Potential Asthma DQ

U

USAFA_nominee#1

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2022
Messages
47
For the record I am a sophomore in High School looking to apply to USAFA/USNA (first pick USAFA) and NROTC and AFROTC. I am a Varsity cross country runner, and I also played football and ran track last year. Also for the record my application is looking to be quite competitive. Top 1% of my class, and very involved in clubs and involved in leadership in my community. Also involved in math competition in my school.

So my application is building up to be pretty competitive, but I don’t want to rely on that. My issue is I HAD a history of asthma. My grandfather, father, and uncle all had asthma. My grandfather served in the Air Force and Navy and my uncle served in the Air Force. I’m not sure how, but they did and both had asthma and actively took medication but I can’t ask them about it anymore because life happens.

I requested my medical records and I was prescribed asthma medication and had asthma medicine listed on my medication list after my 13th birthday. (Also for the record, I have no immunizations at that doctor that prescribed me medicine after my 13th birthday and the only thing on that doctor’s record is yearly checkups so I was wondering if I could exclude that doctor from my medical records when providing those).

I stopped refilling asthma medicine when I was 14 and stopped taking it a little before then. I do not believe I ever had asthma. I was extremely overweight as a child and still weigh less than when I was diagnosed as asthma (4+ years later). Since then I’ve lost a lot of weight and am a constantly improving varsity cross country runner and powerlifter. Should I take a PFT and MCCT? How should I approach this? I know I’m disqualified but I’m not backing down obviously. Just looking for advice on what the best game plan is because I have some time.
 
Get your medical records all buttoned up. Nothing left unaddressed/open ended.

And then? Answer questions, AS ASKED, honestly. Nothing less. Nothing more. ‘Ever had, or history of’ is a common question. And when the time comes, fill out your medical questionnaire with a parent sitting beside you. Be honest, and don’t infer about what’s being asked.
 
My daughter had a very similar situation to yours. She went through the process and was required to receive a waiver. She went to a specialist. No asthma confirmed. Waiver received. She is currently enjoying the balmy weather of Annapolis during Plebe Summer.

As an experienced poster messaged me a while back, there are many, many current and former SA attendees who have had an inhaler and entered a SA.
 
To add to the good advice, you will want to collect all of the details around this medical history in preparation for the additional medical information (AMI) process through DoDMERB. The military is 'worried' about your 'future' as an airman, soldier, guardian, etc. Your current physical condition, playing sports, and showing no signs of the ailment will be a positive part of the evaluation.
 
Sealion II said:
My daughter had a very similar situation to yours. She went through the process and was required to receive a waiver. She went to a specialist. No asthma confirmed. Waiver received. She is currently enjoying the balmy weather of Annapolis during Plebe Summer.

As an experienced poster messaged me a while back, there are many, many current and former SA attendees who have had an inhaler and entered a SA.
Click to expand...
Not sure where you are, but it’s gonna be a rough week in the DMV!
 
Sealion II said:
My daughter had a very similar situation to yours. She went through the process and was required to receive a waiver. She went to a specialist. No asthma confirmed. Waiver received. She is currently enjoying the balmy weather of Annapolis during Plebe Summer.

As an experienced poster messaged me a while back, there are many, many current and former SA attendees who have had an inhaler and entered a SA.
Click to expand...
This calms me a bit. I definitely don’t have asthma and I haven’t taken an inhaler in years, I just have it on my record after I was 13. If there’s people who have an inhaler and have asthma who are getting it I feel more confident.
 
Academician said:
To add to the good advice, you will want to collect all of the details around this medical history in preparation for the additional medical information (AMI) process through DoDMERB. The military is 'worried' about your 'future' as an airman, soldier, guardian, etc. Your current physical condition, playing sports, and showing no signs of the ailment will be a positive part of the evaluation.
Click to expand...
I have all of my medical history in a folder next to me right now. What else should I get prepared? Another big question is should I take an asthma test or just play it by ear and take tests once asked during the application process.
 
You may be asked to take some tests after the initial exams. Several of my students have worked through the process. Following the directions from DoDMERB in a timely and precise manner will be important, but also quite manageable, especially since you anticipate the issue. Best of luck!
 
Academician said:
You may be asked to take some tests after the initial exams. Several of my students have worked through the process. Following the directions from DoDMERB in a timely and precise manner will be important, but also quite manageable, especially since you anticipate the issue. Best of luck!
Click to expand...
Thank you! This does ease some of my worry. All I can do now I guess is keep building a competitive application and hope USAFA sees me as worthy of offering a waiver.
 
Kirkwood_gabriel said:
Thank you! This does ease some of my worry. All I can do now I guess is keep building a competitive application and hope USAFA sees me as worthy of offering a waiver.
Click to expand...
If you have a pulmonologist that you are currently seeing, you should start the discussion with him/her. They can help when you need to get the MCT ordered and a letter written.
 
Kirkwood_gabriel said:
This calms me a bit. I definitely don’t have asthma and I haven’t taken an inhaler in years, I just have it on my record after I was 13. If there’s people who have an inhaler and have asthma who are getting it I feel more confident.
Click to expand...
I just want to clarify a point. She had an inhaler which required a waiver. The waiver came through when a specialist confirmed she did not have asthma. I can't speak to what may happen if you are confirmed to have asthma by the specialist.
 
Sealion II said:
I just want to clarify a point. She had an inhaler which required a waiver. The waiver came through when a specialist confirmed she did not have asthma. I can't speak to what may happen if you are confirmed to have asthma by the specialist.
Click to expand...
I don’t have asthma anymore for sure. I’m just wondering if I should get tested for that now or wait until they ask me to. I seriously was just extremely overweight and out of shape and thought that me wheezing when I run was because of asthma and not because I was fat.
 
Kirkwood_gabriel said:
Thank you for your encouragement. I really hope you’re right.
Click to expand...
Good job getting ahead of this. When the time comes, get your app in early, so you can meet DoDMERB early, and there is time for waivers, evaluations, etc.

Second, this is an anonymous forum, unless you randomly made up your sign-onAssu, you should change it to something anonymous.

Good luck!
 
I just want to emphasize one thing - in your original post you asked this question - "so I was wondering if I could exclude that doctor from my medical records when providing those?"

The answer is you should not try to hide this information by not providing it for your DODMERB exam. Be thorough, clear and honest when reporting your medical history. If you do not have asthma, there will be a process to affirm that. What you should not allow to happen by not providing those records is a potential health care issue that could arise while on duty if you actually do have asthma.
 
USMAZoo98 said:
I just want to emphasize one thing - in your original post you asked this question - "so I was wondering if I could exclude that doctor from my medical records when providing those?"

The answer is you should not try to hide this information by not providing it for your DODMERB exam. Be thorough, clear and honest when reporting your medical history. If you do not have asthma, there will be a process to affirm that. What you should not allow to happen by not providing those records is a potential health care issue that could arise while on duty if you actually do have asthma.
Click to expand...
Okay thank you for telling me this. My main worry is IF they’ll even offer a waiver at all since me being prescribed medication after my 13th birthday is a disqualification. I know that they are in no way obligated to offer me a waiver. If there’s no way of avoiding that then I guess all I can do is pray I’m offered an opportunity for a waiver, which if I am I am confident I will pass any test they give me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top