keratoconus DQ

J

jkl76

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Messages
4
During my flight physical this summer over at Wright-Patterson AFB, they found a discrepancy in my eyes. My eyes have an abnormal corneal typography that is linked to a disease called Keratoconus.

I just got news yesterday that because of it, I'm medically disqualified not only from Flight Class I, but from commissioning as well. Our new detachment commander of about a month is giving me 3 weeks to pursue a medical disqualification rebuttal before she begins the dis-enrollment process. The rebuttal would entail proving the diagnosis wrong per the guidelines of chapter 5 in AFROTCI 36-2011.

I fear other doctors will seem to agree with the doctors at Wright-Patterson, and my commander is not considering an Exception to Policy request (per AFROTCI 36-2011) for not having known me long enough.

Does anyone have any great ideas? Or does anyone know where I can find a waiver guide pertaining to general military service/enlistment/commissioning ?
 
jkl76 said:
During my flight physical this summer over at Wright-Patterson AFB, they found a discrepancy in my eyes. My eyes have an abnormal corneal typography that is linked to a disease called Keratoconus.

I just got news yesterday that because of it, I'm medically disqualified not only from Flight Class I, but from commissioning as well. Our new detachment commander of about a month is giving me 3 weeks to pursue a medical disqualification rebuttal before she begins the dis-enrollment process. The rebuttal would entail proving the diagnosis wrong per the guidelines of chapter 5 in AFROTCI 36-2011.

I fear other doctors will seem to agree with the doctors at Wright-Patterson, and my commander is not considering an Exception to Policy request (per AFROTCI 36-2011) for not having known me long enough.

Does anyone have any great ideas? Or does anyone know where I can find a waiver guide pertaining to general military service/enlistment/commissioning ?
Click to expand...

I'm confused, according to your previous posts you were disenrolled from AFROTC back in 2011.

You stated then that you were not able to attend Field Training due to being medically DQ'd for an old shoulder injury. Did something change?
 
Keratoconus

To anyone with diagnosis and PDQ from any military service for keratoconus:
I'm prior active duty USAF (3 yrs) and Air National Guard (5 yrs) with an impeccable service record, multiple decorations and awards, pristine health, 180 lbs, 5'-11". I went through the process to join the US Army Reserves in 2009-2010 and was PDQ'd for keratoconus. I have 5 college degrees, including a doctorate. I was going in as a Chaplain. Chaplains, although while having to "serve in combat" from time to time, do not carry weapons. Chaplains' Assistants serve as their bodyguards. In other words, as a Chaplain, I would not have to be a combatant. I would be facilitating religious services, counseling, but not actual combat. for crying out loud, I probably wouldn't even have to drive a vehicle. i would've been an 0-3, Captain. However, because of the regulations, I was "PDQ'd." Even though I consider myself a man of God, I was also "PISS'd." I would encourage anyone with the condition to trust Romans 8:28 and believe God will use you elsewhere. I was about halfway to a 20 year retirement with the 9 years of prior service. The only thing that matters is the current regulation and of course the needs of the military. The needs during my processing were still pretty high for chaplains in the reserves components and of course now they're not. It still would not have mattered with this diagnosis and the current regulation. My waiver went to the US Army Surgeon General at Ft Knox, KY, where all "last stop waivers" go. There is no appeal to anyone. That's it. The waiver IS the appeal. Even if we appeal by writing to our representatives and probably even the President, they are all going to refer us to the ones whom they entrust to make those decisions (i.e. ultimately the Office of the Surgeon General). By the way, the Army oversees MEPS and its Surgeon General IS it. The Chief of Chaplains, Major General Doug Carver who is from my hometown would not even be able to do anything. I'm trying to help everyone to face realty regardless of your age, beliefs, qualifications, etc. I would say if your desire remains, refer to the reg and if it hasn't changed, spend the time God has given you pursuing another dream. Serve another way. Volunteer. I have. I don't like what's happened. It's a pile of crap. I had a guaranteed slot held for me by a 28 year full bird colonel (Chaplain) while I was going through the physical, MEPS, consults, etc. None of this mattered or matters. My waiver request, like everyone else's with this diagnosis, was denied. Again, I still don't like it. It ticks me off every time I think about it. It was my dream too. I was told dozens of times, if anyone ever had a chance at getting a waiver for this, I would. i didn't. Blessings.
 
I had a prospect get DQ'd for keratoconus. We put up a good fight, but no one was going to waive the DQ. Sorry to say, it's most likely not going to happen.
 
JKL76, I'm very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. We are hoping for the best for you. Please do not think my question callus in nature but this may be an oppurtunity for all of us to gleen some information. Will there be an expectation on your part to repay the scholarship money? I would certainly think that since the condition seems progressive in nature, ( not previously diagnosed but found later), that there would be NO expection of repayment on your part. Best of luck moving forward.
 
I highly doubt that they would have to repay because it was the AF's decision to cut him loose. Nothing he did voided the contract.

Additionally, only about 20% of all AFROTC cadets are scholarship. He may not even be on scholarship.
 
Additionally, only about 20% of all AFROTC cadets are scholarship

I was not aware of that. Thanks for the heads up. The whole AFROTC is somewhat confusing to me.
 
I would think that is about the same rate for AROTC too. Not sure about NROTC as jrs.

For AFROTC, they contract as jrs after completing SFT, but it does not mean they get any money for college tuition.
 
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