ROTC and Medical Disqualification

T

tsl42

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2017
Messages
14
Not sure how many DoDMERB guru's are on this feed but anyone have an idea on what to do if you were medically DQ'd for an SA but plan to do ROTC?

In other words, I was denied from USAFA and plan on doing ROTC. I was medically DQ'd on the account of having asthma until I was 14. I received a letter from my doctor that is in the DoDMERB database but has obviously not cleared me since a waiver was never requested. How do I go about getting a waiver for ROTC if I am currently not on scholarship? Do I wait until college starts or can I be proactive and do something now?
 
If you haven't read this, start here:

https://www.afrotc.com/program-requirements/medical

USAFA and AFROTC are both officer production pipelines both tasked with preparing cadets for AD Air Force. As you know from your recent experience, DODMERB Qs or DQs per the DOD standard. The individual service waives or doesn't waive per their own internal standards. Some things are generally not waiverable. Some things may be, depending on the case or severity or ability to go into a career specialty not impacted by that particular condition. USAFA and AFROTC may differ from each other on waiver decisions.

Many people have mentioned using DODMERB Consultants, a private firm for whose services you pay. They have long experience in assessing medical history, advising how best to present a case to gain a waiver, and knowing various Service standards.

I mention this not to recommend one way or another, but as an avenue to consider.

http://m.dodmerbconsultants.com/?url=http://www.dodmerbconsultants.com/&utm_referrer=#2792

Ihttp://m.dodmerbconsultants.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dodmerbconsultants.com%2Fabout-us%2Fmeet-the-director&utm_referrer=#2948
 
For ROTC medical qualifications are not requested until you are awarded a scholarship. Your DoDMERB examination is good for 2 years, so if you are awarded a scholarship after 2 years you will begin the exam process again, and since you history has not changed you will probably be DQ again. Hopefully, you will win a scholarship before that and you will be medically DQ (because of the current evaluation) and you will be automatically considered for a waiver. Basically, your DQ will stand and you will need a medical waiver. Your new unit will lead the process, so you will need to work with your chain of command. You will want to be proactive. Let your year group advisor (NROTC term, not sure what it is for AFROTC) know your medical history and your DQ. See if they have any advice on what you could do to increase your chance of gaining a waiver. Regardless, Exceptional performance, academically and within AFROTC cannot hurt your chances. It might not help, but it definitely will not hurt.

The only thing you can do now is assemble all your medical records.
 
Asthma is waivable. Severity will be a factor. There have been reports of waivers for asthma being both granted and denied. Best of luck.
 
5Day said:
For ROTC medical qualifications are not requested until you are awarded a scholarship. Your DoDMERB examination is good for 2 years, so if you are awarded a scholarship after 2 years you will begin the exam process again, and since you history has not changed you will probably be DQ again. Hopefully, you will win a scholarship before that and you will be medically DQ (because of the current evaluation) and you will be automatically considered for a waiver. Basically, your DQ will stand and you will need a medical waiver. Your new unit will lead the process, so you will need to work with your chain of command. You will want to be proactive. Let your year group advisor (NROTC term, not sure what it is for AFROTC) know your medical history and your DQ. See if they have any advice on what you could do to increase your chance of gaining a waiver. Regardless, Exceptional performance, academically and within AFROTC cannot hurt your chances. It might not help, but it definitely will not hurt.

The only thing you can do now is assemble all your medical records.
Click to expand...

So I can still be in NROTC but not get commissioned if I never get medically cleared?
 
tsl42 said:
So I can still be in NROTC but not get commissioned if I never get medically cleared?
Click to expand...
You can be in as a college programmer but you won't get any scholarship benefits unless you are qualified.
 
You can stay in the NROTC program for 2 years (freshman and Sophomore year) without a contract, which would be either a scholarship (tuition and stipend) or advanced standing (stipend only). I believe this is the same for all ROTC programs (please correct me if I am wrong).
 
5Day said:
You can stay in the NROTC program for 2 years (freshman and Sophomore year) without a contract, which would be either a scholarship (tuition and stipend) or advanced standing (stipend only). I believe this is the same for all ROTC programs (please correct me if I am wrong).
Click to expand...
You are, indeed, correct. If not cleared within 2 years you will be dropped from the program and will not commission.
For OP there could still be a chance though. All depends on that waiver which probably, in turn, depends on the severity of the asthma. In any case, if not cleared, there is still a lot of leadership (and other) skills one would have an opportunity to learn in those 2 years. I guarantee it would be life changing.
 
you do not have to wait for a scholarship offer to start a DODMERB, but your ROTC unit will have to initiate
Asthma is not waiveable. If you actively have asthma it's not going to happen. If you were diagnosed after the age of thirteen you are DODMERB DQ. The different branches can waive that, but what they are going to do is get you tested. If the test shows that whatever breathing difficulties you had are no longer an issue or were misdiagnosed then you may receive a waiver.
There shouldn't be a reason to pay someone to help you with the DODMERB process. Someone at the unit you are applying to should know enough about the process to help you.
https://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/dodmerb-part-1-open-up-and-say-ahhhh/
Here is a resource that won't cost you a dime. Feel free to drop me an email if you'd like my help.

Just reread your original...what I would do if you were coming to Clarkson for Army...I would request to have your DODMERB be reviewed for Army. You would still be DQ, but then I could request waiver review. You would probably be referred for a Pulmonary Functions Test. Problem is this won't happen quickly, will require a proactive recruiting officer or ROTC Unit to get the ball rolling, and we will still be looking for you to come and enroll in our program while we are working your issue.

Hope that all helps.
 
Last edited:
Would my DS need to start a new DODMERB for the NROTC scholarship if he passed for the USNA application?
 
No. DoDMERB is good for 2 years. When NROTC goes to process a DoDMERB request they will find his current status.
 
I applied USNA and got medically qualified in December 2016. I got my NROTC scholarship in March 2017, and the medical website was updated with my NROTC medically qualified status two weeks later. I didn't have to create a new account because I was already deemed medically qualified
 
I just got awarded for NROTC scholarship but i was DQ by DodMerb, my Hear loss is minor in one ear only, do you know if is waivable?
thank you
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top