Waiver Chances

[shenandoah81]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question, but people on this forum seem to know alot about everything Coast Guard so I thought I'd try. My daughter received a conditional appointment due to a disqualifying medical condition and was notified that a waiver request was made. She has no disqualifying medical problems except a thick record pertaining to a congenital lung condition that she outgrew by the time she was about 3 years old. Granted it is a very rare condition and the medical literature on it is not well developed, but she has been competitively athletic her whole life (ice hockey, soccer, softball, running) and I would say has more stamina than 95% of the kids she plays with. She provided a pulmonologists report of a recent full pulmonology work-up showing she has normal lung function and capacity. At this point I have a few questions. First, who exactly makes the decision about whether to grant a waiver to CGA? Second, is there anything else she can do to improve the chance of receiving a waiver? Third, any idea when they might let her know? And finally, if she did not get a waiver now, would that pretty much guarantee that she would not get a waiver if she applied to OCS after graduating a regular university? Or are the standards for those waivers different? Thank you to whoever might have some insight on this.

 

[JMS]

You may wish to read through some of the posts on the DOBMERB section of this forum. Especially the stickys. Lots of good info there. Probably not going to give you a clear answer for your daughter's case, however. Indeed, if I know anything from that forum, it is that no one can give you the final answer except the appeal people.

 

[firecaptain]

I can offer some insight into the process. The waiver authority for the USCGA rests with Coast Guard headquarters. In regards to improving chances, it sounds like you have already provided the documentation that you can.... unless there was some information or research out there that you have not already included. I know in our daughters case, the decision came down quite late... it was around this week. Good luck!

 

[shenandoah81]

Thanks

Thank you for your responses. The waiting is very hard, particularly where it seems like they may just never make a decision and she will lose the appointment because time runs out. AND because she has proven over a lifetime of vigorous activity that her "defect" is a complete non-issue to her functionality.