Potential Med DQ - Still Allowed to Participate?

jcs347

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I was wondering if anybody knew of anyone who had been medically DQ-ed but still allowed to participate in the ROTC program at their school despite being medically DQ-ed. I don't know for certain if I will be disqualified, but have had medically issues in my early childhood. I was wondering if anyone had the experience in which they were medically disqualified for a commission but were still allowed to participate in the program. I am only curious because I believe the things I am learning about leadership and followership as a cadet would be useful to me regardless of whether or not I am able to commission. If anyone could provide any insight I'd be greatly appreciative.

Thanks.
 
I was wondering if anybody knew of anyone who had been medically DQ-ed but still allowed to participate in the ROTC program at their school despite being medically DQ-ed. I don't know for certain if I will be disqualified, but have had medically issues in my early childhood. I was wondering if anyone had the experience in which they were medically disqualified for a commission but were still allowed to participate in the program. I am only curious because I believe the things I am learning about leadership and followership as a cadet would be useful to me regardless of whether or not I am able to commission. If anyone could provide any insight I'd be greatly appreciative.

Thanks.

I suppose it might depend on why you were medically DQed. If it's something that time can fix (and there are some things like that) then perhaps you would be. However, if these were issues in your childhood then they probably aren't things that are fixed merely by having time elapse. I don't think college programmers need to be medically qualified until rising junior year.

All that being said, if what you're after is leadership training, most campuses have other programs that will give you that. You may also participate in the Military Science courses (the academic stuff) at most colleges without being in the program. However, that is really a small subset of what you would be exposed to as a program participant (IMO).
 
It really depends on the ROTC program. At my school we encourage anyone to participate in the first two years of ROTC. MS III and MS IV year require that you be contracted, so we don't usually let a student audit those classes. I say usually, because we have allowed students in the past to audit. One, who was DODMERB DQ, went on to enlist and complete OCS and is now an infantry officer. He audited the last year of ROTC after he was DQ'd and we helped prepare him for his future success. Talk to your Cadre and see how they feel, it will be up to them.
 
Have you thought about an SMC. I.E. VT has the Corps of Cadets. You can be in the Corps without joining ROTC. This way you can have that world if you are medically DQ'd.
 
At DS's school, by university regulation, anyone can take all 4 years of AROTC, contracted or not. You technicslly only have to contract if seeking a commisson. Very few people have gone past MSI or II, though, without contracting.
 
At DS's school, by university regulation, anyone can take all 4 years of AROTC, contracted or not. You technicslly only have to contract if seeking a commisson. Very few people have gone past MSI or II, though, without contracting.

Does that only apply to the academic courses or does it apply to lab as well? Just curious.
 
That's a good question, Kinnem. I believe it's the academic courses only. I'll ask DS.
 
I think another instance where this can happen is one is on a 3yr scholarship and is DQed awaiting a waiver decision. The waiver is not, I believe, needed until one contracts at the beginning of soph yr. I suppose it is not common, but if a waiver is taking a long time, one can participate as a frosh. Since you mentioned distant medical issues, I'm guessing you may actually be concerned about the waiver timeline, not the DQ itself.
 
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