Does an asthma waiver equal restricted line duty?

[Overwhelmed]

How does an asthma waiver affect your opportunities at commissioning? Are you required to enter a restricted line service?

 

[MamaBear4]

How does an asthma waiver affect your opportunities at commissioning? Are you required to enter a restricted line service?

I know a person in their second year at USNA with an asthma waiver. USNA retested a few months after entrance with the methacholine test and they failed again. Restricted line or Marine Corps ground was the option given. I cannot say what happens for everyone.

 

[Overwhelmed]

@Love4monsters, Thank you so much for your input. My DS passed the methacholine test last summer. After speaking to USNA medical, my DS is medically cleared for all communities at commissioning provided he passes his senior year physical.

 

[Jkw83]

How does an asthma waiver affect your opportunities at commissioning? Are you required to enter a restricted line service?

I know a person in their second year at USNA with an asthma waiver. USNA retested a few months after entrance with the methacholine test and they failed again. Restricted line or Marine Corps ground was the option given. I cannot say what happens for everyone.

Do you know the specifics on this case? I know some fail and are prescribed an inhaler to and are good to go.

 

[Skipper07]

When you receive your waiver in the mail it will clearly state medical standards are waived for “unrestricted line duty” if that is the case.

 

[MamaBear4]

This Mid was prescribed an inhaler on I Day and it has never been an issue. I am not sure how rare this is. It surprised all of us as Navy is so cut and dried on color blindness who also go restricted line.

 

[MamaBear4]

When you receive your waiver in the mail it will clearly state medical standards are waived for “unrestricted line duty” if that is the case.

The Mid received a letter for unrestricted line which was later changed to restricted line when the challenge was failed again while at USNA. Their hope is without any issues which they haven't had any, it can be waived.

 

[Jkw83]

When you receive your waiver in the mail it will clearly state medical standards are waived for “unrestricted line duty” if that is the case.

The Mid received a letter for unrestricted line which was later changed to restricted line when the challenge was failed again while at USNA. Their hope is without any issues which they haven't had any, it can be waived.

How badly did the mid fail the test? Did they exhibit any symptoms while at the academy?

 

[EngineerDad19]

This Mid was prescribed an inhaler on I Day and it has never been an issue. I am not sure how rare this is. It surprised all of us as Navy is so cut and dried on color blindness who also go restricted line.

Hi, can you contact me or reply on what the criteria are for the color blindness waiver? My son received an LOA but not a waiver. He is trying to get that waiver now. His B&G officer thought having an example might help, but we have no information on what information is used to decide on a waiver...especially one that is cut and dried as you say. If they let some color impaired candidates in, then what makes the difference?

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Hi, can you contact me or reply on what the criteria are for the color blindness waiver? My son received an LOA but not a waiver. He is trying to get that waiver now. His B&G officer thought having an example might help, but we have no information on what information is used to decide on a waiver...especially one that is cut and dried as you say. If they let some color impaired candidates in, then what makes the difference?

1) DS doesn't "try for a waiver now". He would automatically be considered for a waiver. There is nothing else to submit once determined to be colorblind.

2) The best way to think of the color blind waiver is that an already competitive process is made even more competitive. Color blind is automatically DQ for most (if not all) Navy Unrestricted Line positions (Surface, subs, Air, etc), and USNA is in the business of producing Unrestricted Line Officers. A few Candidates can be admitted with a waiver. The waiver authority rests with the Supe, but I would expect (but don't know) that to be delegated down to Admissions (or Admissions submits the waivers with recommendations, and Supe relies heavily on Admissions recommendations). So it comes down to the colorblind candidate competing not only with the other candidates on their MOC slate, but also with all the other color blind candidates for the handful of positions available.

 

[EngineerDad19]

Hi, can you contact me or reply on what the criteria are for the color blindness waiver? My son received an LOA but not a waiver. He is trying to get that waiver now. His B&G officer thought having an example might help, but we have no information on what information is used to decide on a waiver...especially one that is cut and dried as you say. If they let some color impaired candidates in, then what makes the difference?

1) DS doesn't "try for a waiver now". He would automatically be considered for a waiver. There is nothing else to submit once determined to be colorblind.

2) The best way to think of the color blind waiver is that an already competitive process is made even more competitive. Color blind is automatically DQ for most (if not all) Navy Unrestricted Line positions (Surface, subs, Air, etc), and USNA is in the business of producing Unrestricted Line Officers. A few Candidates can be admitted with a waiver. The waiver authority rests with the Supe, but I would expect (but don't know) that to be delegated down to Admissions (or Admissions submits the waivers with recommendations, and Supe relies heavily on Admissions recommendations). So it comes down to the colorblind candidate competing not only with the other candidates on their MOC slate, but also with all the other color blind candidates for the handful of positions available.

Thanks for the explanation. So if he has the support from someone in admissions, then they should be able to help? They knew of his color vision impairment when they sent the LOA. It was on his nomination as well but his Representative still had him as her Principle candidate.

Also, do you know if they can give additional waivers is someone with one already decides not to attend?

 

[Old Navy BGO]

So if he has the support from someone in admissions, then they should be able to help? They knew of his color vision impairment when they sent the LOA. It was on his nomination as well but his Representative still had him as her Principle candidate.

No one knows the inner workings of Admissions, but I know how delegation works, and I would suspect that someone in Admission submits a list of color blind waivers to the Supe for signature. The Supe can override the recommendation, but I expect that he relies on the advice of his Admissions team.

That said, while the LOA is an indicator that DS is highly qualified and desired by USNA, that determination is done without consideration of the medical status (hence the reason for Medical qualification being a condition precedent to admission).

I have no idea what goes through the minds of MOC .... but it isn't their job to evaluate medical conditions.

Also, do you know if they can give additional waivers is someone with one already decides not to attend?

> Possible, but unlikely. USNA (and other colleges) make their admission offers with the expectation that not all candidates will accept, and the goal is to "yield" the desired class size. There is not a one for one replacement of a declined appointment with a new offer.

 

[EngineerDad19]

Thanks for your help