How hard is it to get a waiver?

Katrina

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2013
Messages
38
They said I had to have remedials and get waivers for vision, scholiosis, and low body mass. How hard is it to get them?
 
The question you are asking is way too broad. Can you be more specific? Branch, color blind or other vision problem. Not sure what low body mass is.. Impossible to give opinion with what you have provided.
 
My eyesight is correctable to 20/20 it's just way worse than 20/200 when I'm not wearing glasses
 
Waivers are case by case. The commissioning authority waives.

Vision is an issue, but so is scoliosis.
 
Does anyone know about waivers for a stress fracture? My son runs varsity cross country and track, and last spring during track season he developed a stress fracture in his shin. He was completely healed and running again in the summer (and he maxed the CFA mile run), but got a medical DQ for having a stress fracture within 12 months of his initial DoDMERB physical. The Academy has requested a waiver. We sent in all the remedials a couple of months ago, but still no word.
 
I'm no medical expert, but it would seem he has a good chance.

DODMERB is a nasty beast, not because of the work it does, but because during the application process, when everything seems to be going so great.... some DODMERB issue comes up.... and it shakes your foundation.

I applied to USCGA, USNA and USMMA in 2001. During the process I got dinged for a broken arm in 1997, non-ossifying fibroma (soft spot on a bone in my knee... that hadn't hardened yet), and ADD. My dad's a doctor, so his feedback was helpful.... but every step of the way... something would come up.

First... the ADD... I knew that would need a waiver. As my medical files were forwarded, the broken arm came up and then my knee. Each time, a new set of DODMERB documents were sent... and each time I thought my journey had ended. But it didn't.

Keep your head up! The DODMERB process isn't always quick and it can be frustrating.... but you'll get through it. I recommend keeping all of those DODMERB disqual letters... and making a nice scrap book with them down the road! :biggrin:
 
I'm no medical expert, but it would seem he has a good chance.

DODMERB is a nasty beast, not because of the work it does, but because during the application process, when everything seems to be going so great.... some DODMERB issue comes up.... and it shakes your foundation.

I applied to USCGA, USNA and USMMA in 2001. During the process I got dinged for a broken arm in 1997, non-ossifying fibroma (soft spot on a bone in my knee... that hadn't hardened yet), and ADD. My dad's a doctor, so his feedback was helpful.... but every step of the way... something would come up.

First... the ADD... I knew that would need a waiver. As my medical files were forwarded, the broken arm came up and then my knee. Each time, a new set of DODMERB documents were sent... and each time I thought my journey had ended. But it didn't.

Keep your head up! The DODMERB process isn't always quick and it can be frustrating.... but you'll get through it. I recommend keeping all of those DODMERB disqual letters... and making a nice scrap book with them down the road! :biggrin:

Ya DODMERB is pretty bad... they have remediated me 5 times thus far (luckily no waivers needed). They didn't give even me all my remediations at the same time, they only "give me a new one" once my last one gets sent in. I started in September and am still working on it.
 
Just got a disqualification for a stress fracture. I may be able to obtain a waiver, will they let me fly though?
 
DoDMERB is different than the rated exam. Rated exam is FAA FC1 for pilots. It is possible to get waived to serve in the military (DoDMERB), but not waived for rated (FAA). IOWS, when you get selected for rated you will go through a different medical exam, if they say no, but you are fine (DoDMERB waived) to serve than you will still be commissioned, just the only thing you are flying is a desk.

I do not know if it is waiverable for rated, but wanted you to understand that being waived to be appointed or scholarship does not equate to being eligible to fly.

FWIW the FAA exam is what flyers call the long exam. (DoDMERB is called the short exam.) It includes everything from your nose to your toes. AFROTC cadets selected for UPT will go to WPAFB for this exam during the summer of their rising senior yr in college. It is a 3 day TDY. 1 full day of exams, including everything from an EKG to dental (mainly looking at wisdom teeth issues), plus other things like vision, hearing and blood work. The 2nd day is just a few more and the final check up with a flight surgeon.
~ As you can see even if you are waived for DoDMERB they will again look at your back to see if you can fly when you take the rated exam. They may say yep, nope or yep, but DQ and waive later on saying no ejection seat.
 
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My DD received a conditional appointment to the USCGA for the class of 2020. She had a stress fracture in the fall in her foot. No surgery required, a simple walking boot for a few weeks. X-rays showed complete healing. Dodmerb put her to remedial pending receipt of doctor notes from initial and last visit, letter stating she was 100% healed, and final notes from last X-ray. All of these were sent in within 2days. Confirmed it was received by Dodmerb, was told should be reviewed within a week and should not be an issue. Well status changed to DQ. Because orca broken bone within 12 months. CG UPDATED ON 12/23 that they have started the waiver process. I can't believe that this can end my DD dreams of serving her country. Does anyone have any idea if these simple issues are granted a waiver? She is a re recruited athlete, and was admitted EA. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Boat dad -- if you haven't yet done so, try the search tool in the upper right corner of the page and plug in "broken bone within 12 months". I think you will get some threads with some useful information
 
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