Medical - APPOINTMENT

I

Itisgoingtorulesoon

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
12
Ok so I’m having a little bit of a breakdown right now. I recently received my appointment to the academy and accepted it. However, I was looking at my DoDMerb status and I completely forgot that I did not mention that I injured my collarbone a few years ago. I was wrestling and although X-rays were taken, it was deemed to be a very minor break (not complete, more like a small separation). I was told to wear a sling cast for two weeks and to take advil then sent home. My question is now that I’m already DoDMerb qualified and received my appointment, what should I do. Do I notify DoDMerb and risk my appointment or do I continue preparing for I day and forget about it. The collarbone has no visible signs of repair, there is no artificial elements inserted, and frankly the only proof that such an instance occurred was because of an x ray I took at the hospital. It looks and feels completely fine. Plz advise.
 
Itisgoingtorulesoon said:
Ok so I’m having a little bit of a breakdown right now. I recently received my appointment to the academy and accepted it. However, I was looking at my DoDMerb status and I completely forgot that I did not mention that I injured my collarbone a few years ago. I was wrestling and although X-rays were taken, it was deemed to be a very minor break (not complete, more like a small separation). I was told to wear a sling cast for two weeks and to take advil then sent home. My question is now that I’m already DoDMerb qualified and received my appointment, what should I do. Do I notify DoDMerb and risk my appointment or do I continue preparing for I day and forget about it. The collarbone has no visible signs of repair, there is no artificial elements inserted, and frankly the only proof that such an instance occurred was because of an x ray I took at the hospital. It looks and feels completely fine. Plz advise.
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You are required to inform DoDMERB of any changes or corrections to your medical history. Contact your assigned technician. Given this was a few years ago and you are apparently well-healed and functional, and it’s only February, there is plenty of time to update and jump through any administrative hoops.

And purge your brain now of any tendencies to do “magical thinking” - “just forget about it,” “the only proof that such an instance occurred,” etc. Get your medical history correct now, or you will have to consistently lie by omission throughout your time in the military.

Gut feel is this will not derail your appointment. Just get going on it. Let us know how it goes. The next cycle of applicants will learn from your error.

Just in case you don’t have it, you can look in Contacts on the DoDMERB home page.

 
I just wanted to clarify that I did bring it up with the individual who conducted my DoDMerb physical exam and he mentioned that if there was no pain or limitations, he was not going to write it on the form to submit to DoDMerb. I was looking through the forms I submitted to DoDMerb and nowhere was I asked if I broke a bone on any of the forms. Do I report even if I wasn’t asked?
 
The link for the Class of 2027 Permit To Report (PTR) will be updated in the spring. Class of 2026 PTR is still posted. Page 15 shows the requirement to keep medical history up to date, as well as mentioning the signed affidavit required.

www.usna.edu

Plebe Summer Home

Plebe Summer Home page for Plebe Summer at USNA.edu. Updated Thu May 16 09:25:18 EDT 2024.
www.usna.edu

The link below is to a DD Form for accession medical history, which may be the same or very similar to the form you originally filled out for DoDMETS online. If you look at Block 65, it asks about injuries to bones. There are also blocks for ER care, etc., as applicable. A baseline medical history like this is going to have some query about bone injury and health history, as one of the major body systems. Perhaps you missed it or it wasn’t immediately clear that you should include a fractured bone as part of your history.


And yes, I believe you should report it.
 
Itisgoingtorulesoon said:
Do I notify DoDMerb and risk my appointment
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Yes. This is called integrity and it is a critically important part of being an officer. Hopefully you just have to deal with a waiver issue…

Please do not rationalize your failure to report. The collarbone (clavicle) is a bone in the upper extremity. Page 2 item 65 of DD2807-2 clearly asks if you have or ever had an injury to a bone in the upper extremity and you attested to its accuracy when you submitted it.

The omission could be interpreted as an error made by a young adult still figuring out the world…or it could be interpreted as an attempt to gain admission under false pretense. Accepting the outcome of either is the price of personal integrity.

Good luck regardless of the outcome.
 
Try not to let it stress you out, I really think you’ll be fine. If you’re feeling bad about the omission then yes, tell Dodmerb. CAPT MJ’s thorough advice is sound as always.

I had a roommate at the academy, athlete type, who broke a bone in his senior spring season and didn’t report. While he was inducted and did graduate and commission with me, he had a tough time working through the injury at the academy. Lots of time spent on appointments and surgeries that took away from academics and military obligations. And he almost didn’t commission. Hiding it at first made everything more complicated.

You’ll find that midshipmen (and some officers in aviation from my experience thus far) can be reluctant to be forthcoming with medical out of fear of harming their career. While that does happen sometimes, what’s more important is taking care of your health. And these health standards are not just about your safety, but also that of other servicemembers. For example a helicopter pilot who suffers from muscle spasms or a sleep disorder is putting himself, his aircrew, and the equipment at risk every time he flies.

Sounds like your issue is quite minor OP, but it’s good to get in the habit of being open with Medical early on.
 
My son had a jones fracture in eight grade right before basketball season. When he filled out the form, he didn’t remember to put it down on his form. Right before his medical exam, he told me. He wasn’t sure how to handle it … so he brought it to the doctor’s attention at the exam. The doctor updated his forms and reported it.

After he was dq’d for colorblindness - dodmerb marked it as an issue because the doctor found it. My son gathered the necessary records and submitted them. He explained the situation and told them he self reported to the doctor and the doctor didn’t find it. The doctor did examine it and said he was fine.

He ran cross country, played tennis, and played basketball every year after. A jones fracture could indicate a problem as it is rare for a kid to break that bone. There wasn’t a problem - he did it playing basketball and landed on his foot wrong.

They didn’t dq him for that. My son was honest and did the right thing.

I was a proud father. He made the shot.
 
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The collarbone is a strut like connecting rod … it is not fundamental load bearing … and yes, some folks don’t have collarbones … and some folks aren’t born with collarbones.

If you got metal plates holding your collarbone together … that’s one thing … if you had a stress break/tear … that is much less severe.

For those folks who operate just fine without a collarbone, I don’t know what the SAs would do …

Segue Moment — We need to address this medical standards thing. There are a lot of Kick A$$ kids out there that just don’t fit by the current overly-restrictive (old) medical standards.
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Firstly, own up that you DID know about this. Bc you mentioned it at you exam. Your post is evidence of how you will have to try and continue keep an ‘untruth’ straight. You have already contradicted yourself and caught yourself.

At this point it’s an easy fix. As you are REQUIRED (and I believe you even sign your name to this effect) to update your DODMERB medical history. Capt MJ has told you the exact question that addresses this. So yes it’s a change to what you reported. So follow institutions. It’s not hard. P

Hopefully this was really an oversight on your part. Integrity is what people do when no one is looking. You know the right thing to do. Shouldn’t even be a discussion.
 
Itisgoingtorulesoon said:
I just sent an email to the respective parties informing them of the situation. Hopefully nothing detrimental occurs and I will still be able to attend I day & plebe summer.
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Good to see you are acting on this.

You could be asked for the related medical records, from start to finish, with the one pronouncing you fully healed and able to resume normal activity the key one. You may even get an interim “DQ” for this - just prepare mentally to see that and don’t start worrying. Work the process. It’s February, not a week before you report, and this incident didn’t just happen, you are a good amount of time out from it without resulting issues.

Project ahead to this time next year, as a hard-working plebe, and perhaps you have started an “AMA” thread here on SAF. You’ll be able share your experience to help others.
 
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Itisgoingtorulesoon said:
Ok so I’m having a little bit of a breakdown right now. I recently received my appointment to the academy and accepted it. However, I was looking at my DoDMerb status and I completely forgot that I did not mention that I injured my collarbone a few years ago. I was wrestling and although X-rays were taken, it was deemed to be a very minor break (not complete, more like a small separation). I was told to wear a sling cast for two weeks and to take advil then sent home. My question is now that I’m already DoDMerb qualified and received my appointment, what should I do. Do I notify DoDMerb and risk my appointment or do I continue preparing for I day and forget about it. The collarbone has no visible signs of repair, there is no artificial elements inserted, and frankly the only proof that such an instance occurred was because of an x ray I took at the hospital. It looks and feels completely fine. Plz advise.
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Itisgoingtorulesoon said:
Ok so I’m having a little bit of a breakdown right now. I recently received my appointment to the academy and accepted it. However, I was looking at my DoDMerb status and I completely forgot that I did not mention that I injured my collarbone a few years ago. I was wrestling and although X-rays were taken, it was deemed to be a very minor break (not complete, more like a small separation). I was told to wear a sling cast for two weeks and to take advil then sent home. My question is now that I’m already DoDMerb qualified and received my appointment, what should I do. Do I notify DoDMerb and risk my appointment or do I continue preparing for I day and forget about it. The collarbone has no visible signs of repair, there is no artificial elements inserted, and frankly the only proof that such an instance occurred was because of an x ray I took at the hospital. It looks and feels completely fine. Plz
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Itisgoingtorulesoon said:
I just sent an email to the respective parties informing them of the situation. Hopefully nothing detrimental occurs and I will still be able to attend I day & plebe summer.
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Prefacing this with every medical situation is different, BUT my DD broke her collar bone and had to have surgery to repair it and a second surgery to remove the hardware. The info was included in her medical forms and DODMERB did not seek any additional information on this injury before clearing her medically.
 
MMM3 said:
Prefacing this with every medical situation is different, BUT my DD broke her collar bone and had to have surgery to repair it and a second surgery to remove the hardware. The info was included in her medical forms and DODMERB did not seek any additional information on this injury before clearing her medically.
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Thank you for sharing this information. It gives me a little bit more reassurance and peace of mind to know that there’s a very low chance my appointment will be rescinded for a broken collarbone.
 
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Just how much information is too much information?

Hairline fractures of the radius close to the wrist are very common in young kids because they are growing so fast … A soft cast is all it takes to steer you away from heavy use and further injury (visual minder) … and in the old days, they didn’t even put a soft cast on it …. Doctor’s instructions …. “No rough and tumble for a few weeks”
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A1Janitor said:
My son had a jones fracture in eight grade right before basketball season. When he filled out the form, he didn’t remember to put it down on his form. Right before his medical exam, he told me. He wasn’t sure how to handle it … so he brought it to the doctor’s attention at the exam. The doctor updated his forms and reported it.

After he was dq’d for colorblindness - dodmerb marked it as an issue because the doctor found it. My son gathered the necessary records and submitted them. He explained the situation and told them he self reported to the doctor and the doctor didn’t find it. The doctor did examine it and said he was fine.

He ran cross country, played tennis, and played basketball every year after. A jones fracture could indicate a problem as it is rare for a kid to break that bone. There wasn’t a problem - he did it playing basketball and landed on his foot wrong.

They didn’t dq him for that. My son was honest and did the right thing.

I was a proud father. He made the shot.
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Did you try to get a colorblindness waiver?
 
SweetCaroline said:
Did you try to get a colorblindness waiver?
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My son got the waiver 4 years ago. He graduates USNA in a few months.

There wasn’t anything done on our part. As soon as he was dq’d, It was up to USNA to request the waiver review. Then we waited for the process to work, including superintendent approval.
 
A1Janitor said:
My son got the waiver 4 years ago. He graduates USNA in a few months.
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Oh thank you for sharing! Is it hard to get the waiver? Do you start the process once DODMERB verifies the colorblindness or does it start autimatically? Your last post appeared that you got DQ'd for the colorblindness.
 
SweetCaroline said:
Did you try to get a colorblindness waiver?
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Welcome new member of 5 minutes!

The pre-comm programs (SA, ROTC, etc.) request the waiver if they choose. The applicant does not.

If you go to the DoDMERB homepage and work through the left-side menu, including Contacts, there is a lot of great info about the medical qualification process.



For color blindness, only a tiny handful of waivers are given to incoming midshipmen at USNA, and they are specifically told before that which Unrestricted Line warfare communities are closed to them (aviation, surface warfare, submarines, etc.) and which Restricted Line and Staff Corps communities might be available.

Each of the services/pre-Comm programs has its own waiver policy - some are more restrictive, some less. Army and Marines tend to be less. It’s not arbitrary - the services have different missions, gear, equipment, operating environments.

Do a search for “color blindness” threads.
 
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Capt MJ said:
Welcome new member of 5 minutes!

The pre-comm programs (SA, ROTC, etc.) request the waiver if they choose. The applicant does not.

If you go to the DoDMERB homepage and work through the left-side menu, including Contacts, theee is a lot of great info about the medical qualification process.

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Excellent! Thank you! I have two USNA boys and #3 is applying but he may be colorblind. He's never been diagnosed but sometimes ya just know the kid is off with his colors...ha ha ha! Good to know the Academies request them.
 
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