USAF Academy DODMERB Waiver (in progress)

[LolaBean]

My son was DQ for shin splints and then was automatically put in for a waiver. It says it is currently under review.
We received the news on Feb. 21st. I am wondering how long this process takes. I am aware that they make the notifications till the end of March. Will we know soon if we got a waiver?

New to the process. My son received a nomination and is anxiously waiting.

 

[Peruvian_Pedgy]

My son was DQ for shin splints and then was automatically put in for a waiver. It says it is currently under review.
We received the news on Feb. 21st. I am wondering how long this process takes. I am aware that they make the notifications till the end of March. Will we know soon if we got a waiver?

New to the process. My son received a nomination and is anxiously waiting.

It can take a while. DODMERB is a pain to work with. I have an appointment and am still waiting for my waiver to finish processing. I took my test to receive the waiver in mid-January.

 

[Capt MJ]

It can take a while. DODMERB is a pain to work with. I have an appointment and am still waiting for my waiver to finish processing. I took my test to receive the waiver in mid-January.

Think of the delays in working with DoDMERB as good training for the military, which has its own share of labyrinthine bureaucracy.

 

[Swimbr24]

Once they request additional medical info, you go to Dr. and get consultations asap by your dr.
My son just got waiver granted. It is painful to wait but waiver authority depend on our information to decide it. Good luck

 

[Nino5T-]

My son was DQ for shin splints and then was automatically put in for a waiver. It says it is currently under review.
We received the news on Feb. 21st. I am wondering how long this process takes. I am aware that they make the notifications till the end of March. Will we know soon if we got a waiver?

New to the process. My son received a nomination and is anxiously waiting.

Also was in the same boat, DQd for shin splints but also FAI and stress fracture from Sep 2022. Waiver was granted today and the timeline looked like this:

2/9 DQ'd
2/13 USAFA requested waiver
2/14 USAFA posts AMI in DoDMERB
2/20 AMI sent, received 2/24
2/21 USAFA LOA received, conditional pending waiver.
3/1 Waiver granted

As far as the AMI requested, they just wanted all of my medical records pertaining to my injuries. After getting the AMI I went to both the doctor that diagnosed my shin splints (from 1.5 years ago!) and the one that diagnosed my stress fracture. I got all of my records and also had them do xrays that day and write a letter stating I was completely fit to participate in rigorous physical activity and training. I submitted those letters along with all of my records regarding shin splints and stress fractures (FAI showed up after they reviewed my medical records), and everything worked out.

Shin splints can definitely be waived provided he is completely cleared and has the medical history to back that up. Your timeline could look completely different from mine though so keep that in mind. Best of luck with everything!

 

[LolaBean]

Also was in the same boat, DQd for shin splints but also FAI and stress fracture from Sep 2022. Waiver was granted today and the timeline looked like this:

2/9 DQ'd
2/13 USAFA requested waiver
2/14 USAFA posts AMI in DoDMERB
2/20 AMI sent, received 2/24
2/21 USAFA LOA received, conditional pending waiver.
3/1 Waiver granted

As far as the AMI requested, they just wanted all of my medical records pertaining to my injuries. After getting the AMI I went to both the doctor that diagnosed my shin splints (from 1.5 years ago!) and the one that diagnosed my stress fracture. I got all of my records and also had them do xrays that day and write a letter stating I was completely fit to participate in rigorous physical activity and training. I submitted those letters along with all of my records regarding shin splints and stress fractures (FAI showed up after they reviewed my medical records), and everything worked out.

Shin splints can definitely be waived provided he is completely cleared and has the medical history to back that up. Your timeline could look completely different from mine though so keep that in mind. Best of luck with everything!

This is encouraging... but my son was never diagnosed with shin splints. He stated in the application that he had them on 3 different occasions. Before he was DQ'd he was asked to provide more information about the shin splints (time and dates on each occasion). When he provided that to DODMERB, he was then DQ'd, but was automatically put in for a waiver. It is now "currently under review". Are we suppose to go to the Dr and get checked out? Get something that says he is fine? They never asked, but will this help? How do we give that to them if it's under review?

 

[Iwutke]

Did the application ask about shinsplints? One applicant was diagnosed by a doctor with shinsplints. That becomes part of permanent record. The other applicant was not diagnosed by a doctor, but is now DQ’d. Lesson for future applicants - if it hasn’t been diagnosed by a doctor, and isn’t asked, then it didn’t happen. Don’t lie about something. Just no need to bring it up. What issues can one cause if one offers up things such as: have had quite a few sprained ankles playing sports, used to get motion sickness as a kid from riding in the back seat, pain in elbow beginning of every baseball season? You get the idea.

 

[Nino5T-]

This is encouraging... but my son was never diagnosed with shin splints. He stated in the application that he had them on 3 different occasions. Before he was DQ'd he was asked to provide more information about the shin splints (time and dates on each occasion). When he provided that to DODMERB, he was then DQ'd, but was automatically put in for a waiver. It is now "currently under review". Are we suppose to go to the Dr and get checked out? Get something that says he is fine? They never asked, but will this help? How do we give that to them if it's under review?

Has the service academy emailed him yet saying they have requested a waiver? DoDMERB automatically moves to under waiver review after a DQ, but this doesn't mean a waiver has been initiated. The academy will email the applicant directly saying they have started the waiver process, and then request AMI through DoDMERB afterwards to make a determination.

Going to a doctor now to show that he is fine and getting a letter definitely can't hurt, but there is no way to know what the waiver authority will request if they initiate a waiver. He can send documents to DoDMERB at anytime by emailing it to his assigned technician which can be found on the DoDMERB website, it's assigned by last name.

 

[LolaBean]

Has the service academy emailed him yet saying they have requested a waiver? DoDMERB automatically moves to under waiver review after a DQ, but this doesn't mean a waiver has been initiated. The academy will email the applicant directly saying they have started the waiver process, and then request AMI through DoDMERB afterwards to make a determination.

Going to a doctor now to show that he is fine and getting a letter definitely can't hurt, but there is no way to know what the waiver authority will request if they initiate a waiver. He can send documents to DoDMERB at anytime by emailing it to his assigned technician which can be found on the DoDMERB website, it's assigned by last name.

He received an email asking for more information (AMI) from DODMERB about the shin splints. He sent that in. We received the DQ after this. In the disqualification email he was told that he was put in for a waiver. He has not received any other emails. We have sent in a doctors note and will hope for the best.

 

[OfficerToBe750]

He received an email asking for more information (AMI) from DODMERB about the shin splints. He sent that in. We received the DQ after this. In the disqualification email he was told that he was put in for a waiver. He has not received any other emails. We have sent in a doctors note and will hope for the best.

As noted above, the SA will notify of a waiver being requested on behalf of an applicant. The request is initiated by the academy, not DODMERB. But maybe the letter was missed perhaps? Not an easy process I know - hang in there.

 

[lind0415]

New to this process as well...my son received a DQ for shin splints that were self diagnosed and not a problem after he ran for a while and got used to the miles and the pounding on his legs. Also had a DQ for a broken finger from 10/22. Filed letters from a XC/track coach and a Colonel at his school (Military HS). Those were not allowed. Sent a letter from a physician that cleared him for both yesterday and those were submitted about an hour ago. We haven't received anything yet saying that a waiver has been filed on behalf of him...has a Tier 1 AF ROTC scholarship and we aren't sure if we need to do anything to ensure a waiver is granted and moving the process along. Any thoughts?? TIA!

 

[Chughes27]

My son has been under waiver review since September on DoDMERB for ADD (no meds/accommodations). He has literally everything else. WOuld he possible get an appointment prior to a waiver initiation? Can he email someone and ask?

 

[MDRDV]

WOuld he possible get an appointment prior to a waiver initiation? Can he email someone and ask?

Most likely, no. A conditional appointment shortly after waiver initiation is usually the way the process flows. All you can do is wait for USAFA to initiate. In the mean time you should request ADD diagnosis documentation, prescription records for 2 to 3 years, and statement from the school stating history of any accommodations. With the short time left in this cycle you'll want to be ready for a fast turn around IF a waiver is requested.