Waiver Process

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I have been medically disqualified in my USMA portal for having been allergic to peanuts in the past (not now). In DoDMERB it says for both USMA and USNA my current medical status is Under Waiver Review. Does this mean that a waiver was requested?
 
JakeTWesley said:
I have been medically disqualified in my USMA portal for having been allergic to peanuts in the past (not now). In DoDMERB it says for both USMA and USNA my current medical status is Under Waiver Review. Does this mean that a waiver was requested?
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Nope. It means your file is queued up, ready for WA review, should the SA choose to request a waiver. Hang tight!
 
My son's RC was able to tell him definitively about his waiver request status - this is for USMA - other academies are different.
 
JakeTWesley said:
I have been medically disqualified in my USMA portal for having been allergic to peanuts in the past (not now). In DoDMERB it says for both USMA and USNA my current medical status is Under Waiver Review. Does this mean that a waiver was requested?
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I'm in the same boat as you. Applying to USMA and USAFA with peanut allergy (that I've undergone immunotherapy for). USMA requested a waiver on my behalf and it says so in my candidate portal but it still says "under waiver review" on the DODMERB website. Hope this helps. Waiver has not been reviewed yet, that might be why.
 
DS is in same situation...completed immunotherapy...awaiting review from USNA and NROTC. Good luck to all!
 
Not to be a negative Nancy here... but peanut allergies are some of the hardest to get waived. They DQ you for a reason. Imagine being in the field and someone throws you a granola bar with peanuts then you eat it and go into shock. If you are in a combat zone that puts everyone's lives at risk as the focus on you takes away from the mission. I wish everyone the chance to get in but if you get rejected for this just think that DQ may have saved your life and other soldiers too. I do know they are opening up to the idea of immunotherapy but the issue is most methods require you to eat peanuts daily for the rest of your life. There are many variables with that you can't control. Make sure you have some Plan B options.
 
oatsguy said:
Not to be a negative Nancy here... but peanut allergies are some of the hardest to get waived. They DQ you for a reason. Imagine being in the field and someone throws you a granola bar with peanuts then you eat it and go into shock. If you are in a combat zone that puts everyone's lives at risk as the focus on you takes away from the mission. I wish everyone the chance to get in but if you get rejected for this just think that DQ may have saved your life and other soldiers too. I do know they are opening up to the idea of immunotherapy but the issue is most methods require you to eat peanuts daily for the rest of your life. There are many variables with that you can't control. Make sure you have some Plan B options.
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Obviously my DS would not be pursuing a military career if there were a chance he would put others in jeopardy. And FYI, immunotherapy has changed drastically over the last few years...can only speak for our situation, but each person's allergy situation is different...my son will NOT have to eat peanuts daily for the rest of his life. Hoping I don't sound defensive...not the intent, but DS has worked long and hard to overcome his allergies over the last 2.5 years and can freely eat all allergens. Hoping the powers that be will understand that.
 
To help bring clarity, my comment comes from first hand knowledge. From January 2019 to May 2019 this year I had multiple conversations and emails with the Director of DODMERB and multiple admissions representatives from WP & AFA concerning peanut allergies. These folks are very good at their job and very knowledgeable and want to do the right thing. The information I shared in my comment is what they told me regarding one of my DS who went through the process.

Waivers requires bloodwork with results at a surprising very low level. Even with immunotherapy DS's numbers weren't even close. My initial response was the same as yours' but upon further reflection, the concern of the military is a fair one. Things could have changed in the last 6-9 months. I hope things work out for everyone facing this challenge. Just make sure you have a plan B. I'm not trying to be a jerk here just sharing from personal experience with intent to be helpful so you are prepared if it doesn't work out.
 
oatsguy said:
To help bring clarity, my comment comes from first hand knowledge. From January 2019 to May 2019 this year I had multiple conversations and emails with the Director of DODMERB and multiple admissions representatives from WP & AFA concerning peanut allergies. These folks are very good at their job and very knowledgeable and want to do the right thing. The information I shared in my comment is what they told me regarding one of my DS who went through the process.

Waivers requires bloodwork with results at a surprising very low level. Even with immunotherapy DS's numbers weren't even close. My initial response was the same as yours' but upon further reflection, the concern of the military is a fair one. Things could have changed in the last 6-9 months. I hope things work out for everyone facing this challenge. Just make sure you have a plan B. I'm not trying to be a jerk here just sharing from personal experience with intent to be helpful so you are prepared if it doesn't work out.
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Did your DS still have symptoms of a peanut allergy when the exceeded the maintenance dose? Do you have any tips/specific tests/things to avoid in the waiver process for us still involved? Were you asked to conduct a peanut challenge test?

My regional commander asked me to conduct a peanut challenge (consuming around 20 peanuts in front of a doctor) to prove the results of the immunotherapy I've done. It's scheduled for early January. I think it might also depend on the symptoms presented in the reaction. The extent of my reaction is some very bad nausea and mild skin swelling. If your throat closes, it might be much harder to waive.
 
okboomer said:
Though a very hard message to hear for many I am sure, you worded your posts very well @oatsguy and I think the insights you shared are extremely helpful.
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Agreed and thank you...it's a hard process for sure. Plan B is in place, and if that doesn't pan out, plan C is in place as well...but we remain hopeful!
 
armymike7 said:
Did your DS still have symptoms of a peanut allergy when the exceeded the maintenance dose? Do you have any tips/specific tests/things to avoid in the waiver process for us still involved? Were you asked to conduct a peanut challenge test?

My regional commander asked me to conduct a peanut challenge (consuming around 20 peanuts in front of a doctor) to prove the results of the immunotherapy I've done. It's scheduled for early January. I think it might also depend on the symptoms presented in the reaction. The extent of my reaction is some very bad nausea and mild skin swelling. If your throat closes, it might be much harder to waive.
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His face got slightly red and there were bumps on the skin test. The doc refused the challenge test because his blood work came up positive at numbers that were a risk despite the immunotherapy. We checked with 2 specialists in our town and they both refused due to liability. We practiced the challenge test at our house once and it just wasn't good. People suggested ways to 'game' the tests but we didn't go there. If we were nervous doing a straight challenge test at the house what could the results be for him if he got in and ate peanuts in the field or combat... in the end we accepted our fate and played it straight which was a DQ.

I'd recommend everyone in this position to think big picture. We enter the SA race with a linear goal of an appointment. Some aren't meant to get in. My family comes from a very long Army history - my grandfather was in WWI, other GF was 506 PIR in DDay and the Bulge, brother did 3 tours in nam as a Green Beret, etc.... For this DS who dreamed of this his whole life following his family footsteps, it wasn't in the cards. We took it hard but his plan B ended up being the right path and we knew if he got in something tragic could have happened.

My two cents...
 
Thank you oatsguy for taking the time to explain the situation of your DS. Like NEED2KNoMo, I too, am hoping that my DS's passing the oral challenge will be sufficient for him to be granted a waiver. After reading your first post, I was distressed to hear of your conversations with DoDMERB, especially after feeling positive from reading numerous SAF postings telling of candidates receiving a Waiver after submitting successful oral challenge results. After your giving us your DS's details and telling us he didn't do the challenge, I'll continue to hope unless/until he receives a final DQ.
 
SDCA said:
Thank you oatsguy for taking the time to explain the situation of your DS. Like NEED2KNoMo, I too, am hoping that my DS's passing the oral challenge will be sufficient for him to be granted a waiver. After reading your first post, I was distressed to hear of your conversations with DoDMERB, especially after feeling positive from reading numerous SAF postings telling of candidates receiving a Waiver after submitting successful oral challenge results. After your giving us your DS's details and telling us he didn't do the challenge, I'll continue to hope unless/until he receives a final DQ.
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Good post! Good spirit!
 
oatsguy said:
His face got slightly red and there were bumps on the skin test. The doc refused the challenge test because his blood work came up positive at numbers that were a risk despite the immunotherapy. We checked with 2 specialists in our town and they both refused due to liability. We practiced the challenge test at our house once and it just wasn't good. People suggested ways to 'game' the tests but we didn't go there. If we were nervous doing a straight challenge test at the house what could the results be for him if he got in and ate peanuts in the field or combat... in the end we accepted our fate and played it straight which was a DQ.

I'd recommend everyone in this position to think big picture. We enter the SA race with a linear goal of an appointment. Some aren't meant to get in. My family comes from a very long Army history - my grandfather was in WWI, other GF was 506 PIR in DDay and the Bulge, brother did 3 tours in nam as a Green Beret, etc.... For this DS who dreamed of this his whole life following his family footsteps, it wasn't in the cards. We took it hard but his plan B ended up being the right path and we knew if he got in something tragic could have happened.

My two cents...
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Do you remember what his blood levels were?
 
THmom said:
Nope. It means your file is queued up, ready for WA review, should the SA choose to request a waiver. Hang tight!
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I thought "under waiver review" meant that the SA had requested a waiver already. What will the status say when the SA does request a waiver? I just remember my older son's going from "under waiver review" to "waiver approved."
 
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JakeTWesley said:
I have been medically disqualified in my USMA portal for having been allergic to peanuts in the past (not now). In DoDMERB it says for both USMA and USNA my current medical status is Under Waiver Review. Does this mean that a waiver was requested?
Click to expand...

I found the information below on the Dodmerb website that may be helpful.

12. Service Academies = If you are determined to be “competitive for an offer of appointment” (determined by the Offices of Admissions), medical waiver consideration will be automatically requested on your behalf. You are NOT required to request a medical waiver. Conversely, if you are not competitive for an offer of appointment, either after evaluation or because enough of the application has NOT been completed, there will be no medical waiver consideration. There may be periods in between, where the Admissions office has NOT made this determination yet. a. Keep in mind that all US Services Academies, require 4 non-negotiable items for admission 1) Selection by Admissions {Academics, College Test scores, extracurricular activities, etc., are considered}; 2) Successful passing of the Candidate Fitness Assessment {CFA}; 3) Medical qualification by DoDMERB or receipt of a medical waiver by the Academy 4) {Except for the USCGA} a nomination from Member of Congress, the Vice President or the President. So, depending on where you are in the timeline, prior to 31 Jan of the year you are to be admitted, you must have items 1, 2, and 4 above, completed. b. No applicant, say again, NO APPLICANT, will ever be denied admission by a US Service Academy because they receive a DoDMERB determination of did NOT meet DoD medical accession standards (particularly, West Point). “IF” you meet 1, 2, and 4 in paragraph 5a above, but received a DoDMERB determination of “does NOT meet medical accession standards,” Admissions will automatically request medical waiver consideration to begin for you.
 
FCH76 said:
I thought "under waiver review" meant that the SA had requested a waiver already. What will the status say when the SA does request a waiver? I just remember my older son's going from "under waiver review" to "waiver approved."
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UWR does not necessarily mean it has been requested. All it means is info is there, awaiting the process, should one be requested.
 
armymike7 said:
I'm in the same boat as you. Applying to USMA and USAFA with peanut allergy (that I've undergone immunotherapy for). USMA requested a waiver on my behalf and it says so in my candidate portal but it still says "under waiver review" on the DODMERB website. Hope this helps. Waiver has not been reviewed yet, that might be why.
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Can you please share how you were able to receive a waiver?
 
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