DODMERB ACL Injury

S

skr002

Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2020
Messages
54
I came across the forums nearly six years ago when I initially became interested in Service Academies. Now as a Senior, I decided I want a more normal college experience but still want to commission so now I'm focused on ROTC. Unfortunately, I completely tore my ACL in Jan. 2023. I got full acl reconstruction surgery in early March of 2023. I know that ACL is a disqualifier but so long as you get reconstruction surgery and are able to operate as if there was never an injury, it doesn't matter or you can get a waiver. However, if I'm looking to start my application, will I have to wait for it to be full rehabbed? I still have another 2-3 months before I'm able to return to full contact Lacrosse so that's kinda when I imagine I'd be cleared in a DODMERB exam... should I hold off on starting until I'm full healed?
 
You will be DQ, but it is possible to get a waiver for Army ROTC. You can start your application now, however you will have to complete the fitness test prior to the application deadline. If selected for a scholarship, you would then proceed through DODMERB.
 
skr002 said:
I came across the forums nearly six years ago when I initially became interested in Service Academies. Now as a Senior, I decided I want a more normal college experience but still want to commission so now I'm focused on ROTC. Unfortunately, I completely tore my ACL in Jan. 2023. I got full acl reconstruction surgery in early March of 2023. I know that ACL is a disqualifier but so long as you get reconstruction surgery and are able to operate as if there was never an injury, it doesn't matter or you can get a waiver. However, if I'm looking to start my application, will I have to wait for it to be full rehabbed? I still have another 2-3 months before I'm able to return to full contact Lacrosse so that's kinda when I imagine I'd be cleared in a DODMERB exam... should I hold off on starting until I'm full healed?
Click to expand...

The earliest you can be considered qualified (no waiver required/necessary) by DoDMERB post-ACL surgery is mid-March 2024. At that point, you will be passed the 12-month DQ timeframe as stated in the DoDI 6130.03.

You can wait to get your DoDMERB exam after March 2024. Just know that you cannot contract until you have a qualified DoDMERB exam or a waiver from a commissioning source.

IF you do wait until after 12 months to do your exam, then DoDMERB may (don't hold me to this) want the operative report and a note from the orthopedic surgeon stating you've been released to full and unrestricted activities. You will want to provide a statement that you've played on the football, wrestling, soccer, track, etc... (whatever is applicable), since the surgery.

If you do all that, then there's a good chance you're going to get a Q from DoDMERB- but, again, this can't happen until after 12-months post-op.

If you get your DoDMERB exam before Mar 2024, then you will be DQ'ed. The waiver authority will want all the medical records regarding your ACL tear and repair, release to full and unrestricted activities, and probably a note from your coach (whatever sport it is... not chess though) stating you're a varsity letter winner, all-conference selectee, team MVP, etc... Basically, that latter part is to convey that your knee was sufficiently stressed through athletic activities and you've had no issues.
 
GoCubbies said:
The earliest you can be considered qualified (no waiver required/necessary) by DoDMERB post-ACL surgery is mid-March 2024. At that point, you will be passed the 12-month DQ timeframe as stated in the DoDI 6130.03.

You can wait to get your DoDMERB exam after March 2024. Just know that you cannot contract until you have a qualified DoDMERB exam or a waiver from a commissioning source.

IF you do wait until after 12 months to do your exam, then DoDMERB may (don't hold me to this) want the operative report and a note from the orthopedic surgeon stating you've been released to full and unrestricted activities. You will want to provide a statement that you've played on the football, wrestling, soccer, track, etc... (whatever is applicable), since the surgery.

If you do all that, then there's a good chance you're going to get a Q from DoDMERB- but, again, this can't happen until after 12-months post-op.

If you get your DoDMERB exam before Mar 2024, then you will be DQ'ed. The waiver authority will want all the medical records regarding your ACL tear and repair, release to full and unrestricted activities, and probably a note from your coach (whatever sport it is... not chess though) stating you're a varsity letter winner, all-conference selectee, team MVP, etc... Basically, that latter part is to convey that your knee was sufficiently stressed through athletic activities and you've had no issues.
Click to expand...
Thank you, assuming I've returned to sports and whatnot before my 12 months, would I be likely to get a waiver? My 12 month mark is very close to the final application pool for 2024 and I'm trying to get a 4 year scholarship.
 
MohawkArmyROTC said:
You will be DQ, but it is possible to get a waiver for Army ROTC. You can start your application now, however you will have to complete the fitness test prior to the application deadline. If selected for a scholarship, you would then proceed through DODMERB.
Click to expand...
Oh so you don't do DODMERB until after you're selected?
 
skr002 said:
Thank you, assuming I've returned to sports and whatnot before my 12 months, would I be likely to get a waiver? My 12 month mark is very close to the final application pool for 2024 and I'm trying to get a 4 year scholarship.
Click to expand...
Yes, if you’ve returned to sports and no issues with your knee, then you’ve got a good chance for a waiver.

For a ROTC scholarships, you’ve got a bit more time UNLESS the scholarship is the only way you can attend that school. In this case, it’s best to know if you can contract (or not) for the scholarship before the usual 1 May deadline to let a school know you’re attending in the fall. To contract, you have to gave a qualified DoDMERB exam or a waiver for the DQ to meet the medical requirement of the scholarship.
 
GoCubbies said:
Yes, if you’ve returned to sports and no issues with your knee, then you’ve got a good chance for a waiver.

For a ROTC scholarships, you’ve got a bit more time UNLESS the scholarship is the only way you can attend that school. In this case, it’s best to know if you can contract (or not) for the scholarship before the usual 1 May deadline to let a school know you’re attending in the fall. To contract, you have to gave a qualified DoDMERB exam or a waiver for the DQ to meet the medical requirement of the scholarship.
Click to expand...
I likely would be able to afford the schools I'm looking at without the scholarship though I have beyond the grades and resume needed (at least in my college counselors opinion) to be eligible for one of these scholarships. Plus I think that military service is important so getting college paid for and earning a commission is like killing two birds with one stone.

But to be clear, you're saying I can apply during the earlier application segments so long as I will be cleared before the contract deadline, even if I apply during one of the earlier application times?
 
skr002 said:
I likely would be able to afford the schools I'm looking at without the scholarship though I have beyond the grades and resume needed (at least in my college counselors opinion) to be eligible for one of these scholarships. Plus I think that military service is important so getting college paid for and earning a commission is like killing two birds with one stone.

But to be clear, you're saying I can apply during the earlier application segments so long as I will be cleared before the contract deadline, even if I apply during one of the earlier application times?
Click to expand...
For application times, you’re talking about college or ROTC scholarship guidelines?

For an AROTC scholarship for example, you can enroll in ROTC in the fall, but your tuition isn’t going to be paid by the Army during that semester unless you’ve gotten a waiver for the ACL surgery, which allows you to contract. You can eventually get the semester paid for (ie back paid) so long as you get contracted before the end of that semester. In other words, you’ve essentially got the fall semester to get that waiver and contract. This is the additional time that I’m talking about compared to that of a SA where you’ve essentially got to have a waiver in hand by the previous March/April timeframe.

This also speaks to the part about affording/paying for school out of pocket. If you’re going to Notre Dame, you and/or your parents may have to front the first semester tuition which can be in the $30-35k range while your waiver stuff gets worked on. As mentioned previously the tuition will get back paid so long as you contract before the end of the semester.
 
GoCubbies said:
The earliest you can be considered qualified (no waiver required/necessary) by DoDMERB post-ACL surgery is mid-March 2024. At that point, you will be passed the 12-month DQ timeframe as stated in the DoDI 6130.03.

You can wait to get your DoDMERB exam after March 2024. Just know that you cannot contract until you have a qualified DoDMERB exam or a waiver from a commissioning source.

IF you do wait until after 12 months to do your exam, then DoDMERB may (don't hold me to this) want the operative report and a note from the orthopedic surgeon stating you've been released to full and unrestricted activities. You will want to provide a statement that you've played on the football, wrestling, soccer, track, etc... (whatever is applicable), since the surgery.

If you do all that, then there's a good chance you're going to get a Q from DoDMERB- but, again, this can't happen until after 12-months post-op.

If you get your DoDMERB exam before Mar 2024, then you will be DQ'ed. The waiver authority will want all the medical records regarding your ACL tear and repair, release to full and unrestricted activities, and probably a note from your coach (whatever sport it is... not chess though) stating you're a varsity letter winner, all-conference selectee, team MVP, etc... Basically, that latter part is to convey that your knee was sufficiently stressed through athletic activities and you've had no issues.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this great information!
GoCubbies said:
The earliest you can be considered qualified (no waiver required/necessary) by DoDMERB post-ACL surgery is mid-March 2024. At that point, you will be passed the 12-month DQ timeframe as stated in the DoDI 6130.03.

You can wait to get your DoDMERB exam after March 2024. Just know that you cannot contract until you have a qualified DoDMERB exam or a waiver from a commissioning source.

IF you do wait until after 12 months to do your exam, then DoDMERB may (don't hold me to this) want the operative report and a note from the orthopedic surgeon stating you've been released to full and unrestricted activities. You will want to provide a statement that you've played on the football, wrestling, soccer, track, etc... (whatever is applicable), since the surgery.

If you do all that, then there's a good chance you're going to get a Q from DoDMERB- but, again, this can't happen until after 12-months post-op.

If you get your DoDMERB exam before Mar 2024, then you will be DQ'ed. The waiver authority will want all the medical records regarding your ACL tear and repair, release to full and unrestricted activities, and probably a note from your coach (whatever sport it is... not chess though) stating you're a varsity letter winner, all-conference selectee, team MVP, etc... Basically, that latter part is to convey that your knee was sufficiently stressed through athletic activities and you've had no issues.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this great information! DS in similar situation. Pursuing SA’s and ROTC. Full ACL reconstruction 2/15/23 (10 mos post-Op). Aug DoDMERB exam and DQd immediately (for the knee). USMMA told him they submitted for waiver review on 11/15/23, but DoDMERB status still says “pending waiver review” with no AMI requested thus far. Understanding the waiver process takes time, and based on the steps you outlined, it sounds like he simply needs to go have a successful spring lax season and let the record show a return to sport with no issues. My only question is: knowing that a waiver review is forthcoming, is there anything he should be doing proactively with DoDMERB other than checking his portal for any status changes or AMI request?
 
skr002 said:
I came across the forums nearly six years ago when I initially became interested in Service Academies. Now as a Senior, I decided I want a more normal college experience but still want to commission so now I'm focused on ROTC. Unfortunately, I completely tore my ACL in Jan. 2023. I got full acl reconstruction surgery in early March of 2023. I know that ACL is a disqualifier but so long as you get reconstruction surgery and are able to operate as if there was never an injury, it doesn't matter or you can get a waiver. However, if I'm looking to start my application, will I have to wait for it to be full rehabbed? I still have another 2-3 months before I'm able to return to full contact Lacrosse so that's kinda when I imagine I'd be cleared in a DODMERB exam... should I hold off on starting until I'm full healed?
Click to expand...
Thanks for starting this discussion. Best of luck to you and I hope your recovery continues to go well!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top