First post. I have a son who applied to USAFA and application is complete. He was not granted the medical clearance. His rebuttal was denied by DODMERS as well. The admission committee offered him a chance to participate in ETP waiver. Couple of questions. How long does the ETP process take (yay or nay)? Being that we are almost at the end of Feb, I am assuming that the decision would be much quicker than the DODMERS denial (they took almost 4 months to decide) My understanding is that superintendent of the academy personally decides all ETPs... Is that correct? And if ETP is approved, can he assume that he is a good bet for a final letter of appointment? From my understanding and from talking to ALO, the academy only offers ETP to someone that they really want to admit.
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ETP timeline
- Thread starter smcgrath
- Start date
Curious - what is an ETP waiver?First post. I have a son who applied to USAFA and application is complete. He was not granted the medical clearance. His rebuttal was denied by DODMERS as well. The admission committee offered him a chance to participate in ETP waiver. Couple of questions. How long does the ETP process take (yay or nay)? Being that we are almost at the end of Feb, I am assuming that the decision would be much quicker than the DODMERS denial (they took almost 4 months to decide) My understanding is that superintendent of the academy personally decides all ETPs... Is that correct? And if ETP is approved, can he assume that he is a good bet for a final letter of appointment? From my understanding and from talking to ALO, the academy only offers ETP to someone that they really want to admit.
There is a number of answers, for appointees, Gen Clark (The Supt) usually gets the final say, but depending on how it is routed a number of other people have the opportunity to review and recommend approval or deny the ETP. I've personally seen ETPs take 6+ months and I've heard of ETPs taking less than a week, it just depends on how well it is set up/who is fighting for you and what everyone on the ETPs schedule looks like.
Any idea how many are granted per incoming class?There is a number of answers, for appointees, Gen Clark (The Supt) usually gets the final say, but depending on how it is routed a number of other people have the opportunity to review and recommend approval or deny the ETP. I've personally seen ETPs take 6+ months and I've heard of ETPs taking less than a week, it just depends on how well it is set up/who is fighting for you and what everyone on the ETPs schedule looks like.
Wow, I wonder if he will miss the boat then. He has been asked to schedule a medical exam late April, so we shall see if this results in a heartbreak due to running out of time. The offer of ETP came from the admission committee. Any suggestions you can offer?There is a number of answers, for appointees, Gen Clark (The Supt) usually gets the final say, but depending on how it is routed a number of other people have the opportunity to review and recommend approval or deny the ETP. I've personally seen ETPs take 6+ months and I've heard of ETPs taking less than a week, it just depends on how well it is set up/who is fighting for you and what everyone on the ETPs schedule looks like.
ETPs do not have quotas as far as I am aware. There are many ETPs given for non-medical reasons, for example, religious exemptions, and those MFRs can be found in the appointee handbook.Any idea how many are granted per incoming class?
I can appreciate that this is a difficult thing to be working through, however, if this is with admissions and has a timeline, there is a better chance you will get consideration on the ETP. My recommendations would be to gather any pertinent information you can (i.e. medical records, DoDMERB guidance instructions, etc.), and then be ready to provide that to reviewing officials when appropriate. I can try to provide a better recommendation if you want to PM as soon as you are eligible to.Wow, I wonder if he will miss the boat then. He has been asked to schedule a medical exam late April, so we shall see if this results in a heartbreak due to running out of time. The offer of ETP came from the admission committee. Any suggestions you can offer?
OiledPancakes
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How do you "apply" for an ETP? Is it something that only a few get told about by admissions or does the student initiate it?
Depends on your standing. Appointees have a limited route to ETPs through admissions and they control that process( Sorry I don't have more info, but for specifics may be able to get it). Once you are a basic/cadet you can route an ETP thru your Chain of Command.How do you "apply" for an ETP? Is it something that only a few get told about by admissions or does the student initiate it?
From what we are told, it HAS to be initiated by the academy. A candidate cannot request it (I guess one could always ask for it with nothing to loose) If the academy deems a candidate a good fit for appointment, they invite the candidate to apply for ETP (which entails releasing medical records from DODMERB to academy doctors and an examination of medical records by academy doctors) with support from admissions after exhausting all avenues for waiver via DOD. Further, in person testing at the academy or at a civilian facility/doctor is probably required (true in my son's case). It is exhausting after all the denials from waivers/rebuttals from DODMERB, but there is a glimmer of hope that at least the admissions is on board and they are actively supporting the ETP. Which is why I am hopeful that if ETP is approved, appointment should follow. Fingers crossed.How do you "apply" for an ETP? Is it something that only a few get told about by admissions or does the student initiate it?
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Thanks Clar. I will follow up with you via PM once I am allowed to PM members here.ETPs do not have quotas as far as I am aware. There are many ETPs given for non-medical reasons, for example, religious exemptions, and those MFRs can be found in the appointee handbook.
I can appreciate that this is a difficult thing to be working through, however, if this is with admissions and has a timeline, there is a better chance you will get consideration on the ETP. My recommendations would be to gather any pertinent information you can (i.e. medical records, DoDMERB guidance instructions, etc.), and then be ready to provide that to reviewing officials when appropriate. I can try to provide a better recommendation if you want to PM as soon as you are eligible to.
ETP board officially meets once/month. Not sure it’s so much of an “application” as it is a medical release. DD going through this as well. Had already sort of settled in on Plan B, but she said she wanted to proceed with this. Then said she wasn’t sure. Can’t tell if she’s fully moved on or if she’s afraid of rejection - especially since AFROTC is off the table.
OiledPancakes
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Ok, interesting. I have an LOA and I haven’t yet been told no for waiver so we will see. ThanksFrom what we are told, it HAS to be initiated by the academy. A candidate cannot request it (I guess one could always ask for it with nothing to loose) If the academy deems a candidate a good fit for appointment, they invite the candidate to apply for ETP (which entails releasing medical records from DODMERB to academy doctors and an examination of medical records by academy doctors) with support from admissions after exhausting all avenues for waiver via DOD. Further, in person testing at the academy or at a civilian facility/doctor is probably required (true in my son's case). It is exhausting after all the denials from waivers/rebuttals from DODMERB, but there is a glimmer of hope that at least the admissions is on board and they are actively supporting the ETP. Which is why I am hopeful that if ETP is approved, appointment should follow. Fingers crossed.
We were told my son's ETP was signed by the supe in December. He received a conditional appointment in January and DoDMERB kept saying waiver under review. I, perhaps, stupidly, contacted admissions, and they said they did not know anything about the ETP and the next day it went to waiver denied. Reaching out to the people who put in the ETP for us, they told us do not worry it has been signed by the superintendent and my son's was the first ETP signed. At this point, I think I'm just going to show up on June 26 because I do not know what else to do and I am being told many things by many people. The waiver denial also said we only had seven days to submit a request for rebuttal, but again we were told to just ignore that part. Really going on a hope and a prayer right now.
Who were the people that issued the ETP?We were told my son's ETP was signed by the supe in December. He received a conditional appointment in January and DoDMERB kept saying waiver under review. I, perhaps, stupidly, contacted admissions, and they said they did not know anything about the ETP and the next day it went to waiver denied. Reaching out to the people who put in the ETP for us, they told us do not worry it has been signed by the superintendent and my son's was the first ETP signed. At this point, I think I'm just going to show up on June 26 because I do not know what else to do and I am being told many things by many people. The waiver denial also said we only had seven days to submit a request for rebuttal, but again we were told to just ignore that part. Really going on a hope and a prayer right now.
I am not exactly sure. I think it was the team to which has been recruited? Maybe the entire athletic department or the liaison that covers recruited athletes that need waivers? I'm sorry I don't have a straight answer for you.Who were the people that issued the ETP?
Our understanding is that there is a committee, which includes academy docs and the supe. In terms of who is eligible, I believe Admissions determines whether or not to advance a candidate who has had both their initial waiver request and rebuttals deniedWho were the people that issued the ETP?
Yep, that has exactly been my experience. The admissions informed us that ETP conference is scheduled tentatively between April 8~10. So good luck to your child and hope it comes through for your child.Our understanding is that there is a committee, which includes academy docs and the supe. In terms of who is eligible, I believe Admissions determines whether or not to advance a candidate who has had both their initial waiver request and rebuttals denied
That is really interesting information. Everybody that is eligible, or is up for, an ETP is discussed at this one meeting April 8-10 and then we will all know the outcome of that after that? Thanks for passing that along.Yep, that has exactly been my experience. The admissions informed us that ETP conference is scheduled tentatively between April 8~10. So good luck to your child and hope it comes through for your child.
It was mentioned previously that ETPs are decided around once a month subject to every stakeholder’s availability. I would imagine that it would be on a rolling basis, probably the next one is in that timeframe.That is really interesting information. Everybody that is eligible, or is up for, an ETP is discussed at this one meeting April 8-10 and then we will all know the outcome of that after that? Thanks for passing that along.