How screwed am I for the DODMERB?

[dixieunion]

I'm a freshman going into my first semester in college at my local CC in my hometown and plan to transfer to my local flagship university. I have signed up for the military science classes and ROTC in which I will enter in about a month. I understand that I will eventually go into the Dodmerb exam and I would like to know ahead of time if I am totally disqualified. I understand that I may not get a proper and correct answer on here due to it being super specific, but I am totally willing to take a shot in the dark. I could not find an answer about this anywhere online. Let me lay it out for you.


\-Had seizure at age 5 and 10. In total, those are the only ones.


\-Put on medication and got off 1 year ago.


\-Doctor cleared me of all ailments and assessed my fitness for military service, completely cleared me.


Would I be able to join the Army or Marines via ROTC and the sum of its parts and get a scholarship? Besides that, I am completely healthy.

 

[MidCakePa]

That is a very complex and sensitive question that no one here -- no one! -- can answer with any degree of accuracy. Sure, someone might be able to provide a personal anecdote, but that will have zero bearing on your situation.

Assume that you're OK until DODMERB tells you otherwise. Besides that, what can you do? If someone here says, "yes, you'll be totally disqualified," would you really act on that anonymous comment and end your quest? Hmmm...

Best advice I've seen here re DODMERB is, "don't self-diagnose." So in that same vein, don't let a perfect stranger diagnose for you.

 

[EDelahanty]

Nothing you've indicated can stop you from joining NROTC (Marine Option) or AROTC, with which I am more familiar.

AROTC offers many more scholarships than NROTC Marine Option. The vast majority of these are offered to high school students in 12th grade, but both branches provide on-campus scholarships. NROTC has a formal term for these ("side-load scholarships") and may have a formal process as well; I'm not aware whether AROTC has an equivalent term or process. You may want to speak with the recruiting officers at the units you propose to join regarding scholarship opportunities and procedures. However, I would not raise your past medical issues with these individuals. Similar to us folks on SAF, they are not qualified to make a medical diagnosis.

As a general reference, I have found Army Reg. 40-501 Standards of Medical Fitness to be helpful, though it gives no guidance on the likelihood of waivers from the many automatic disqualifying conditions it catalogues.

http://cdm16635.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16635coll11/id/672

The fact that your doctor has cleared you for service is very encouraging, though the passage below from 40-501 may suggest a problem (if it is indeed relevant to your specific situation) in that only one year has elapsed since you stopped taking medication. It is possible, however, that out of an abundance of caution you were medicated long beyond the need for it. Hopefully, the fact that you have had no seizures since you were 10 will have the greatest weight. You may want to discuss this with the doctor who cleared you.

"2–26. Neurological disorders

... j. Epilepsy (345) occurring beyond the 6th birthday, unless the applicant has been free of seizures for a period of 5 years while taking no medication for seizure control, and has a normal electroencephalogram (EEG) is disqualifying . All such applicants will have a current neurology consultation with current EEG results. "

One more point. If your primary goal is to obtain a commission rather than getting an ROTC scholarship to fund your education (nothing wrong with that, by the way), there is also the possibility of OCS (Officer Candidate School), which is available to college grads.

Don't let the prospect of an automatic DQ deter you. My son had 3 automatic DODMERB DQs (none related to your issues), ended up with a 4 year scholarship and is now an Army captain on active duty (apologies for anecdotal data).

 

[alexlhuilier]

I'm in a similar position! I've been seizure-free for 6 years (2.5 off medication). Recently got DQ'd by DODMERB and am hoping to get a waiver. I have two letters from different neurologists clearing me to do just about anything. Any on the waiver process? Also, my unit (TAMU) says that I will be able to start NROTC when I get to school in August but will not be able to attend NSI until waived, does anyone know anything about this?

 

[MullenLE]

18. “What if” type questions -

In almost all cases, DoDMERB will NOT render a determination off of what you, a parent, an advocate, etc., writes to me.

DoDMERB, the Services, nor anyone in DoD are authorized to recommend treatments; therapies; surgeries; medication use/stop use; etc. Those decisions are strictly between the applicants and their physicians. In order to obtain an “official answer (DoDMERB determination/waiver decision),” you must apply and go through the process. This allows the reviewing authorities to review existing records AND to order additional consult(s), test(s), and/or request additional information from the applicant.

The only guarantee is: If there is NO application, you will be guaranteed to NOT receive medical clearance. In all cases, we highly recommend that you apply to more than one Service Academy, ROTC program, and civilian opportunity. While that may require more activity on the applicant’s behalf, it also broadens the opportunities, should you not be offered your first, second, or subsequent choices.

The reason we have a requirement for a medical history and exam is for DoDMERB to evaluate those actual results and THEN make determinations of whether more consult(s), test(s), and/or information will be required. We certainly understand the dilemma from your perspective, but please be patient and understand the issue from ours. We need to evaluate the actual history and exam results before rendering any type of determination. More often than not, what applicants, parents, advocates, and friends “think” is the medical issue, is not the “confirmed” medical issue at all.

We also can’t “speculate” what decisions will be rendered by the waiver authorities. They are totally independent from DoDMERB and make decisions based on their Service, program, training, and experience.