So should I wait for a possible DQ or be pre-emptive?

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VMINROTChopeful

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I wasn't worried at all before, but reading this DODMERB forum has me all worried. The reason is because I think I have flat feet. I do have a visible arch when my feet are lifted in the air, but when I am standing barefoot on a hard floor, my arch lightly touches the floor. This has never been diagnosed by a doctor. I don't use shoe inserts. And I am a varsity lettered athlete (crosscountry, track) and extremely athletic. This has never caused me a problem or pain in my life, or limited my sports, which is why I've never been to a doctor for this.

So I suspect now I may be DQ'ed by DODMERB.

What would be my best course? Should I wait and go though the MEPS and see if they think I really have flat feet and wait to be DQ'ed or not? And if I am DQ'ed, then go to the foot doctor for inserts and try to request a waiver? Or should I go to the foot doctor now, right away, before the MEPS to see if I really have pes planus, get the inserts, in which case I will definitely be DQ'ed by DODMERB, and will then apply for a waiver?

So the question is, should I wait or should I pre-emptively go to a foot doctor?

Is there any common test I can try myself to see if I might have pes planus or not? Someone mentioned duckwalking on another forum. How does that work and what do I look for?

What is the likelihood of being granted a waiver for pes planus if it has never caused me a problem before? Would this be one of those waivers that are automatically applied for by DODMERB?

Again, I don't know if I really have pes planus or not, but it's one of those things I've always wondered about my feet.
 
If you have never had a problem, why create one? Just go through the exam and if you get a DQ, you probably would have a very high chance of recieving a waiver (especially since your a track athelete).

Good luck :thumb:
 
You state you may have low arches that are asymptomatic (don't cause problems), you don't wear orthotics and you have never been diagnosed with flat feet.

Based on that there will be no disqualification.
 
RetNavyHM said:
You state you may have low arches that are asymptomatic (don't cause problems), you don't wear orthotics and you have never been diagnosed with flat feet.

Based on that there will be no disqualification.
Click to expand...

Well, I have to admit to myself that it's possible I've never been diagnosed with it because I've never had a doctor check my feet since I haven't had any problems before. But I have to go to the MEPS right? So isn't it possible they could examine my feet at MEPS and diagnose pes planus even though I've never been diagnosed with that before and I don't wear inserts? (Or maybe MEPS doesn't work that way...) Also, I don't know if I have any symptoms of it, since it's never been a problem - but this might also be because besides how feet look when I inspect them, I really don't know what a "symptom" of flat feet would be.

In any case, your response sounds very encouraging! Thanks!
 
If you are applying to ROTC your physical examination will not be done by MEPS, you will be seen by a DoDMERB contract physician.
 
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