Medically Dq'd for USAFA but received ROTC Scholarship - Q's

LolaBean

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If medically disqualified for USAFA but received an ROTC Scholarship, will that influence your chances when you go to get medically qualified? Do you do the process all over again or will they see that he was DQ'd ?
 
You can get a waiver if you are DQ'd. My son attends college on a Type 1 AFROTC scholarship and my daughter is at USAFA. Both were DQ'd for similar, but different reasons (knee) and both received waivers. The USAFA waiver seemed much easier to obtain.
 
Yes, the process will repeat, but the same AF organization making the '2nd decision' also made the first decision. Since I do not know the reason for the previous DQ, I believe they will make a reconsideration for the scholarship. I had one student in the exact situation last year, but unfortunately, she was not qualified during the 2nd review for the AFROTC scholarship either. Best of luck to your son
 
Yes, the process will repeat, but the same AF organization making the '2nd decision' also made the first decision. Since I do not know the reason for the previous DQ, I believe they will make a reconsideration for the scholarship. I had one student in the exact situation last year, but unfortunately, she was not qualified during the 2nd review for the AFROTC scholarship either. Best of luck to your son

Thank you, this helps. He was DQ'd for putting down shin splints during application process. He was never diagnosed with them, said he had them a few times. DODMERB asked for more info (AMI) and we stated the dates he had them (twice). Nothing serious. But he was disqualified after that (was put under a waiver review). We provided a Dr's note stating he is in good physical condition but he is still disqualified. I heard the SA has to initiate the waiver process, and they haven't. We are just hoping that doesn't hurt his chances for getting medically qualified for the Type 1 AFROTC scholarship. Good to know that they will repeat the process.
 
You can get a waiver if you are DQ'd. My son attends college on a Type 1 AFROTC scholarship and my daughter is at USAFA. Both were DQ'd for similar, but different reasons (knee) and both received waivers. The USAFA waiver seemed much easier to obtain

How did the USAFA waiver work for you? I was told SA initiates the waiver, and they have not done that yet. I feel like we are running out of time waiting for them to start it. Very excited that he received the Type 1 AFROTC scholarship. We just hope his USAFA DQ doesn't effect it.
 
Got it. Then, I think you can be optimistic about the AFROTC waiver. But, I assume your son also has a back-up plan in place. It may include attending a college and joining an ROTC unit as a non-scholarship member. Clearly, it would be either Navy or Army ROTC, plus this enhancement to his résumé will allow him to reapply to USAFA (and other SAs) as a freshman. About 25 - 30% of all cadets do not arrive at USAFA directly from high school. Many attend a year or two of college or a prep school prior to attending USAFA.
 
The medical DQ is issued by DODMERB. It’s a DQ. Period.

Differing SA’s/ROTC’s (ie: USAFA and AFROTC, in your sons case) MAY decide to pursue a waiver. So in your case, USAFA has chosen to not pursue a waiver, to present. Which has no effect on whether AFROTC decides to pursue a waiver, or not. Both will be using the same DODMERB exam (DQ, in your sons case). Which, btw, is good for 2 yrs, with any updates since your exam date.

USAFA may not be offering your son an appointment, independent of the DQ. IDK, no clue. But the DQ may not have anything to do with not winning the slate or being appointed. Again, no idea. It’s easy to assume it’s the DQ that’s the reason, but may not be a factor at all in his appointment decision.

As far as ‘redoing the process’, he won’t do another DODMERB exam. What he has done is good for AFROTC as well. Be prepared to begin school still under waiver review. I believe it’s all automatic with AFROTC. But a waiver would be pursued should he accept the scholarship. We read every year where students are still under review (and no payment) for a bit at the beginning of school. Some waivers ultimately don’t come through, and then the student is faced with making choices about their school: namely, how to pay, or transferring to a more affordable option. NOT SAYING THIS WILL HAPPEN, but it does. Every year. And is the reason behind the standard advice to consider your school choice wisely (scholarships can also be lost….).

Good luck!!
 
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How did the USAFA waiver work for you? I was told SA initiates the waiver, and they have not done that yet. I feel like we are running out of time waiting for them to start it. Very excited that he received the Type 1 AFROTC scholarship. We just hope his USAFA DQ doesn't effect it.
I believe a DODMERB portal specified the next steps after receiving the DQ for both USAFA and AFROTC. There is a form to complete and submit and potentially another evaluation from a physician. But, I believe the DQ is issued by DODMERB. So, if he is DQ'd for USAFA, he will be DQ'd for AFROTC. But the waiver process is different for USAFA and AFROTC, so if he received a USAFA waiver does not mean he is waived for AFROTC. Also, I believe Type 1 Scholarship recipients automatically enter the waiver process when they are DQ'd. At least that is the way it was back in 2020 when my son went through the AFROTC waiver process.
 
I know this has been discussed ad nauseum across multiple threads on this board, but as a lesson/warning to future applicants: do not report self-diagnosed conditions on DoDMERB paperwork. Shin splints seem to be a pretty common self-diagnosis on these forums, but not all lower leg pain is shin splints.
 
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