Steps to take if I will I know I will need a waiver

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Runner.Anthony

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Hello,
I recently submitted my preliminary application to the naval academy and am a couple months out for my Dodmerb exam, I know I will need a waiver for something that happed in 8th grade and hospitalized me for 8 days. What steps can I take now to speed up getting a waiver?

As I understand it the best things I can do now is talk to my doctor, pull all medical records and get a letter from my primary care physician and/or ER doctor in an official letter head saying that this was an isolated event and that this no longer effects me.
 
The sooner you get your application complete, the sooner you will get a decision or the longer you will wait for them to make a decision.

It sounds like you are on top of it. Pay attention to all communications and respond timely.
 
Last edited:
Runner.Anthony said:
Hello,
I recently submitted my preliminary application to the naval academy and am a couple months out for my Dodmerb exam, I know I will need a waiver for something that happed in 8th grade and hospitalized me for 8 days. What steps can I take now to speed up getting a waiver?

As I understand it the best things I can do now is talk to my doctor, pull all medical records and get a letter from my primary care physician and/or ER doctor in an official letter head saying that this was an isolated event and that this no longer effects me.
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Good to see you are thinking ahead. Keep in mind the SA determines when and if it will request a waiver for applicants, if DoDMERB evaluates the medical record and assigns a “does not meet standards” or DQ.

If you haven’t already, go to the DoDMERB home page and read your way through every section of the left-side menu, including Contacts.

 
It is definitely a good idea to collect the medical records now. We were in a similar position with my DS. Thinking we would help the process along, we pre-emptively sent all the records related to the condition for which he would later be DQ'ed before they were requested. In the end, we had to resubmit them anyway. If I had it to do over, I would have still collected the records but would have waited for the AMI's to come through instead of taking the time to send the records to DODMERB ahead of time. The waiver authorities are looking for specific evidence and they will tell you the sort of records that they need to see in order to make their decision. The best you can do is have all the information in hand so it can be quickly sent once it is requested.
 
The timing of when your DODMERB process can change from year to year and depending upon the Service Academy or Academies involved. For that reason, while a candidate/applicant should never rush the application to the point of putting in anything less than his/her best application, it can be helpful (in terms of an earlier medical review) if you get your application in early. By all means gather records. But, when you get to DODMERB process, don't try to jump ahead of any steps. Complete the DODMERB questionnaire accurately and let the system proceed. Given the system troubles this cycle, the benefits of starting (and finishing applications early) are clear. Good luck!
 
You’re getting good advice. My suggestion is to read the section on disqualifying medical codes and see if any apply to you. Continue to pull records. It would also help to go to the doctor that treated you for your condition in the next few months and get a status report to close things out.
 
Disqualifying conditions can be found here. You can also read through the codes on the DoDMERB website but this document lays it out pretty nicely with a table of contents.

I had to get a waiver during my application this year, biggest thing for me was having all my records in order (which you have) and being a competitive enough applicant to where they requested a waiver for me. Get your SAT/ACT and grades as high as possible, do well on the CFA, knockout your BGO Interview, write a great essay etc. The more competitive you are the better your chances are of having a waiver initiated.
 
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