Is this waiverable?

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sq7

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I have a history of hospitalization for an eating disorder. DoDMERB disqualified me, but I am wondering if there's any way I could get a waiver for this. I have been completely recovered for over a year and it has no impact on my daily life anymore. So far, the Academies haven't contacted me about it, except for USMA who said that they will not be pursuing a waiver, but this was before my application was completed. Is there anything I can do?
 
sq7 said:
I have a history of hospitalization for an eating disorder. DoDMERB disqualified me, but I am wondering if there's any way I could get a waiver for this. I have been completely recovered for over a year and it has no impact on my daily life anymore. So far, the Academies haven't contacted me about it, except for USMA who said that they will not be pursuing a waiver, but this was before my application was completed. Is there anything I can do?
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Very, very difficult to get a waiver in the military for an eating disorder.

You will need to show several years of weight gain and stability. You will also need to show the eating disorder and co-morbidities (eg depression, OCD, body dysmorphic disorder, etc…) usually associated with it are resolved and no longer under treatment.

In addition to the co-morbidities associated with eating disorder (I’ll narrow it down to anorexia nervosa) as to the reason for the military staying away from it is the issue of relapse. There are a couple studies out there, one lasting 1-9 years and the other 1 year, that says relapse occurs in 35-55% of patients. There really isn’t a clear predictor of who will or won’t relapse which makes it difficult to decide on waivers. Granting waivers is about assuming risk for the service. With many so unknowns, the service can’t decide how much risk they’re assuming in cases of eating disorders.

The elephant in the room is the topic of suicide. One study showed those with AN are 1.7 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.

I’m only saying this for expectation management. You should plan to serve your country in another capacity - plenty of opportunities out there. Not saying you should stop trying to achieve your dream of serving in uniform, but it’s very much an uphill battle.

Please take good care of yourself. I’m sure lots of people want you to stay well and care about you. Good luck.
 
Maybe Mr. Mullen might chime in on this question? If you have documentation describing your eating disorder treatment and recovery, as well as doctor’s notes showing a stable period, I don’t know why this condition would be considered unwaiverable but other behavioral matters ARE. He pops in very often on this DODMERB forum. I believe he is based in Colorado, so hopefully he might respond later today or over the weekend.

Stay positive and keep going until you get a final “no” from the schools themselves. Good luck and great job to you for overcoming this! You have come so far and you are proving your resilience and strength every day!
 
OrangeFamily said:
Maybe Mr. Mullen might chime in on this question? If you have documentation describing your eating disorder treatment and recovery, as well as doctor’s notes showing a stable period, I don’t know why this condition would be considered unwaiverable but other behavioral matters ARE. He pops in very often on this DODMERB forum. I believe he is based in Colorado, so hopefully he might respond later today or over the weekend.

Stay positive and keep going until you get a final “no” from the schools themselves. Good luck and great job to you for overcoming this! You have come so far and you are proving your resilience and strength every day!
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In a European study covering the latter half of the 20th century, in those recovering from AN, 50% achieved a good outcome (including weight gain), 25% achieved an intermediate outcome, and 25% achieved a poor outcome. Even if treatment advanced over the previous 20 years, I doubt it would move the needle much to where the risk is acceptable. What that’s saying is 50%ish may be suitable for the stresses and rigors of military service? The 50% is just, hey you can have a good life in society.

A retrospective study, albeit a small ample size, those who no longer met criteria for anorexia nervosa still manifested relatively low body weight and cognitive features (perfectionism and cognitive restraint) of the disorder, as well as high rates of lifetime comorbid major depression, alcohol dependence, and anxiety disorder.

For whatever reason, eating disorders are just tough to get over - much more than the other BH DQs that are waivered like depression or anxiety.

Not all behavioral health “matters” are waivered just because some are. I don’t believe someone with a history of schizophrenic disorder would be waivered, for example.
 
sq7 said:
I have a history of hospitalization for an eating disorder. DoDMERB disqualified me, but I am wondering if there's any way I could get a waiver for this. I have been completely recovered for over a year and it has no impact on my daily life anymore. So far, the Academies haven't contacted me about it, except for USMA who said that they will not be pursuing a waiver, but this was before my application was completed. Is there anything I can do?
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You may hear from Mr. Mullen, Deputy Director DoDMERB, who stands overwatch here and often offers to communicate privately to share insights.

Satisfy yourself by continuing to move through the process, and similar to other candidates, tend alternate plans should this not work out for you. The military sets its medical accession standards bar very high, as the goal is slways the welfare and safety of the entire unit down the road. Military people can operate for long periods of time in harsh, high-stress conditions, doing intense work, far from advanced medical care. The military looks for people with the least history of vulnerability, physically and mentally.

I applaud what it has taken for you to recover and manage your mental and physical health over the last year, but the relentless pressure-cooker of a service academy followed by military service may not be the best choice for you right now.

You have your college years coming up. You could see how you do living away from home in a college environment and those pressures, and a few years down the road, apply to a Service’s OCS or OTS program, college degree in hand and a history of good health and well-managed medical conditions, when it’s time nice again to meet those accession standards. You could try ROTC as a “college programmer,” but you will eventually run into the same DoDMERB standards.

The overall concern here is the unit health and safety that can be impacted by an individual’s medical readiness, as well as concern for the individual and not exacerbating or reawakening any existing problem.

Take good care of yourself and do what you need to do to stay positive and thrive.
 
sq7

If you’d like, you may send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “sq7- SAF = Is this waiverable.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.:wiggle:
 
My daughter went through this - the start of more serious problems.

She got through it all and is now pursuing her doctorate. Best of luck.
 
I wanted to let you in; I had an Eating Disorder disqualification and as an anxiety disorder on my DoDMERB as well, and I actually was granted a waiver in January (just in time for PSP nominations!). I haven't been hospitalized or medicated, and I showed them everything I possibly could to prove I am alright now. Explained my extracurricular involvement, explained the situation, got doctor's notes saying I'm okay. It is truly different for everyone, I wish you the best of luck!
 
My understanding is the decision to consider a candidate for a waiver is independent of the reason for the DQ. So regardless of why the DQ, the next step is to wait for the academy to request a waiver review and they will do that when your application is considered competitive for an appointment. If they do, then you can embark on whether or not it is waiverable. So until then, they key is submitting a competitive application so that they might request a review for waiver so finish your applications and see what happens. I wish you luck!
 
FACTS: DoDMERB DQd applicants

All Service Academies: If Admissions determines an applicant "competitive for an offer of appointment" (excluding their medical status), they will direct their medical teams to process for medical waiver consideration

All Service ROTC programs: If you have been awarded a scholarship on the national boards, you will automatically be considered for a medical waiver...considered, not granted or denied.:wiggle:
 
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