Hello,
I have a mild peanut allergy and DODMERB gave me a medical DQ because of it. When I was being considered for a waiver to USNA, they requested additional information consisting of a remedial exam. This remedial exam requested me to consult an allergist and obtain a skin test as well as an ingestion challenge to peanuts. I went and tested positive in the skin test which prompted the allergist to elect to not proceed with the ingestion challenge because the sole purpose of the ingestion challenge is to prove that someone is not allergic- not to determine how allergic they were. I am allergic, and despite me not having a severe allergy to peanuts (a mild rash being my worst reaction), I would eventually have a reaction if I proceeded with the oral challenge. The allergist told me that it would be pointless to do this since my blood and my skin test already confirmed that I had the allergy.
I never got a medical waiver to USNA, however I received a 3-year scholarship for NROTC. Now, I am worried that the same thing is going to happen. I have heard stories of people getting half way through NROTC and finding out that they won't get a medical waiver and being forced to repay the value of their scholarship. This is what I am trying to avoid, as I am going to need to get a job to help pay for my school, etc. if I won't be on scholarship and won't be able to eventually commission as an Officer. I am supposed to fly out for NSO in about a week and want to find out if there is a possibility of me being granted a waiver before I go, because it would be pointless for me to go if I am just going to be disqualified in the end. I don't want to gamble and see if I get a waiver 2 years later ethier, because I am going to need to start preparing for paying for my college, etc. if not. I have reached out to countless people in NROTC and in DODMERB and it usually results with me being told to talk to someone else. Often, someone from NROTC will tell me to contact DODMERB, so I do, just for them to tell me to talk to someone in NROTC. I am not sure what to do anymore, as I have a lot riding on this and am not sure to take the gamble and go to NSO, or to cut my losses and start to focus on my future outside of the military. I am not posting this for anyone's sympathy, just want to hear opinions regarding the matter or to see if anyone has any useful information.
I have a mild peanut allergy and DODMERB gave me a medical DQ because of it. When I was being considered for a waiver to USNA, they requested additional information consisting of a remedial exam. This remedial exam requested me to consult an allergist and obtain a skin test as well as an ingestion challenge to peanuts. I went and tested positive in the skin test which prompted the allergist to elect to not proceed with the ingestion challenge because the sole purpose of the ingestion challenge is to prove that someone is not allergic- not to determine how allergic they were. I am allergic, and despite me not having a severe allergy to peanuts (a mild rash being my worst reaction), I would eventually have a reaction if I proceeded with the oral challenge. The allergist told me that it would be pointless to do this since my blood and my skin test already confirmed that I had the allergy.
I never got a medical waiver to USNA, however I received a 3-year scholarship for NROTC. Now, I am worried that the same thing is going to happen. I have heard stories of people getting half way through NROTC and finding out that they won't get a medical waiver and being forced to repay the value of their scholarship. This is what I am trying to avoid, as I am going to need to get a job to help pay for my school, etc. if I won't be on scholarship and won't be able to eventually commission as an Officer. I am supposed to fly out for NSO in about a week and want to find out if there is a possibility of me being granted a waiver before I go, because it would be pointless for me to go if I am just going to be disqualified in the end. I don't want to gamble and see if I get a waiver 2 years later ethier, because I am going to need to start preparing for paying for my college, etc. if not. I have reached out to countless people in NROTC and in DODMERB and it usually results with me being told to talk to someone else. Often, someone from NROTC will tell me to contact DODMERB, so I do, just for them to tell me to talk to someone in NROTC. I am not sure what to do anymore, as I have a lot riding on this and am not sure to take the gamble and go to NSO, or to cut my losses and start to focus on my future outside of the military. I am not posting this for anyone's sympathy, just want to hear opinions regarding the matter or to see if anyone has any useful information.