Psoriasis and possible waivers

[Codi]

Hi,
New here so I'll try to be brief after much research. My daughter and I are planning an initial visit to the Naval Academy next week. She wants to pursue a degree in engineering and this was high on my list for her. She has a very mild case of psoriasis on the back of her neck. From my research it seems almost impossible to get a waiver for any manner of psoriasis. Other than cases where misdiagnosis was discovered, I was wondering if ANYONE has been granted a waiver for this disease?
Thank you in advance for any insights.

 

[Texan in MS]

DS received a waiver for USMA but was rejected by USNA. Same as your daughter, very mild on the back of upper neck. Not under any treatment or medication and only given a special shampoo five years ago for it.

 

[kinnem]

She wants to pursue a degree in engineering and this was high on my list for her.

She may or may not get a waiver, the only way to know for sure is to apply and try. However, it seems to me attending USNA should be her plan, not yours. Perhaps it is and I simply mis-read your post. Does she have the desire to attend a military academy? Without that to motivate her through the tough times, I would not expect her to succeed

 

[Codi]

Thank you both for the prompt responses. Kinnem you bring up a great point and you did read my query correctly. I will pause and discuss it further with her. Even though is very disciplined with her education and outside interests she has been lukewarm to the notion. I don’t want to set her up for failure when she has accomplished so much at the age of 16. Agree wholeheartedly that she be passionate about the opportunity. Thanks again for the reply and insight.

 

[AROTC-dad]

Thank you both for the prompt responses. Kinnem you bring up a great point and you did read my query correctly. I will pause and discuss it further with her. Even though is very disciplined with her education and outside interests she has been lukewarm to the notion. I don’t want to set her up for failure when she has accomplished so much at the age of 16. Agree wholeheartedly that she be passionate about the opportunity. Thanks again for the reply and insight.

Kinnem is absolutely spot on.

After my DS received his Army scholarship, my wife and I took the reverse approach and tried to argue all the reasons to NOT move forward with a military career. He countered all of our points and convinced me that he was completely committed.

Every step of this process was conducted by our son and NOT by us. HE made all the phone calls, wrote emails and filled out forms. The only thing we did as his parents is provide advice when asked, and help out with the DoDMERB questionnaire on issues from when he was a baby.

The last thing you should want is for your child to be in the military "just to please" his parent(s).

 

[kinnem]

Thank you both for the prompt responses. Kinnem you bring up a great point and you did read my query correctly. I will pause and discuss it further with her. Even though is very disciplined with her education and outside interests she has been lukewarm to the notion. I don’t want to set her up for failure when she has accomplished so much at the age of 16. Agree wholeheartedly that she be passionate about the opportunity. Thanks again for the reply and insight.

Keep in mind, if she does have some interest in the military, that one of the Academies is not always the right route to take for someone.

My DS wanted to be a Marine since middle school. I never thought much of it at the time, thinking it was like a kid wanting to be a fireman and would pass. Come junior year in high school he was intent on enlisting in the Marines. To keep a long story short my wife insisted he go to college first and become an officer if he was going to join. I tried to interest him in the Naval Academy (a full ride, right?) and Mom took him up for a tour. He started his application but he decided the 24x7 military environment was not for him during his college years. He wasn't even interested in an SMC for the same reason. He wanted a "normal" college experience. He applied NROTC, did not get a scholarship and enrolled in NROTC anyway. He won a scholarship the middle of his sophomore year and is serving in Okinawa, and traveling the east at every opportunity, today.

My point is that even if an Academy is not a route she wants to pursue but IS interested in the military there are other options, some of which involve a scholarship that covers tuition.

Her being lukewarm may have more to do with the Academy than with the military. Something for you folks to figure out.

 

[usna1985]

You may want to have your DD contact USNA Admissions and ask about the likelihood of a waiver for psoriasis. They may not say "impossible," as all things are theoretically possible, but may be able to give some indication as to chances. If very low -- AND your DD really wants USNA -- you may want to move forward with the recognition that it's a long shot at best.