Potential Asthma DQ

Kirkwood_gabriel said:
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.
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There are so many variables and different stories that what I will tell you is be totally open and honest and put together the best application you can. My DS had an inhaler prescribed around the same age and this was never even raised by the DoDMERB medical process even though it was clearly listed. He has not used it and has had no issues and is now in the USAFA Class of 2027. He was also a varsity XC runner and a varsity Lacrosse player so clearly not affected by any breathing issues. What I truly believe from the process for him and his younger brother who is now also USAFA Class of 2027 is that if they want you in the class they will find a way. Good luck and best wishes for the rest of your career, I'm sure it will be a great one whichever path you follow.
 
Kirkwood_gabriel said:
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.
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My point in my previous post, was pointing out to get your records buttoned up. No need to answer, but do your records indicate you have it? Don’t have it? Did have it and it’s cleared up?

You, yourself, cannot say ‘I didn’t have it. I was fat. Etc’ and have that be your current medical situation. Your doctors and records are what will be used.

You also cannot simply ‘not report it, bc I don’t have it’. It’s a medical records trails that exists. In your insurance, pharmacist, and medical records.

As @USMAZoo98 stated, there is a process for all of this. And a process to ensure you don’t have asthma, if you don’t.

I personally would proceed with your application, getting it in as soon as it’s fully ready. That will allow for time to work through this. And making sure all your loose ends are tied up. Sounds like they are. And go from there. Like hundreds of other applicants in your same situation have before.

Don’t worry, move forward fully, openly and honestly. And do what you are asked to process your application. It’s not hard.

You say you are a very competitive candidate. Don’t rest on your laurels assuming you will receive an appointment. Every year amazing candidates don’t get it. Make SURE and tend to alternate plans as well.
 
DS had a very similar experience with asthma. We decided to be proactive and found a pulmonologist who was able to perform the MCCT.

He passed with no issues and the pulmonologist wrote a letter stating that he no longer had asthma.

USNA and AROTC gave him a waiver.
USAFA, USMA, and AFROTC did not.

He just commissioned as an Army Infantry officer.

Don't give up hope!
 
justdoit19 said:
My point in my previous post, was pointing out to get your records buttoned up. No need to answer, but do your records indicate you have it? Don’t have it? Did have it and it’s cleared up?

You, yourself, cannot say ‘I didn’t have it. I was fat. Etc’ and have that be your current medical situation. Your doctors and records are what will be used.

You also cannot simply ‘not report it, bc I don’t have it’. It’s a medical records trails that exists. In your insurance, pharmacist, and medical records.

As @USMAZoo98 stated, there is a process for all of this. And a process to ensure you don’t have asthma, if you don’t.

I personally would proceed with your application, getting it in as soon as it’s fully ready. That will allow for time to work through this. And making sure all your loose ends are tied up. Sounds like they are. And go from there. Like hundreds of other applicants in your same situation have before.

Don’t worry, move forward fully, openly and honestly. And do what you are asked to process your application. It’s not hard.

You say you are a very competitive candidate. Don’t rest on your laurels assuming you will receive an appointment. Every year amazing candidates don’t get it. Make SURE and tend to alternate plans as well.
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My records indicate I was prescribed medicine after my 13th birthday. That disqualifies me. My worry is if they’ll even offer for me to go through the process to prove I don’t have asthma because they’re are not obligated to, in any way, offer me a waiver nor can an applicant even request a waiver.
 
Respectfully, you are way overthinking this. Additionally, no one here can give you a definitive answer as to whether a waiver will be requested or not. The ONLY thing you can do, is apply.

Keep in mind, that offers for appointments aren’t in full swing until spring. Which is after most DODMERBS have begun. The process is DODMERB finds you medically qualified, or not, against set standards. They don’t decide whether or not to review you, based upon if a waiver will be pursued or not.

Others have popped in that they have had waivers granted. Each case is unique and specific. But the only way for you to know, is to move forward.
 
Kirkwood_gabriel said:
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.
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My DS27 did his DODMERB paperwork and exams in December 2022 after we had pulled all of his medical paperwork. We were as concerned as you currently are, since he actually had an “Asthma Exacerbation” diagnosis on a single doctor’s visit in 2021. He had a cold. In that visit, his mom actually requested an Albuterol Inhaler “just in case”. Oddly, it turns out, he never needed it, and never used it. Nevertheless, it was on his record. So we were obviously worried this would be the end of his USAFA journey. He reported all of this honestly in the DODMERB process. He received his conditional appointment at the end of January and four days later received his disqualification from DODMERB. My wife, his mom, was emotionally devastated that she had caused his dream to be crushed. It was a weird situation in that he was the fasted runner on his Varsity Soccer team, and could run six miles with no problem.

Anyway, the DODMERB waiver process ensued (note that the SA requests the waiver, the candidate doesn’t request the waiver) and they primarily requested ALL clinical notes with regard to Asthma for all time, as well as ten years of prescription records. Meanwhile, not requested by DODMERB, we had a pulmonologist examine him and perform a full suite of lung function tests on him. Then we turned in those unrequested pulmonologist clinical notes along with all of the other data DODMERB requested. This was clearly the key in the process, since DODMERB subsequently requested the raw data from the pulmonologist tests. Once we submitted that further data, he received his waiver within a few days (Early March). The waiver process was extremely responsive.

He is currently at BCT.

Please don’t assume you will be disqualified. Go through the application process if it is your dream. As suggested above, please make sure you also have your backup plans and backup universities all lined up.
 
I had an inhaler and actively used it even while at the Academy. We could never quite figure out what my breathing issues actually were, but the inhaler seemed to help. That said, it was always a gray area in my medical record because no doctor concluded I actually had asthma, just that it seemed like the inhaler helped when I was trying to play tennis in dusty/less than ideal breathing conditions.

I applied and was disqualified medically, then USAFA requested a waiver and many additional tests/specialist visits. I passed all of them including a methacholine challenge and was granted the waiver. Still ended up getting an inhaler while on active duty though to use as needed, even though it seems asthma is not my problem. I am also an athlete- IC tennis player at the academy and very active.

Point is - don't hide anything. If you are competitive and clear about your status, USAFA will request more info and get all the relevant details.
 
Kirkwood_gabriel said:
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.
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My understanding from other knowledgeable individuals on this forum is if you receive a DQ, and you are a candidate in consideration of an appointment/a competitive application, a waiver review will be requested on your behalf. So, as indicated, be fully transparent. If a waiver isn't requested for some reason, it's not about the medical DQ, it's about the other areas of the application not being competitive for an appointment. It was explained to us....request for waiver is a separate decision based on the competitiveness of the applicant, regardless of medical and the reason for the DQ.

Hopefully this is reassuring to you. It sounds like you are super focused on submitting a strong application - that's the first step. Good luck!
 
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You need to change your Screen Name. Nothing good comes from using your real name, unless that is just a random made up screen name, which seems unlikely.

Other than that, put forward the best package you can, do it early, get your medical records together, do the DoDMERB and see what happens. The medical part is out of your control, so become a "must have" candidate so USAFA initiates a waiver, if needed. The waiver requests are from the service academy, NOT the individual. A DQ does not stop the process, unless and until the academy decides NOT to ask for a waiver.
 
T-37IP said:
You need to change your Screen Name. Nothing good comes from using your real name, unless that is just a random made up screen name, which seems unlikely.

Other than that, put forward the best package you can, do it early, get your medical records together, do the DoDMERB and see what happens. The medical part is out of your control, so become a "must have" candidate so USAFA initiates a waiver, if needed. The waiver requests are from the service academy, NOT the individual. A DQ does not stop the process, unless and until the academy decides NOT to ask for a waiver.
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Dude I’ve tried. Minutes after I posted this thread I requested to change it and moderators haven’t approved it yet. Kinda freaked out.
 
You haven’t asked me.

Go to your Profile. Click on Account Details. Next to your screen name is a little button that says “Change”. Use it.

Stealth_81
 
Stealth_81 said:
You haven’t asked me.

Go to your Profile. Click on Account Details. Next to your screen name is a little button that says “Change”. Use it.

Stealth_81
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It still says “You recently requested to change your username too XXXXXXXXX and this is currently awaiting approval by a moderator.” Should I try again?

Edited by moderator to remove screen name.
 
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No. It must have been routed to another mod. I’ll look into it. I’ve also edited your last post to remove your requested new screen name because not being identified was the whole idea here.

Stealth_81
 
Stealth_81 said:
No. It must have been routed to another mod. I’ll look into it. I’ve also edited your last post to remove your requested new screen name because not being identified was the whole idea here.

Stealth_81
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Thank you for that. I guess I’m not so great at ensuring online security. I appreciate you helping me though, thank you.
 
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