DQ Advice for Parents

Our honor and privilege to serve :wiggle:
 
@Poster2025 Breathe! You have something on your side right now! TIME! Take a couple of deep breathes and relax. I know your pain and fear - we all want our kids to achieve what they truly want and the thought of a DQ just takes your breathe away. Been there! Mr. Mullen is terrific - but your son will need to deal with him directly (I think you know that though) Let this take its course. My son was so calm last year through his DQ process (and smack in the middle of Covid here in NY when everything was shuttered) and I wanted to just scream and say "move over - let me do this for you". This is a big step for them to handle their own advocacy but so worth it! My son received a waiver, at the end of May, so to go back to my first sentence - your son has plenty of time to straighten this out and provide all the documentation they require to achieve a waiver. Best of luck to your son!
 
DSANN said:
@Poster2025 Breathe! You have something on your side right now! TIME! Take a couple of deep breathes and relax. I know your pain and fear - we all want our kids to achieve what they truly want and the thought of a DQ just takes your breathe away. Been there! Mr. Mullen is terrific - but your son will need to deal with him directly (I think you know that though) Let this take its course. My son was so calm last year through his DQ process (and smack in the middle of Covid here in NY when everything was shuttered) and I wanted to just scream and say "move over - let me do this for you". This is a big step for them to handle their own advocacy but so worth it! My son received a waiver, at the end of May, so to go back to my first sentence - your son has plenty of time to straighten this out and provide all the documentation they require to achieve a waiver. Best of luck to your son!
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Thank you so much. The support on this forum is so helpful.
 
Things are moving rather quickly now. Within 3-4 days of DQ, received notice about the Waiver Request, then notice that DoDMERB is working on another AMI. Now AMI posted and they are pretty easy/straight forward deliverables. Just wanted to post for reference for those researching in the future (like we were) understanding of course the process and outcomes are different for everyone. Still hoping for a positive outcome here.
 
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I've heard people say this process (i.e., applying to a SA) is a marathon, not a sprint... sometimes I think its more of a decathlon than a marathon. Watching DS, I have the utmost respect for all the DS/DD that decide to follow through with all aspects of their application. It is awesome to watch these kids work so hard to achieve something they want that is so demanding in all areas of life. @Poster25 - hope all gets resolved positively for your DS! Thank you for the perspective. DoDMERB for DS is next week and there is always a possibility that he may be in the same boat (#GoNavy - couldn't resist)!
 
It's not designed to be that way, but when a goal is worth achieving, then the journey is part of the process.
You know, in these times, medical appointments in general are challenging at best, so "context" is important :wiggle:
 
Another quick update for reference and future readers. He has since responded to two different AMI's on the same DQ. He now has a medical appointment, that as we guess, is meant to give him a final clearance. At least that is how we are interpreting based on the previous AMI which further confirmed his medical concern has presented zero ongoing issue. Of course, we don't know for sure, nor will we ever....we're just waiting for the magical words "waiver granted."

Otherwise, everything has moved along quite expeditiously with the "next step" always posting within 24 hours or so in the appropriate portal and DoDMERB has been very responsive and easy to work with 👍
 
It is 2020...the rules of almost everything have changed. We ALL are trying our best to navigate thru these ever changing circumstances. Thx!!:band:
 
Another update for the files: DS fulfilled the last round of AMI for DODMERB and the Waiver Authority. He was notified by DODMERB about a week ago that his file was forwarded to the Waiver Authority for review. Now he waits for Granted, Denied or another AMI. I’m sure it’s a busy time and could take awhile.

Trying to focus on Plans B and C (in case ROTC is also a DQ) at least university acceptances and offers are starting to come in. As they say....all part of the journey.
 
Another Update: Today his DoDMERB Portal updated to "Waiver Granted." Nothing on his SA portal yet.....but I think his medical review process is now complete. Trying to temper my excitement until the SA portal confirms but I believe "Waiver Granted" on the DoDMERB portal means he's good to go.
 
Poster2025 said:
Another Update: Today his DoDMERB Portal updated to "Waiver Granted." Nothing on his SA portal yet.....but I think his medical review process is now complete. Trying to temper my excitement until the SA portal confirms but I believe "Waiver Granted" on the DoDMERB portal means he's good to go.
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That’s how my son found out his waiver was granted.

Congrats.
 
Poster2025 said:
Another Update: Today his DoDMERB Portal updated to "Waiver Granted." Nothing on his SA portal yet.....but I think his medical review process is now complete. Trying to temper my excitement until the SA portal confirms but I believe "Waiver Granted" on the DoDMERB portal means he's good to go.
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This is good news. It is a process, but for those that want to serve, worth slugging their way through. Kudos to you as parents for supporting your kiddo early on, and letting them navigate this journey on their own, with your support and love.

Congrats.
 
MullenLE said:
Poster2025 - SAs take a little longer to update their portal, but the answer is REAL, because the decision on DoDMERB website, comes from them:band:
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YES! Thank you Mr. Mullen! So relieved - he's back on the road to pursuing his goal of becoming an officer. That's the thing with the medical requirements...it impacts both Plan A AND Plan B. His options are back in the table - now it's up to him to wait and see how it plays out. I think I'm going to have a glass of wine with dinner tonight :)
 
And the final step in the process...the USAFA Portal updated on Wednesday....time for the victory lap! They say "celebrate all the little victories" because the application process is such a long journey and we had no idea that reading the magic words "Waiver Granted" would take on such significance. The DQ came in on November 3rd and the Waiver Granted on December 15th so just over a month and that includes the Thanksgiving holiday in there as well - realizing different circumstances yield different results, but an impressively efficient process for our DS.

Thank you to the responsive staff at DoDMERB and DoDMETS and thank you to all the posters on this thread for your words of support and advice. I've tried to post regular updates so hopefully it provides helpful information to future candidates. Next up....time for DS to get that nomination 🤞
 
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