ROTC Medical Records

[xwl]

I applied to West Point this year and was denied a few months ago. I was also medically DQd for GERD.

This week, I won an AROTC scholarship (3 Year) and am worried that the disqualification will prevent me from commissioning in ROTC.

When will ROTC request the medical records from DODMERB? Are waivers usually successful?

Thanks for your help

 

[kinnem]

It's case by case but AROTC is free to give a waiver regardless of what the academy did. You're not out of the running. Are you certain you have GERD? I supposedly had it for years and it's not reversible, but a new doc did an endoscopy and said he saw no signs of GERD. Go figure? I think the first doc had kids in college or something and had tuition payments coming up.

 

[AROTC-dad]

Here is a flow chart on the waiver process for DoDMERB.
https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/Content/MedicalWaiverConsideration.pdf

You will need to work with your battalion cadre to petition for the waiver. Get your medical records in order and obtain a second opinion from a physician with a military background.

Most of all, you need to get good grades and max the APFT while participating in AROTC. Impress the cadre and they will go to bat for you!

 

[xwl]

Thank you @AROTC-dad @kinnem

Would the petition process start now or while I’m in ROTC? I’m a high school senior with a national scholarship.

 

[AROTC-dad]

I don't think much can be done until your college fall semester begins and you build rapport with your cadre. Nonetheless, you should reach out to the ROO as soon as possible (before he/she leaves campus for the summer) and discuss your concerns.

Because you won a 3 year National AD scholarship, you MUST pass DoDMERB (and the APFT) before your sophomore year in college so that the tuition will be paid at that time.

On the other hand, the sooner you get the DoDMERB waiver, the better your chance at getting your 3 year scholarship extended to 3.5 or even a 4 year. (These are not necessarily easy to get).

Good luck!