how long are medical waivers valid for?

williamsdr3

Parent of USNA Mid '24
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While we endure the interminable wait for appointment news, I wondered how long a medical waiver would be valid for - just that admissions cycle? I have read on SAF and perhaps from an official source that DODMERB physicals are valid for two years, but I don't know if my son's one (so far out of the academies and ROTC's) medical waiver granted by USNA would be valid if he ends up as a reapplicant next year or if he would have to re-reviewed for a waiver again.

I searched for this but couldn't find any info in the forums.
 
The waiver will remain valid for the period of validity of the exam. The validity of the exam is for 2 years from the date of the medical exam.
 
The waiver will remain valid for the period of validity of the exam. The validity of the exam is for 2 years from the date of the medical exam.
Does this mean it an applicant gets a waiver, gets accepted to his/her program of choice whether it be a SA or ROTC, that they would have to apply for another waiver while in school and continue to apply for waivers during their career? Assuming nothing has changed medically with the original wavered condition. Thank you!
 
I believe once you are in you are in. The waiver is an acceptance hurdle.
 
Agree with Okboomer. However, the condition could preclude you from certain service assignments. That decision is made at the time of your pre-commissioning physical.
 
Agree with Okboomer. However, the condition could preclude you from certain service assignments. That decision is made at the time of your pre-commissioning physical.

Potentially most of the service assignments, depending on the condition, as some of my classmates found out.
 
SA's have the authority to grant waivers for admission, but they are not the waiver authority for commissioning.

In practice, the SA's don't generally grant a waiver for something that won't we waived upon commissioning. There are no guarantees, but typically if a candidate gets a waiver for a condition upon acceptance, and that condition doesn't worsen during the 4 years, then that person will usually get a waiver for commissioning (i emphasize typically and usually). There are plenty of exceptions and caveats, and it's also not uncommon for a new condition to appear during the 4 years that will DQ a person.

Also, some waivers (like colorblindness) will allow commissioning but will not allow many/most warfare communities. For other communities, candidates who were fully qualified, who did not need a waiver, will find out during the pre-commissioning physical that they are not qualified for certain communities (aviation in paraticular)
 
A6E Dad is spot on, as always!
 
SA's have the authority to grant waivers for admission, but they are not the waiver authority for commissioning.

In practice, the SA's don't generally grant a waiver for something that won't we waived upon commissioning. There are no guarantees, but typically if a candidate gets a waiver for a condition upon acceptance, and that condition doesn't worsen during the 4 years, then that person will usually get a waiver for commissioning (i emphasize typically and usually). There are plenty of exceptions and caveats, and it's also not uncommon for a new condition to appear during the 4 years that will DQ a person.

Also, some waivers (like colorblindness) will allow commissioning but will not allow many/most warfare communities. For other communities, candidates who were fully qualified, who did not need a waiver, will find out during the pre-commissioning physical that they are not qualified for certain communities (aviation in paraticular)
Thank you! Very helpful explanation!
 
Thank you. How about for other SA's or ROTC?
As stated earlier, USNA can only grant waivers for admission to USNA itself. In other words, just because you get a waiver from USNA, does not mean that you will get one from West Point, or even NROTC for that matter. Additionally, as A6E pointed out, a waiver for admission is not the same as a waiver for comissioning.

In general, could you cite examples of medical conditions/ future limitations? Thank you!

Colorblindness was one of the main ones I was thinking of. You can only serve in a restricted line community (think Intel, Supply, etc.) in the Navy or go Marine Ground (with some limitations on MOS I believe).

Eczema is another. I had eczema that was very mild and well contained (I've posted about it before, you can search for it), and was waived to commission into any field. I had a friend that had eczema but continued to have flare ups which required medicine while they were at the Academy, and they were only able to go SWO. A third person with eczema was deemed non-commissionable and got the golden handshake.

I've also heard of some people who had major surgeries as children (like knee etc.) who were waived for admission but had some trouble come commissioning time. Some were cleared to do what they wanted, others were forced to go SWO or restricted line. Their circumstances were varied and unique and I can't speak to why those individuals got the outcomes that they did.

I will say that I might have been a bit trigger happy with my first post. The fact of the matter is that the number of people that aren't able to commission due to something that did not develop/get worse at the Academy is extremely low and not something I would spend time worrying about.
 
I think we drifted from the original question.

USNA medical waivers for Admission are just that waivers for admission. These are good for the validity period of the DoDMERB medical exam, which is 2 years from the date of the medical exam.
 
As stated earlier, USNA can only grant waivers for admission to USNA itself. In other words, just because you get a waiver from USNA, does not mean that you will get one from West Point, or even NROTC for that matter. Additionally, as A6E pointed out, a waiver for admission is not the same as a waiver for comissioning.



Colorblindness was one of the main ones I was thinking of. You can only serve in a restricted line community (think Intel, Supply, etc.) in the Navy or go Marine Ground (with some limitations on MOS I believe).

Eczema is another. I had eczema that was very mild and well contained (I've posted about it before, you can search for it), and was waived to commission into any field. I had a friend that had eczema but continued to have flare ups which required medicine while they were at the Academy, and they were only able to go SWO. A third person with eczema was deemed non-commissionable and got the golden handshake.

I've also heard of some people who had major surgeries as children (like knee etc.) who were waived for admission but had some trouble come commissioning time. Some were cleared to do what they wanted, others were forced to go SWO or restricted line. Their circumstances were varied and unique and I can't speak to why those individuals got the outcomes that they did.

I will say that I might have been a bit trigger happy with my first post. The fact of the matter is that the number of people that aren't able to commission due to something that did not develop/get worse at the Academy is extremely low and not something I would spend time worrying about.
Thanks for taking the time to detail your experiences. A6E Dad did a great job clarifying my main question that a waiver for admission does not necessarily translate into a waiver for commissioning. I appreciate everyone's input to help me understand the process better!
 
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