I’m sure this question has been asked, but I’m hoping someone won’t mind answering if they happen to have a free minute and know the answer. Thank you in advance! Very minor tree nut allergy with no serious reaction ever, and only extremely minor reaction as a toddler. Has ingested tree nuts with no reaction as recently as this past year. Currently medically DQ’d on DODMERB. Have everything else completed, including a MOC nomination for the USAFA. How do we know if a waiver is initiated, or if there’s anything we can do in the interim? Thank you so much...
Tree Nut Allergy/Under Waiver Review
- Thread starter Jenna2303
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- May 31, 2008
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Son/daughter, the applicant, should email me at: DoDMERB_saforums@yahoo.com
State: “Jenna2023 - complete name & last 4 = USAFA allergy”
State: “Jenna2023 - complete name & last 4 = USAFA allergy”
I can't say I was in your shoes but I had a very similar situation last year.
I was awarded a four year scholarship to AROTC and NROTC but I had a peanut allergy that I did disclose on my DODMERB exam. However, I was proactive with the policies surrounding peanut allergies and the military so I knew going into my exam the only way to get a waiver would be to pass a peanut challenge.
So about a few months before my exam, I started oral immunotherapy for peanuts which culminated to a successfully eating a documented 25 peanuts with zero reaction despite my insanely high allergy blood tests. When I submitted my exam I also included my relevant documentation of the challenge and immunotherapy and my dodmerb status went to remedial, and was eventually unrestricted qualified after review of further provided documents.
Best wishes to you and I hope it works out.
I was awarded a four year scholarship to AROTC and NROTC but I had a peanut allergy that I did disclose on my DODMERB exam. However, I was proactive with the policies surrounding peanut allergies and the military so I knew going into my exam the only way to get a waiver would be to pass a peanut challenge.
So about a few months before my exam, I started oral immunotherapy for peanuts which culminated to a successfully eating a documented 25 peanuts with zero reaction despite my insanely high allergy blood tests. When I submitted my exam I also included my relevant documentation of the challenge and immunotherapy and my dodmerb status went to remedial, and was eventually unrestricted qualified after review of further provided documents.
Best wishes to you and I hope it works out.
NEED2KNoMo
5-Year Member
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- Mar 25, 2019
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- 89
Thanks for sharing...DS is in same boat now, but already DQ...just passed a 40 peanut challenge on Monday...no dietary restriction due to successful immunotherapy...waiting and hoping for a waiver...
Noted. The reason why I did not get DQ'ed initially is because I did my peanut challenge prior to taking the DODMERB exam.
Just make sure as your DS is going through this process, be there to support them but not to hold their hand. I've noticed on this site that parents tend to get too invested in to their child's performance and success which can create undue pressure on the prospective Mid/Cadet as well as creating an unrealistic expectation of what real self-reliance looks like when the real challenge begins in the academies or ROTC.
As a Mid who had to navigate a lot of this myself (my parents didn't care for the military nor were they interested in helping me navigate this process), it set me up with good skills and resourcefulness for my time in NROTC. I know it's difficult, but when those doors close on I-Day or when they step off that bus at Great Lakes, the only person who will get them through those hardships are themselves, and their shipmates.
Just make sure as your DS is going through this process, be there to support them but not to hold their hand. I've noticed on this site that parents tend to get too invested in to their child's performance and success which can create undue pressure on the prospective Mid/Cadet as well as creating an unrealistic expectation of what real self-reliance looks like when the real challenge begins in the academies or ROTC.
As a Mid who had to navigate a lot of this myself (my parents didn't care for the military nor were they interested in helping me navigate this process), it set me up with good skills and resourcefulness for my time in NROTC. I know it's difficult, but when those doors close on I-Day or when they step off that bus at Great Lakes, the only person who will get them through those hardships are themselves, and their shipmates.