How to Deal With Disqualifications

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aminoacid

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I'm relatively new to the Service Academies (first in the family :) ) but I have a feeling I'm not going to be medically qualified to pass the DoDMERB, even though Candidate Kits haven't even opened yet. I recently (about a year ago) got diagnosed with epilepsy after I passed out from stress (the first time I passed out, I had stayed up for a stupidly long amount of time for a wedding and was pretty frenzied, so doctors linked it to just being tired. However, when I had another episode, they linked it to epilepsy and threw me into medication). Now, even though I'm able to do literally everything I've been able to in the past, I feel like this entire process will only view me by my epilepsy.
I hate epilepsy so much, though I haven't had an episode in months now. My medication feels overwhelming and unnecessary. I also have IBD that has been in remission with no medication for a while and hasn't caused me problems. I'm just feeling devastated that my lifelong dream of attending the USAFA and becoming an airman has been crushed by some random disorder that isn't even linked to any trauma, family history, or other abnormalities. Any advice on how to deal with this?
 
Perhaps it's just the universe telling you it wasn't meant to be. I know that sounds crushing you have to realize that we have no control over the hand we are dealt, but we do have control over how we react to the events that happen to us. Also, don't give up hope just yet! It isn't over until it's over, they haven't told you no.
 
First, I am sorry you are going through this. I have two sons and one of them has epilepsy that started when he was 13. I was wondering if you had an eeg? Did a neurologist diagnose you? I would really get all your medical history in order, but if it is truly epilepsy I do not think there would be a wavier for it. I am no means an expert. My son had dreams that too had to be changed, it took awhile, but I am telling you it does get better. You will find your passion again. Please reach out if you have any questions regarding epilepsy. I wish you the best!
 
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NLS3 said:
First, I am sorry you are going through this. I have two sons and one of them has epilepsy that started when he was 13. I was wondering if you had an eeg? Did a neurologist diagnose you? I would really get all your medical history in order, but if it is truly epilepsy I do not think there would be a wavier for it. I am no means an expert. My son had dreams that too had to be changed, it took awhile, but I am telling you it does get better. You will find your passion again. Please reach out if you have any questions regarding epilepsy. I wish you the best!
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Thank you for your kind words. I have been diagnosed by a neurologist after a slightly abnormal EEG. I was only recently made aware that waivers are pretty strict for epilepsy, so currently I'm debating whether or not to continue with my application. But, I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone in this experience.
 
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Sorry to hear about this. I suggest looking around here for one of Capt MJ's famous posts about the vast array of other federal three letter agencies. There are many ways to serve your country that don't have the stringent health screenings of the academies. Let's see, how about this one:

What if I have a bad ACT score?

Hello everyone, I am currently a junior in high-school and applying to several service academies. I am dyslexic and ADHD, so I process everything, especially mathematics, at a slower rate than normal. However, I love STEM, and am in the top percentage of my Algebra 2 class, and at the very top...
www.serviceacademyforums.com
 
It is perfectly understandable that you are feeling frustrated with this diagnosis. In a way, you are having grieving feelings related to potential loss of 100% physical health at a young age where it doesn’t seem fair at all and the potential loss of a dream of military service as an officer. The stages of grief are roughly: denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, acceptance. This is a rough patch in your life’s journey which you will learn to manage, and it’s perfectly okay to be mad as heck about it.

Dive into learning as much about this condition as possible. Knowledge is power.

Face the situation head on. Dive into the link below, the medical accession standard for the military.

And, go to the DoDMERB home page, thoroughly work your way through the left-side menu to understand the process. Even Contacts. No login required.

The standard approach is to go through the application process, and for any DQs, provide any additional medical information (AMI) requested and hope for a waiver. “Make them tell you ‘no’” is often the advice given here. But you have a significant diagnosis. Epilepsy is one of those I think may not be waiverable, but that is just my unofficial (very) opinion. You may want to call Admissions, be candid about your situation and ask for an equally candid assessment on the chances of a waiver, based on what they have observed. Applying to the SAs and ROTC is a massive effort, and there is no shame in doing some critical thinking and analysis about your situation in terms of how best to invest time and effort.

It takes me a while to write these posts on my iPhone, and I see others are adding posts, but I always close with pointing candidates in this situation toward doors they might not have thought about knocking on. If you have a desire to serve the nation, you can do it as a federal civilian, just as proudly at Department of the Air Force, DoD, other federal departments and agencies. They are hungry for good young minds with a desire to serve. If you can’t be a door kicker, you can directly support those who do, in analysis, research, operations planning, logistics, forensics, intelligence, cyber and other fields. Your physical health won’t be a hurdle as it is for military accession.

This is a great program with job potential:
dodstem.us

SMART Scholarship Program | DoD STEM

DoD STEM seeks to attract, inspire, and develop exceptional STEM talent across the education continuum and advance the current DoD STEM workforce to meet future defense technological challenges.
dodstem.us dodstem.us

And, federal departments and agencies, including the “ABC” agencies have excellent programs. Use a good search string such as:
FBI Student Programs
CIA Student Programs

Examples:

Intelligence Community student and internship programs

We offer a wide variety of programs to jumpstart your career.
www.intelligencecareers.gov www.intelligencecareers.gov

Students | Homeland Security

Student Hiring Programs: Acquisition and Procurement, Cybersecurity, Pathways, Health and Science, I&A Internship, Law Enforcement, Legal, Public Affairs.
www.dhs.gov www.dhs.gov

Students And Recent Graduates 3 | DOD CIVILIAN CAREERS

www.dodciviliancareers.com www.dodciviliancareers.com

Student Programs - CIA

www.cia.gov www.cia.gov


There are dozens more! Federal civilian service is an honorable path with excellent benefits.

One anecdote. The sister of one of our USNA sponsor mids wanted to follow her sister to USNA but was diagnosed with an intestinal disease which is treatable but not curable, and a definite military service DQ. She went to a good college, majored in applied math, worked for NSA in the summers (see link above), and went straight to work for them after graduation at an excellent entry level position. NSA has paid for her MS at Johns Hopkins. She has received a number of promotions, holds clearances at nosebleed levels and cannot talk about what she does, but she loves it. She’s using her brain, she is serving the nation, she has job security with potential for continued advancement and details to other “secret squirrel” agencies, she has top-notch health benefits.
 
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And welcome new member as of this morning!
 
Sorry to hear about this - as others said, it's not likely that epilepsy can be waived, but there are TONS of other opportunities!

I wish I had known about the SMART scholarship path and all the amazing government civilian scientist jobs out there. I'm not sure I would have taken a different path, but I would definitely have considered it.

What were you hoping to do in the AF? If it's something highly technical, I have a LONG list of good options for you. I actually run a program where we bring on ROTC cadets awaiting medical clearance before commissioning (many need waivers or a review because of a change in status while they were in college that delays them), and so far they have been shocked at the amazing opportunities out their even if they don't commission. While that is still their dream, usually after a few weeks working with us, they realize there are many great paths if a commission isn't in the cards.
 
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