PDQ from Army NG?? - Want to join ROTC

Jefflaw

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Aug 10, 2018
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Hi Everyone,

I have quite the complicated situation, which hasn't really made sense to anyone I have spoken with.

I was recently denied a waiver to permission to physical at MEPS by the Army NG after waiting for 8 months. (Dissaprove NPS Applicant request MEPS Physical for scoliosis (M4120)) - by the MATS Manager.
I was diagnosed with scoliosis at 14, with 22° scoliosis. And my doctor had written alongside with the diagnoses "Back pain secondary to scoliosis." - which resulted in the initial PDQ from MEPS. I havent had any issues since 14 and was seeing a chiropractor on the regular for adjustments. I had gotten the curvature down to 4° at the age of 20, - which isnt considered to be scoliosis.
I submitted the new x-rays, chiropractic & doctors note clearing me of no scoliosis and being asymptomatic with no restrictions, letter of reasoning for why I wanted to join (which they requested), and HS Varsity coach letter.
Yet still was denied. I asked my recruiter for more reasoning and he said they thought there was not enough evidence that cleared me of my scoliosis.

I would like to do Army ROTC at my college, but since I was denied from the NG, will that make it more difficult to join ROTC?
Would I be able to join the Army ROTC? Would I even still need a waiver since the condition isnt present and havent had issues for years?
 
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The medical process for ROTC is different then MEPS, for ROTC you would go through Dodmerb doe medical approval. In some cases Dodmerb can be tougher but they also have their own process for waivers and remedials. The best thing you can do is talk to the Battalion at the school you wish to attend, tell them your situation. You can do the first two years of ROTC before you're required to contract, this would give you time to get all the information together to make a case for a medical waiver if needed.
 
Hi Everyone,

I have quite the complicated situation, which hasn't really made sense to anyone I have spoken with.

I was recently denied a waiver to permission to physical at MEPS by the Army NG after waiting for 8 months. (Dissaprove NPS Applicant request MEPS Physical for scoliosis (M4120)) - by the MATS Manager.
I was diagnosed with scoliosis at 14, with 22° scoliosis. And my doctor had written alongside with the diagnoses "Back pain secondary to scoliosis." - which resulted in the initial PDQ from MEPS. I havent had any issues since 14 and was seeing a chiropractor on the regular for adjustments. I had gotten the curvature down to 4° at the age of 20, - which isnt considered to be scoliosis.
I submitted the new x-rays, chiropractic & doctors note clearing me of no scoliosis and being asymptomatic with no restrictions, letter of reasoning for why I wanted to join (which they requested), and HS Varsity coach letter.
Yet still was denied. I asked my recruiter for more reasoning and he said they thought there was not enough evidence that cleared me of my scoliosis.

I would like to do Army ROTC at my college, but since I was denied from the NG, will that make it more difficult to join ROTC?
Would I be able to join the Army ROTC? Would I even still need a waiver since the condition isnt present and havent had issues for years?

When you get your DODMERB exam for ROTC, there's going to be a question that goes like, "Were you ever rejected or discharged from the military because of illness, injury, etc..." You're going to have to say "Yes" to that question which will cause a DODMERB to ask for additional information.

One thing you can do to help yourself is get another scoliosis survey at least 1 year from the time you got the last scoliosis survey. The military will want to ensure stability which can be documented with 2 scoliosis surveys at least 1 year apart. Make sure it's the Cobb angle that's provided. Also, a radiologist should read the scoliosis survey and NOT the chiropractor. There are chiropractors who are trained in reading films, but their reading doesn't count for purposes of the military. A note from the doctor saying you've been asymptomatic since xxxx date would help. If you truly are asymptomatic, you probably should stop seeing the chiropractor too. It wouldn't make sense to say you're asymptomatic but at that same time you need to see a chiropractor for adjustments.

DODMERB standard is "current deviation or curvature of spine..." and not history of. So if you don't currently have scoliosis, then you should be good. What you have is a history of scoliosis.
 
Hi Everyone,

I have quite the complicated situation, which hasn't really made sense to anyone I have spoken with.

I was recently denied a waiver to permission to physical at MEPS by the Army NG after waiting for 8 months. (Dissaprove NPS Applicant request MEPS Physical for scoliosis (M4120)) - by the MATS Manager.
I was diagnosed with scoliosis at 14, with 22° scoliosis. And my doctor had written alongside with the diagnoses "Back pain secondary to scoliosis." - which resulted in the initial PDQ from MEPS. I havent had any issues since 14 and was seeing a chiropractor on the regular for adjustments. I had gotten the curvature down to 4° at the age of 20, - which isnt considered to be scoliosis.
I submitted the new x-rays, chiropractic & doctors note clearing me of no scoliosis and being asymptomatic with no restrictions, letter of reasoning for why I wanted to join (which they requested), and HS Varsity coach letter.
Yet still was denied. I asked my recruiter for more reasoning and he said they thought there was not enough evidence that cleared me of my scoliosis.

I would like to do Army ROTC at my college, but since I was denied from the NG, will that make it more difficult to join ROTC?
Would I be able to join the Army ROTC? Would I even still need a waiver since the condition isnt present and havent had issues for years?

When you get your DODMERB exam for ROTC, there's going to be a question that goes like, "Were you ever rejected or discharged from the military because of illness, injury, etc..." You're going to have to say "Yes" to that question which will cause a DODMERB to ask for additional information.

One thing you can do to help yourself is get another scoliosis survey at least 1 year from the time you got the last scoliosis survey. The military will want to ensure stability which can be documented with 2 scoliosis surveys at least 1 year apart. Make sure it's the Cobb angle that's provided. Also, a radiologist should read the scoliosis survey and NOT the chiropractor. There are chiropractors who are trained in reading films, but their reading doesn't count for purposes of the military. A note from the doctor saying you've been asymptomatic since xxxx date would help. If you truly are asymptomatic, you probably should stop seeing the chiropractor too. It wouldn't make sense to say you're asymptomatic but at that same time you need to see a chiropractor for adjustments.

DODMERB standard is "current deviation or curvature of spine..." and not history of. So if you don't currently have scoliosis, then you should be good. What you have is a history of scoliosis.



Thank you so much for such a thorough response! I have been so perplexed with my situation, but this gives me some hope.

The radiologist report are the measurements that I provided. Is there anyone else that I can go to, like orthopedics to further confirm the absence of scoliosis?
It has almost been 6 months since my last x-ray, if I got another now, would that be sufficient or is 1 year absolutely necessary according to DODMERB standards?
 
The medical process for ROTC is different then MEPS, for ROTC you would go through Dodmerb doe medical approval. In some cases Dodmerb can be tougher but they also have their own process for waivers and remedials. The best thing you can do is talk to the Battalion at the school you wish to attend, tell them your situation. You can do the first two years of ROTC before you're required to contract, this would give you time to get all the information together to make a case for a medical waiver if needed.

Thanks for the reply! Now, if I wanted to apply for the ROTC scholarship as well - since I am a sophomore at this point, I would not be able to since I wouldn't be able to contract until approved, correct?
 
Now, if I wanted to apply for the ROTC scholarship as well - since I am a sophomore at this point, I would not be able to since I wouldn't be able to contract until approved, correct?

Are you a sophomore in college or high school?
 
I would not be able to since I wouldn't be able to contract until approved, correct?
To contract with Army ROTC (and get funds released for tuition) you must:
  1. Pass DoDMERB
  2. Pass the APFT
  3. Have acceptable grades in college thus far.
 
You may want to get examined by a former military doctor and have them meaure your level of curvature. It seems like the military relies more on their own people, even if they have retired from the military
 
Turns out I was never PDQ'd, my recruiter never sent up my new paperwork, they were just requesting additional information. Found this out after restarting with another recruiter.

However, I am currently going through an administrative remedial for DODMERB. They requested a personal statement on how my scoliosis has improved. I am not DQ'd yet, but im hopeful that all my efforts in ROTC this semester do not go to waste, and am really looking forward to Basic this summer.

Thank you all for always being optimistic and helpful.
 
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