Parents with medical backgrounds and DoDMERB

Thread was never directed at Mullen

So another rapid reader. This thread was for parents. It was never directed at Mullen. If you would have read more, candidate is working with Mullen. It is the holidays and further concerns will be addressed next week by our candidate.

With further reading you would understand that this is just a bump in the road for us. We just made a suggestion to other parents so that perhaps this would not happen to them.

Your response is further proof of the rapid reading and perhaps careless decisions made by some. Please read before posting a knee jerk reaction.
Are you a parent? My apologies I see that you are a Mom.
Wanted to add that we are not parents who will be jumping through our candidates hoops. They will not be our issues. It is time to let go, don't you think?
 
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I don't think that lovethenavy is saying that you should "jump through your candidate's hoops" for them but to take all the resources of help that you can get, as a Midshipman now I can say that whenever people are offering free help you should definately take it, whether it be about your candidacy for an appointment or plebe chemistry. :shake:
 
Apology for infraction

First relevant, thanks for the suggestion, and yes our candidate is working with Larry Mullen. This was a thread to offer a suggestion to other parents, not to ask for help. Help was offered, but we are letting our candidate handle this situation. Good luck to you and thank you.

We apologize for the infraction. We did not intend to insult Larry Mullen. We will exit the forum and wish candidates and parents the best.
 
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Here are my $.02 FWIW -

Full disclosure - parent of a child who navigated the DODMERB process TWICE. Was DQ'd TWICE. The second time we had access to Mr Mullen who did a fantastic job of helping her out quickly and efficiently. I (think) by now I have a very clear understanding of how DoDMERB works, in black and white and the remedial/waiver process.

kp2001 said:
I don't think people should look at a medical DQ as a problem at all until the waiver has been denied.
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I am not sure this is true. From what my daughter and I were told by the Academy which sought a waiver is that the Academies prefer to appoint candidates who qualify. Only a limited number of appointees each year can be appointed who need a medical waiver. Needing a medical waiver at best leads to a delay in receiving an appointment or scholarship. Given two equal candidates - the academies will favor the one who qualifies through DoDMERB. I have heard anecdotally that some nominations board have inquired about medical qualification and refused to nominate a DQ'd candidate.

DocDadGoat - Candidates can and will be DQ's based on "possible" diagnosis. My daughter was.

Mr Mullen is a fantastic resource. People who stumble on this forum and find him are indeed lucky - they have an advantage over candidates who don't have ready access to his name/email.
In 2007 while attempting to get a waiver, my daughter didn't have Mr Mullen's expertise. Navigating that bureaucratic maze to secure a ROTC waiver was simply awful. AT the time, from reading other people's experience - this was not out of the norm. I don't know how people who do not have ready access to Mr Mullen fair.

To the parents who posted - AeroMed and DocDadGoat - I feel your pain. When my healthy daughter was DQ'd I suffered through your entire range of emotions. Wondered if I should have taken my daughter to the dr when she had a cough and cold. Wondered how any kid could be declared 'healthy'. Wondered why her pediatrician had over-diagnosed.

Advice I will pass onto parents - go ahead and get the medical records when you complete the medical history. do not rely on memory.
Follow all the instructions given by DoDEMRB in a timely manner.
Advise your child NOT to discuss his/her medical DQ with a PMS, ROO, MALO, BGO, Nomination board etc. The DQ should only be discussed with DoDMERB, Admission officers based at the Academies and Cadet Command.

**edit**
I apologize in advance if I have offended anyone, namely Larry Mullen or kp2001.
 
Amazing information!

Thanks for the honesty justamom. This is what parents need to hear and it is so greatly appreciated. Being DQ'd on a possible diagnosis just seems so unfair, but it is being done. It will make me stop and pause when I write up what I am trying to "rule out." Once a remedial or DQ comes up, it appears to be quite the ride to get through the maze.

Glad to know someone kept pushing the system and glad that Mr, Officer, etc (not sure what title must be used) Mullen is there to help.
I hope that DoDMERB will consider only issueing remedials and DQ's associated with a FORMAL diagnosis. Anything less is inappropriate.

Thank you so much for your honesty. It helps us prepare our kids.
 
Infraction joke

The issued infraction was a bad joke, right to scare parents away perhaps?
 
Aside from the privacy issues and the "I had a friend who had this and I had it, but got a different outcome," I am available anytime, anywhere to answer questions. That is why I use email for most all cases. Each case is different and I can more accurately respond to an applicant after I review the notes, the results, etc. in the file. Many conditions that DON'T meet standards, are "history of," not their current status. DoD does this as a screening tool. A DQ does NOT meant the application process is over. There are lots of variable on a case by case basis. Applicants are always able to submit additional information. All information goes to DoDMERB. The Academies and ROTC programs don't the info, unless DoDMERB posts it on our secure waiver website. Sending to them actuall delays the process. They will NOT review it until they send to us for posting.:thumb:
 
Thank you for the information.

Thank you for the information Director Mullen. It is greatly appreciated.
 
infraction described

**EDITED**
 
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MullenLE said:
Aside from the privacy issues and the "I had a friend who had this and I had it, but got a different outcome," I am available anytime, anywhere to answer questions. That is why I use email for most all cases. Each case is different and I can more accurately respond to an applicant after I review the notes, the results, etc. in the file. Many conditions that DON'T meet standards, are "history of," not their current status. DoD does this as a screening tool. A DQ does NOT meant the application process is over. There are lots of variable on a case by case basis. Applicants are always able to submit additional information. All information goes to DoDMERB. The Academies and ROTC programs don't the info, unless DoDMERB posts it on our secure waiver website. Sending to them actuall delays the process. They will NOT review it until they send to us for posting.:thumb:
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Thanks for the information MR Mullen:thumb:
 
Banned?

What? That will run parents away for sure.
Let people speak. This thread appears to be started as an honest suggestion, and then the parent is attacked over and over. Stop. Let people speak their minds. What are you hiding here?
I have tried to read and understand this thread and the similar one about DQ.. I see different levels of frustration, and I see offers of help when help was clearly not requested.
I also see a parent trying to let their DS or DD take care of the problem.
I don't see rude, except in some of the responses to the honest parent.
Let parents express their frustration and then do not attack them for it. If you offer help and someone does not want it, then stop offering. When you tell a parent, "WELL IF YOU CAN'T Handle this, how will you handle the real Navy?" That is the rudest remark I have seen reading the two threads dealing with this parent's frustration.
I see the most frustration in parents who really want to help their DS or DD make it through to reach their first choice. I rarely see parents or students who have locked into one thing. Look at the students here. Most have multiple colleges listed. They have plans that do require dodmets (SA or ROTC scholar) and they have plans that do not require working with dodmets. They may be sitting on thousands of dollars in scholarships that have nothing to do with a SA and/or ROTC. At this point I am sure the parent would choose anything but the military route, but it is about their DS or DD.
Then everything is lined up, going well, until no answer from Dodmets. It can be over a remedial or a waiver. Will the remedial turn into a DQ? Both take time. So what to do? Say goodbye to non military scholarships, risking it all for ROTC or SA? Take scholarships, make hefty deposits, and continue to hope for dodmets to make up their mind? Can a DQ be done in time for appointment or military scholarships?
Schools have different time frames. Many offers come in over Christmas, and many of those offers require a quick turn around answer. And that is when parents can't get one. I know.
I know this frustration. I am not dealing with it now, but I have been there. There are other forums where more nightmare stories of dealing with dodmets are described.
Let people speak their minds and leave them alone. Parents try to not show too much frustration to their DS or DD. They come here to vent. Let them. You are making the drama by attacking them.
If you want to make this a forum of truth, then let people speak the truth.
 
WRong thing to say

lovethenavy said:
I do not understand why you are attacking a resource who has offered to help you out. Believe me, if you are having trouble handling this, it is nothing compared to what you are going to go through as this process continues and if your child receives an appointment to the academy. There is lots more red tape, sleepless nights, hoops to jump through, and rollercoaster rides ahead. Larry Mullen is one of the best resources you have. I urge you to take him up on his offer and email him. You will be one day closer to your child's dream.
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Why would you say such a thing? You must have some unresolved anger lurking. Parents do not need to hear this.
 
Expressing one's frustrations about the DODMERB process is fine, although I'm not sure it does any good. However, there is a difference between venting about the process (which is permitted provided it is done in a civil manner) and taking out one's frustrations on individual posters, especially if they are called out by name. Insulting/attacking other posters is not permitted in accordance with forum rules.

Now, let's return to a polite discussion of the topic at hand or we will, unfortunately, be forced to lock this thread.

Your friendly mod.
 
usna1985 said:
..there is a difference between venting about the process (which is permitted provided it is done in a civil manner) and taking out one's frustrations on individual posters, especially if they are called out by name. Insulting/attacking other posters is not permitted in accordance with forum rules.
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There appears to be different standards applied to different posters.
 
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If you aren't posting about DODMERB, please take the posts elsewhere.
 
Thanks USNA85, have been on vacation and I agree 100% with your response. Let's keep it clean folks or this thread will be locked.
 
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