Start Early with DoDMERB - another example - should make you laugh if you're not the recipient

B

Bill P

5-Year Member
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Jun 12, 2016
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Please, please start your DoDMERB as soon as it opens. Here is an example why -- wholly unrelated to the actual process. We live in State X. DS was assigned medical, optometrist, etc. in Puerto Rico -- couple thousand miles away. Though it might be nice for a vacation, there were no planned trips to PR. There is a place in the portal to click and request a new location. All good. Mistakes happen. Clicked on that and sent a response that our Zip Code as appears on the form is in State X, a couple thousand miles from Puerto Rico. Could we please get an exam closer to State X. Great. Went through. Received an email that says he missed a digit in the zip code and then proceeded to show the five digit zip code! (Zip codes are five digits and they are not asking for the plus 4.) I kid you not. Imagine receiving an email that says the five digit zip code you supplied is missing a digit. There are no six digit zip codes in the US. Maybe it was early and the coffee machine was broken. I dunno, but seems a pretty big brain whiff. I'm confident we'll get it fixed. But the lesson in here is start as early as you can as you never know what will cause delays. If not, look forward to sending pictures from the beautiful beaches of Puerto Rico . . . . .
 
I've heard Puerto Rico is beautiful this time of year. :)

Honestly, I was surprised my DS's appointments were about 1-1.5 hours away but Puerto Rico would be a whole other issue!
 
And always request a copy of your exams for your personal file just in case Dodmerb says they never got it…
 
This is the *one* time it’s great being in a competitive district… everything is like 15 min from the hiuse
 
Bill P said:
Please, please start your DoDMERB as soon as it opens. Here is an example why -- wholly unrelated to the actual process. We live in State X. DS was assigned medical, optometrist, etc. in Puerto Rico -- couple thousand miles away. Though it might be nice for a vacation, there were no planned trips to PR. There is a place in the portal to click and request a new location. All good. Mistakes happen. Clicked on that and sent a response that our Zip Code as appears on the form is in State X, a couple thousand miles from Puerto Rico. Could we please get an exam closer to State X. Great. Went through. Received an email that says he missed a digit in the zip code and then proceeded to show the five digit zip code! (Zip codes are five digits and they are not asking for the plus 4.) I kid you not. Imagine receiving an email that says the five digit zip code you supplied is missing a digit. There are no six digit zip codes in the US. Maybe it was early and the coffee machine was broken. I dunno, but seems a pretty big brain whiff. I'm confident we'll get it fixed. But the lesson in here is start as early as you can as you never know what will cause delays. If not, look forward to sending pictures from the beautiful beaches of Puerto Rico . . . . .
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Great story - and something to always check for - using an actual zero instead of an “O.” I needed to enter my car VIN in a field online last week to check on something. Got a “do not recognize.” Changed all Os to zeroes. Magic. 🙄. In some fonts, it’s not easy to tell. Not applicable to your story, but something to tuck away in the trouble-shooting kit.

That story is a classic.
 
Bill P said:
Please, please start your DoDMERB as soon as it opens. Here is an example why -- wholly unrelated to the actual process. We live in State X. DS was assigned medical, optometrist, etc. in Puerto Rico -- couple thousand miles away. Though it might be nice for a vacation, there were no planned trips to PR. There is a place in the portal to click and request a new location. All good. Mistakes happen. Clicked on that and sent a response that our Zip Code as appears on the form is in State X, a couple thousand miles from Puerto Rico. Could we please get an exam closer to State X. Great. Went through. Received an email that says he missed a digit in the zip code and then proceeded to show the five digit zip code! (Zip codes are five digits and they are not asking for the plus 4.) I kid you not. Imagine receiving an email that says the five digit zip code you supplied is missing a digit. There are no six digit zip codes in the US. Maybe it was early and the coffee machine was broken. I dunno, but seems a pretty big brain whiff. I'm confident we'll get it fixed. But the lesson in here is start as early as you can as you never know what will cause delays. If not, look forward to sending pictures from the beautiful beaches of Puerto Rico . . . . .
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We live in Alaska, on a tiny Island so ours got scheduled in Washington State, we expected it though...but still its 3500 miles away. We are flying down ASAP.
 
Capt MJ said:
Great story - and something to always check for - using an actual zero instead of an “O.” I needed to enter my car VIN in a field online last week to check on something. Got a “do not recognize.” Changed all Os to zeroes. Magic. 🙄. In some fonts, it’s not easy to tell. Not applicable to your story, but something to tuck away in the trouble-shooting kit.

That story is a classic.
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The capital i (I) and the lower case L (l) … and even the number one in some fonts - also kill me.
 
Just for the record when buying auto parts, no VIN will ever have the letter O. All that appears to be an O are a zero (used to own and run an auto repair garage). Also, pro tip, for most dealer items, only need the last eight digits/letters.

Maybe I should apply for DoDMERB to justify a trip to the sandy beaches and picadillo of Puerto Rico, it's on my bucket list.
 
jbm2m said:
This is the *one* time it’s great being in a competitive district… everything is like 15 min from the hiuse
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I wish - we are in a SUPER competitive district and the closest "approved" location is 1hr away.
 
Capt MJ said:
Great story - and something to always check for - using an actual zero instead of an “O.” I needed to enter my car VIN in a field online last week to check on something. Got a “do not recognize.” Changed all Os to zeroes. Magic. 🙄. In some fonts, it’s not easy to tell. Not applicable to your story, but something to tuck away in the trouble-shooting kit.

That story is a classic.
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o = 0... been there... mental gymnastics for the WIN!
 
mesanova said:
I wish - we are in a SUPER competitive district and the closest "approved" location is 1hr away.
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Ewww. I’m sorry. We are in Virginia, just outside of DC. The optometrist was literally 5 min away. Doc office sounded like they primarily/only do DoD stuff. Office is 5 miles/15 min from house.
 
Pro-Tip: From USNA BGO Training: Candidates should check DOMERB accounts every couple of days for requests etc. Many Candidates are asked for additional medical information and don't see the request for long periods-because the don't look at their account. Check often. In project Mgt. terms: DOMERB and Teacher Recommendations (really they are evaluations), can be critical path items.
 
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jbm2m said:
Ewww. I’m sorry. We are in Virginia, just outside of DC. The optometrist was literally 5 min away. Doc office sounded like they primarily/only do DoD stuff. Office is 5 miles/15 min from house.
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All good. We will do what we have to do. Hopefully, the end justifies the means.
 
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