Waiver process after DQ/DNM

Montanaparent

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Sep 21, 2019
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DS just received notification from Dodmerb he was determined DQ/DNM after his conditional acceptance to USCGA in Dec. He is disappointed to say the least, and would like to submit an additional letter of clarification from his doctor, who read the DQ condition requirements, and believes it does not accurately apply to him.

Just wanting to confirm our understanding of the process is correct. The DQ letter gives an email for "any questions" to a specific technician at DoD. But DS noticed the reference document from Mr. Larry Mullen states "any and all medical documents are to be submitted to usaf.usafa.dodmerb.mbx.helpdesk@mail.mil. Do not submit duplicates to a Service Academy, ROTC program, or anywhere else."

1. So just checking which or both emails he should send to? And he should not copy his AO on any of this correspondance/info, correct?

2. The doctor told DS that he used the code even though he doesn't actually believe it applies because he "had to have a code to submit to insurance", eg. the diagnosis was reported principally for clerical reasons he seems to be saying. What would be the best way to address this? DS feels caught by insurance rules/clerical issues rather than a true medical history.

(And yes, DS plans to take the lead and be the contact with Dodmerb on this, but I did offer to do some process verification for him first since he takes 8 classes, finals next week and 2 swim practices most days ;-) )

Thanks for any help you can provide. Just hopeful to finally get things official and be able to buy plane tickets for AEP asap.
 
(And yes, DS plans to take the lead and be the contact with Dodmerb on this, but I did offer to do some process verification for him first since he takes 8 classes, finals next week and 2 swim practices most days ;-) )
Really sorry to hear that your DS is in this predicament. Don't worry about the other comments on this forum, I'm gonna say TAKE THE LEAD! I was VERY INVOLVED in the whole DoDmerb process with my son - I think it's a parent's responsibility to make sure there were no unnecessary issues with administration, reporting, or self-diagnosis. Even the sharpest and brightest 17 year-olds can't be expected to handle this process astutely. Honestly, neither my DW or I were actually very good at most of the DoDmerb process, we just muscled our way through it. We put the responsibility what should be expected onto our son; no more.
 
My daughter sent any documentation to be added to her file directly to DODMERB. She always emailed her technician directly and not the general help desk. She asked for confirmation that the documents were added, and each time we would see her status switch from "under waiver review" to "under dodmerb review" and then back again as they added in the document. We did not wait for the waiver officials/team to ask for documents, but instead visited a doctor who understood her specific history, ordered additional tests to prove she was healthy, and then wrote a letter on her behalf. We did not want to take the chance that those considering the waiver would make a decision based on incomplete (or incorrect) information. I completely understand people saying not to submit more than as asked if it might result in more questions or issues, but in our case we knew it would only help. It sounds like the same for you. I would definitely ask the doctor to write a letter clarifying why that code was used and what the actual condition was/is. My daughter provided information from the DODMERB manual to the doctor that gave him an idea of what DODMERB and the SAs are concerned about, and he made sure to address several of those concerns in his letter.
 
Montanaparent, I don't have any advice to offer except to agree with TexasAggie and say, Don't Be Afraid To Help Your DS! -- my son, even with my guidance, missed two EA deadlines for other colleges because we missed the fine print on two different things in submissions. Bureaucracy is really tough, and add both medical issues and DOD bureaucracy and my goodness, how does anyone get through it?
Also, good luck to you and your DS! I'm guessing a kid with 2 swim practices a day is pretty healthy if the issue is recovery from a prior surgery/ailment.
 
Note: in my 28 years in this specific position as the Deputy Chief DoDMERB, let alone my 20 years in the Army, DoDMERB has processed approximately 1,120,000 applicants. I’m from NY, so it’s in my DNA 🧬 to make stuff up and embellish, but my post of 14 Jan regarding guidance to Applicants and Parents is, ...let’s say, ...fairly well founded.

If it is read correctly, say again, read correctly, it is flawless advice on many different levels. But, to each their own...
 
Gotcha - right on, man.

I too, was active duty (though not for 20), and grew up in a career Army family. I am VERY familiar with the ins and outs of the whole process.

True life example of how the military (specifically the Army in this case) medical system can affect positive outcomes in young people. Neighbor's kid gets a "calling from God" to enlist in the Army to protect our country back in 2004. Neighbor sends him to me to talk because the family has ZERO military experience. I listen to the kid (very religious family) and he has me thoroughly convinced that he feels as if he was "chosen by God" to enlist in the infantry, go Airborne, Ranger School, the whole "ten" yards. What can I say???...God Bless you kid! Keep your head down.

Kid finishes Basic, and Jump Scool, and gets assigned to his unit. Applies for Ranger School. At his Ranger School physical, they begin to question him..."never been sick?", not really - "never had an injury?", nope - c'mon man, everybody's been hurt before, not me. Never got dizzy? No! - C'mon man, never stood up really fast and felt light-headed? "Okay well, yeah I think I did one time".

BOOM: No more Ranger School, no more Ranger Battalion. No more fulfillment of his "direction from the Almighty to serve his country and (his words not mine) protect his fellow soldiers". In short, his dreams dashed for something that was clearly inconsequential.

Net result, the kid was young, naive, and inexperienced in these matters and it hosed up his dream for a Ranger Tab - sorry, but not my kid!

The happy ending of the story is, he got assigned to the 82nd, saw lots of action in Afghan (consistently volunteered for 50 cal. duty on the lead Humvee) and in his words "engaged a lot of enemy and saved a lot of lives".
 
Well...there you go...though this is not a competition...it is as I said ...about the applicants...there’s no way I can compete with your amazing depth and breadth of experience. You seem to have it all under control...good on ya🤗
 
Just a true life counter to your Jan 14th soliloquy.

"your amazing depth and breadth of experience"...a little personal and pompous!
 
The snarkiness is hitting an all time high. Flex, Flex. 😂 Sometimes this forum is almost as entertaining as C-Span. Almost. Listen, Everyone on here is just trying to do the best that they can for their kid. Since it seems the D***slinging is getting out of hand, I’ll chime in. I don’t have ANY years in the Military but I was a professional fighter most of my career and I am the MOM. 😂😂 ALSO - Guess what? Periodically I help my kids to understand things that are confusing. It’s called parenting. Kudos to everyone on here doing their best as their family walks this new road. There is no shame in offering a guiding hand when needed. 👊👊
 
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My daughter sent any documentation to be added to her file directly to DODMERB. She always emailed her technician directly and not the general help desk. She asked for confirmation that the documents were added, and each time we would see her status switch from "under waiver review" to "under dodmerb review" and then back again as they added in the document. We did not wait for the waiver officials/team to ask for documents, but instead visited a doctor who understood her specific history, ordered additional tests to prove she was healthy, and then wrote a letter on her behalf. We did not want to take the chance that those considering the waiver would make a decision based on incomplete (or incorrect) information. I completely understand people saying not to submit more than as asked if it might result in more questions or issues, but in our case we knew it would only help. It sounds like the same for you. I would definitely ask the doctor to write a letter clarifying why that code was used and what the actual condition was/is. My daughter provided information from the DODMERB manual to the doctor that gave him an idea of what DODMERB and the SAs are concerned about, and he made sure to address several of those concerns in his letter.
Thank you Proudmom. Our situation is very similar to yours. How long did it take for your waiver decision to be made once the doctor letter was sent in? We think we can send that in by the end of this week, but the waiting is hard as you know, especially the third time around!
 
Montanaparent, I don't have any advice to offer except to agree with TexasAggie and say, Don't Be Afraid To Help Your DS! -- my son, even with my guidance, missed two EA deadlines for other colleges because we missed the fine print on two different things in submissions. Bureaucracy is really tough, and add both medical issues and DOD bureaucracy and my goodness, how does anyone get through it?
Also, good luck to you and your DS! I'm guessing a kid with 2 swim practices a day is pretty healthy if the issue is recovery from a prior surgery/ailment.
Yes, this is just old history and he is strong and fit, which of course doesn't make it any easier to process.
 
Thank you Proudmom. Our situation is very similar to yours. How long did it take for your waiver decision to be made once the doctor letter was sent in? We think we can send that in by the end of this week, but the waiting is hard as you know, especially the third time around!

My daughter was DQ'd back in late October and we had the letter and additional test results submitted within a week. However, she didn't receive her conditional appointment until Dec 10th. My understanding is that USCGA probably didn't even look at her file for waiver consideration until that point or possibly later. She received the waiver about 2 weeks ago. In your case, your son already has the conditional appointment so I would expect that they would start looking at his file for waiver consideration very quickly. I obviously don't know how many they already have in their queue, but the conditional appointment says that they consider him competitive and that they want him.
 
IMHO, the CGA is the one Academy that waits to initiate waivers UNTIL they determine they want that candidate. Being a small service, and part of DHS vice DOD, their funding is different, and I can tell you from experience (at least years ago), that the CG was the "Bastard Stepchild" and often was given hand me down equipment instead of new, and they were and are very adept at saving money. They prefer to use their limited resources to get what they want rather than just spend because they have the funding and then pick and choose down the road. Many Academies initiate waivers immediately upon receiving a complete application, I do not believe the CGA operates that way.

They will let you know if and what they need from your candidate, but the CGA Waiver Authority will request thru DoDMERB whatever they need, no need to send info to Admissions, they are NOT the waiver authority, better to forward any info requested to your assigned technician at DoDMERB. The waiver issue can continue up to R-Day so sit tight and send in whatever is asked. Good Luck!!! :)
 
My daughter was DQ'd back in late October and we had the letter and additional test results submitted within a week. However, she didn't receive her conditional appointment until Dec 10th. My understanding is that USCGA probably didn't even look at her file for waiver consideration until that point or possibly later. She received the waiver about 2 weeks ago. In your case, your son already has the conditional appointment so I would expect that they would start looking at his file for waiver consideration very quickly. I obviously don't know how many they already have in their queue, but the conditional appointment says that they consider him competitive and that they want him.
Thanks ProudMom7. We'll send in his doctor letter with clarifying information as soon as we get it and then just try to be patient and keep our fingers crossed. He wants this very much, but I also know we are so lucky to have kids in this situation at all, and the skills and attitude that got them here will help them no matter where life takes them. "If you want to make God laugh, tell him you've got a plan." Ain't that the truth!! 😂🤞
 
IMHO, the CGA is the one Academy that waits to initiate waivers UNTIL they determine they want that candidate. Being a small service, and part of DHS vice DOD, their funding is different, and I can tell you from experience (at least years ago), that the CG was the "Bastard Stepchild" and often was given hand me down equipment instead of new, and they were and are very adept at saving money. They prefer to use their limited resources to get what they want rather than just spend because they have the funding and then pick and choose down the road. Many Academies initiate waivers immediately upon receiving a complete application, I do not believe the CGA operates that way.

They will let you know if and what they need from your candidate, but the CGA Waiver Authority will request thru DoDMERB whatever they need, no need to send info to Admissions, they are NOT the waiver authority, better to forward any info requested to your assigned technician at DoDMERB. The waiver issue can continue up to R-Day so sit tight and send in whatever is asked. Good Luck!!! :)
Thanks Impulsive. Looks like we need to stay buckled up for a long ride!
 
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