Previous ADHD meds

S

SharkBite

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My DS took ADHD meds until March 2020. Upon discontinuing meds, he ended his Junior year with all A’s even off meds. (3 AP classes, 2 honors)

DS took an online dual enrollment class last summer and also received an A (off meds).

1st semester of his Senior year (off meds) he was promoted to BC at his a military boarding school. Because of COVID, they structured their leadership program into the first 6 weeks of school and also had classes 6 days per week. It was intense and his days were long, usually beginning at 0500 and ending at 2230-0000. He ended his semester with all A’ and 2 B’s. His course load is heavy!
Currently, he has all A’s and is waiting to hear from USAFA. His cum GPA is 4.27 and if he maintains his grades, he will end with a 4.46 for this semester, which will bump his cum GPA TO ABOVE a 4.3. (Probabiy

Clearly, he has shown that he does not need medication. He is ranked first in his class academically, and serves his school as Battalion Commander, NHS, NSHS, Horton Society (service) and was Capt of the swim team.

Do you think he will receive a waiver? I know this is a loaded question, but he is waiting to hear and the waiting (for me) is a torture.

DS would be so honored to ATTEND USAFA or USAFAPS, and if he doesn’t receive an appointment this year, he will reapply until he gets the appointment. He won’t give up. Ever.
 

SkarkBite​

MOM/DAD: Google "DoDMERB;" Hit "Questions on the process;" Read paragraph #4.

DS : Send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “SkarkBite SAF - Previous ADHD meds" :wiggle:
“
 
Haven't received yet...but before I shout down for now...it did come from DS....correct?:wiggle:
 
Still have not received any email with this: The subject line of the email should be “SkarkBite SAF - Previous ADHD meds"
 
I must say for the ones that want to be in a military and feel it’s a calling and has the drive for it. They deserve the appointment or medical waiver. Noway your son not getting it. My son lost his grandfather and it caused some anxiety. I sent him to councilor, in which she prescribed meds. But he didn’t need them. He didn’t take.
This is been almost over 2 years. Still because he even went to counciling for less then 10 times he has to get a waiver. The process starts. How could going to counciling ever be a bad thing. ? Idk
Praying for your son!! Sounds like he is going dongreat things. !!
 
Now have received 3 emails from Mom, none from son, but will reply to son:wiggle:
 
JustMe4Me said:
I must say for the ones that want to be in a military and feel it’s a calling and has the drive for it. They deserve the appointment or medical waiver. Noway your son not getting it. My son lost his grandfather and it caused some anxiety. I sent him to councilor, in which she prescribed meds. But he didn’t need them. He didn’t take.
This is been almost over 2 years. Still because he even went to counciling for less then 10 times he has to get a waiver. The process starts. How could going to counciling ever be a bad thing. ? Idk
Praying for your son!! Sounds like he is going dongreat things. !!
Click to expand...
While Mr. Mullen has expertly summarized DoDMERB’s critical role and mission, and supplied the definitive rationale behind the standard in another thread, I’ll add the words here I’ve used several times over the years to help people understand why things are the way they are, from a retired officer’s point of view.

First, anything an individual does for their health, such as going to counseling or taking medication, is in itself not a bad thing, but the medical reason may be incompatible with a life in the military.

Military life often occurs in harsh operating environments, far from advanced medical care, filled with stress, sleep deprivation and relentless physical/mental tolls not seen in most civilian occupations. The safety of an operating unit, its military readiness to perform its mission, is vastly improved when individual members have been carefully screened for optimal mental and physical health, in the least “breakable” state when they were first brought into the military. No accommodations are available in the battle space. The military sets the accession bar very high for utilitarian reasons: “The good of the many outweighs the good of the few.”

I am confident the waiver authorities carefully examine each case, recognizing they are dealing with quality human beings who want to serve in uniform. Their decision, though, will be for “the good of the many.” Future battle buddies, wingmen and shipmates are deserving of well-screened people beside them in tough situations.
 
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Further on this...the SA's are NOT colleges in the traditional sense-not even close. Consider the USNA's Mission Statement:

“To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”
 
As a parent who watched my daughter go through a similar waiver process (I stress similar, as every candidate is different) I can completely relate to this thread.

The important thing to understand is that as @Capt MJ so wonderfully said above, it’s purely a (very necessary) risk assessment.

It was really comforting to my daughter (and to me!) to think of it like this — nobody at DoDMERB or in the various SAs WANTS to decline a waiver for anyone, for any reason, at any time, ever.

Their goal is NOT to deny your child a waiver or find something “wrong”...or say no...their goal is to figure out if medically qualifying the candidate is safe to do, for themselves, for the service members they’re going to eventually be leading and for our country.

**I am not insinuating this is not the case for your child(ren), just sharing the conversations my daughter and I had over the 8 weeks she spent in waiver limbo. It really helped us to come to this realization, and I hope it provides anyone waiting through the waiver process comfort as well.
 
MullenLE said:
Now have received 3 emails from Mom, none from son, but will reply to son:wiggle:
Click to expand...
You crack me up! I will honestly tell you that when I stumbled across this forum via Google last Fall, I did read VERY carefully through the questions of the process on DoDMERB after seeing your replies to others so I could stay ahead of the game ☺️
 
93RN said:
You crack me up! I will honestly tell you that when I stumbled across this forum via Google last Fall, I did read VERY carefully through the questions of the process on DoDMERB after seeing your replies to others so I could stay ahead of the game ☺️
Click to expand...
It’s now clear that it was not my place to ask any questions. I will take this thread seriously, but I sure do regret asking questions and I only hope that my action does not affect my DS. 😕
 
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