would be great to have a solid understanding of the whole picture.

 

[Jcleppe]

The OP would need to get a referral to see a cardiologist depending on his insurance, if he can't get in to see his primary doctor quickly then the ER is the next best thing, they will be able to give him the referral he needs.

 

[hotwheelsearl]

The OP would need to get a referral to see a cardiologist depending on his insurance, if he can't get in to see his primary doctor quickly then the ER is the next best thing, they will be able to give him the referral he needs.

Thank you for your simple and easy response. Your advice is actually pretty obvious, now that I think of it. The Nurse Practitioner whom I went in to see did not or could not issue a referral - all she said was to go see a cardiologist. Super helpful...

 

[WannaBeOfficer]

Okay, well, just to clarify, there is no 'apply for a DQ' once you DoDMerb is updated AFROTC HQ will tell you if you are disqualified and what they need from you. If they want you to do remedials, you will do them. First things first, get to a real freaking doctor and find out whats wrong, for all you know you could have some nasty heart burn. Once you know what it is, report it to you Cadre, they'll get you updated, then you can move on.

Do you want to be DQ'd?

Thank you again for the clarification. When I first started researching things, I was led to literature regarding disenrollment investigations and the like - so I (erroneously) figured that a medical DQ was something that you had to actively seek, not automatically get awarded. Now that I think of it, having to "apply" would be ridiculous. I feel stupid.

To answer your question, no, I do not want to get DQ'd. I've worked my butt off to get into Field Training this year, and I'm looking forward to becoming a POC next year. But since things are not looking too great, I figured it would be great to have a solid understanding of the whole picture.

You don't apply for dis-enrollment investigations. Those are given to contracted cadets who have broken some part of their contracts. (grades, criminal activity...etc) Get in to see a cardiologist, also let your cadre know you are having chest pains, and have them update your DoDMerb ASAP. You going to FT is not just a liability for the AF, it is dangerous for your life if you actually do have a heart condition. You are a priority, and you need to make sure you are okay. If its not something awful, I would ask to defer your FT slot for a year. Make sure you are okay, and the stress from FT won't kill you. If it is something more serious, it is better to find out now, and fix it, than to wait until it is too bad to be fixed.

 

[hotwheelsearl]

Okay, well, just to clarify, there is no 'apply for a DQ' once you DoDMerb is updated AFROTC HQ will tell you if you are disqualified and what they need from you. If they want you to do remedials, you will do them. First things first, get to a real freaking doctor and find out whats wrong, for all you know you could have some nasty heart burn. Once you know what it is, report it to you Cadre, they'll get you updated, then you can move on.

Do you want to be DQ'd?

Thank you again for the clarification. When I first started researching things, I was led to literature regarding disenrollment investigations and the like - so I (erroneously) figured that a medical DQ was something that you had to actively seek, not automatically get awarded. Now that I think of it, having to "apply" would be ridiculous. I feel stupid.

To answer your question, no, I do not want to get DQ'd. I've worked my butt off to get into Field Training this year, and I'm looking forward to becoming a POC next year. But since things are not looking too great, I figured it would be great to have a solid understanding of the whole picture.

You don't apply for dis-enrollment investigations. Those are given to contracted cadets who have broken some part of their contracts. (grades, criminal activity...etc) Get in to see a cardiologist, also let your cadre know you are having chest pains, and have them update your DoDMerb ASAP. You going to FT is not just a liability for the AF, it is dangerous for your life if you actually do have a heart condition. You are a priority, and you need to make sure you are okay. If its not something awful, I would ask to defer your FT slot for a year. Make sure you are okay, and the stress from FT won't kill you. If it is something more serious, it is better to find out now, and fix it, than to wait until it is too bad to be fixed.

Thank you and everybody else for their help.

Now that I have gotten an answer to my question, I will, in the words of Smeagol, "leave now and never come back".

I apologize if I angered offended anybody with any of my posts. I know that some posts were unclear, and some of my statements sounded fishy. Thank you all for being patient with me. Good night, and good bye.

 

[NavyHoops]

Agree Jcleppe. OP, if you are covered by your parents insurance you need to speak with them on what coverage you have.That will dictate how you eventually see a doctor and what ones are in their network. Welcome to the wonderful world of health insurance!

I am not familiar with the ROTC DQ process. I am a USNA grad and our process if different. But seriously don't put the cart before the horse. I had a buddy with a heart issue. They had a minor procedure and was 100% after. He was commissioned. I had another buddy who had open heart surgery... Did not commission. Until you know what the issue is and path forward, don't count yourself out yet. You are still in school so you have your cadre there. That is good. Talk to them. Keep them informed over the summer as you see a doctor. It's your cadre's job to help you navigate this process. There could be a million ways this plays out... You could be fine! That would be awesome. It could be something controlled with meds. That is awesome but probably not commissionable. Maybe surgery is required... Depending on what kind and diagnosis it could be an either or situation to stay in ROTC. Bottom line is see a doctor and let the process play out. Ensure you document everything and your doctor is extemely thorough in his documentation. Tell him to over document his notes as you will need to submit them.

 

[Pima]

I truly am confused,. You said you are AFROTC scholarship. If so you should have informed them of a medical change. Are you scholarship or not?

 

[fencersmother]

Agree with what's been advised above.

But to answer our first question: No. You may not wear your uniform if you are disenrolled.

 

[Pima]

fencer you should say NO you should not wear the uniform

 

[LineInTheSand]

So there are two general groups that leave the military, retirees (served 20+ years and a few other less common statuses) and everyone else. If you're an "everyone else" you can't wear your uniforms after you leave.

I spent four years at the Coast Guard Academy and five years after that as an active duty officer. In the four years at CGA, we didn't want to wear our uniforms out (because we had to). As an officer I sometimes had to wear it out, but I didn't really want to. Why? Well, one, it was more restricting. I couldn't walk around on my cell phone, chew gun, say bad words, have headphones on, etc. I had to be professional. I'm not against being professional, but it's nice to wear your favorite hat or listen to music or talk on the phone.

After I separated from the Coast Guard in 2011 I could wear… little to nothing that was once a uniform item. I could wear my unit ball caps (without the rank device) and that's just about it. I never did wear those hats though. Also, I could wear the lapel pin version of one of my medals (which I tended to do with a suit on Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the Coast Guard's birthday). And I COULD wear my mini-medals on a tux, which I haven't done and wouldn't do unless someone REALLY wanted me to for a special occasion.

I don't wear a uniform because 1. I can't, 2. I haven't earned the right to with 20+ years of service (but truth be told, I'm not sure I would even then because…. at some point it's time to move on) and 3. I have no desire to wear a uniform now. It's not my place to wear a uniform. That's for folks currently serving.

I knew someone in the U.S. Navy Reserves who wore his uniform for his wedding (he actually changed a few times… so it was DDBs and DDWs). I was OK with that but didn't really understand it. He also wore his uniform while traveling. He would post photos on Facebook from his commercial flights and how the airlines thanked him and gave him a seat upgrade. My opinion…. if you want to wear your uniform all the time, you should join active duty. If you're reserves you should wear your uniform only when you're deployed or drilling…. not when it's convenient. But that's just me I guess.

So as others have said, no, you shouldn't wear it. You can't wear it.

 

[USMCGrunt]

71 posts.

Hasn't the fat lady sung by now??

 

[Pima]

Geeze she sang a long time ago, but nobody was listening!

 

[kinnem]

Yeah, I think that has gone on long enough. The OP got his answers although he may not like them. I'm closing the thread down.