Waiver Timeframe?
- Thread starter zackwheat
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Some general info that may be beneficial:
4. Service Academies = If the applicant is determined to be competitive for an offer of appointment (determined by the Offices of Admissions), medical waiver consideration will be automatically requested on the applicants behalf. Conversely, if the applicant is 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.
5. 4 year ROTC programs = In most cases, applicants “may” have already been awarded a scholarship…”contingent” upon obtaining a DoDMERB MEETS medical standards determination or a medical waiver from the specific ROTC program. Applicants to NROTC and AFROTC programs will be automatically considered for a medical waiver. Though AROTC will probably change in the near future, you will be required to write a letter requesting medical waiver consideration to the address listed in the DoDMERB letter you’ll receive. The request only needs to contain a statement “Request I, full name and Social Security Number, be considered for a medical waiver.” The waiver authority will have all the records that DoDMERB possessed to render our decision.
6. Wavers in general – Waivers are individually based. A condition, injury, illness, disease, etc., has different effects on a person’s ability to function. This is dependent on severity, frequency, where on the spectrum of the malady the applicant currently may be, etc. So, when the question is asked, “Do they often waive for THIS?” There is NOT going to be a general answer. Also, the Services and programs in that Service waive to the needs of the Service in terms of their mission to access so many folks. If the specific program is MEETING their manpower requirements, medical waivers would be issued in far fewer cases than if a Service/program is increasing the numbers of personnel in the force.
7. Waiver timelines – The waiver authorities will render their waiver decisions based on their workload; complexity of the case; whether or not additional consultants are utilized in the decision making process AND the consultant’s ability to be responsive; etc. There is NOT standard timeline for rendering a waiver decision. All waiver authorities are dedicate to providing a comprehensive evaluation and issuing as timely a decision as possible.
8. Waiver criteria – The main focus of all waiver decisions is centered on the ability to train, be commissioned, and be world-wide deployable upon graduation. In applying this objective, some of the questions that are considered are: a) Is the condition progressive? b) Is the condition subject to aggravation by military service? c) Will the condition preclude satisfactory completion of prescribed training and subsequent military duty? d) Will the condition constitute an undue hazard to the applicant or to others the applicant will be charged in leading, particularly under combat conditions?
4. Service Academies = If the applicant is determined to be competitive for an offer of appointment (determined by the Offices of Admissions), medical waiver consideration will be automatically requested on the applicants behalf. Conversely, if the applicant is 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.
5. 4 year ROTC programs = In most cases, applicants “may” have already been awarded a scholarship…”contingent” upon obtaining a DoDMERB MEETS medical standards determination or a medical waiver from the specific ROTC program. Applicants to NROTC and AFROTC programs will be automatically considered for a medical waiver. Though AROTC will probably change in the near future, you will be required to write a letter requesting medical waiver consideration to the address listed in the DoDMERB letter you’ll receive. The request only needs to contain a statement “Request I, full name and Social Security Number, be considered for a medical waiver.” The waiver authority will have all the records that DoDMERB possessed to render our decision.
6. Wavers in general – Waivers are individually based. A condition, injury, illness, disease, etc., has different effects on a person’s ability to function. This is dependent on severity, frequency, where on the spectrum of the malady the applicant currently may be, etc. So, when the question is asked, “Do they often waive for THIS?” There is NOT going to be a general answer. Also, the Services and programs in that Service waive to the needs of the Service in terms of their mission to access so many folks. If the specific program is MEETING their manpower requirements, medical waivers would be issued in far fewer cases than if a Service/program is increasing the numbers of personnel in the force.
7. Waiver timelines – The waiver authorities will render their waiver decisions based on their workload; complexity of the case; whether or not additional consultants are utilized in the decision making process AND the consultant’s ability to be responsive; etc. There is NOT standard timeline for rendering a waiver decision. All waiver authorities are dedicate to providing a comprehensive evaluation and issuing as timely a decision as possible.
8. Waiver criteria – The main focus of all waiver decisions is centered on the ability to train, be commissioned, and be world-wide deployable upon graduation. In applying this objective, some of the questions that are considered are: a) Is the condition progressive? b) Is the condition subject to aggravation by military service? c) Will the condition preclude satisfactory completion of prescribed training and subsequent military duty? d) Will the condition constitute an undue hazard to the applicant or to others the applicant will be charged in leading, particularly under combat conditions?
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Hi there Mr. Mullen - Just thought I would send you a note to say "Guess things are slowing down a bit after the mad, mad, mad rush." Thank you again for all your personalized attention and reassurance. I know that my son appreciates you as well. 90 days to I-Day! I have already cried.
parent2009
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The Waiting Game
Put your seatbelts on folks - you are in for a bumpy ride. My son has been waiting since last August for his waiver.
Put your seatbelts on folks - you are in for a bumpy ride. My son has been waiting since last August for his waiver.
Blue Leader
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That's crazy....I guess they have to tell you soon eh? I had read that they all have to be settled by July 1st. Somebody posted below that the Coast Guard academy has a June 1st deadline so I'm not sure if there is (1) set deadline or what.
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^^^
There is a set deadline for all DoDMERB waivers to be completed and approved by each SA (for candidates with Conditional appointments with waivers pending).
In the case of USCGA the deadline for DoDMERB is 01 June 2010.
I would check with the Admission's department for the SA in question for their deadline.
There is a set deadline for all DoDMERB waivers to be completed and approved by each SA (for candidates with Conditional appointments with waivers pending).
In the case of USCGA the deadline for DoDMERB is 01 June 2010.
I would check with the Admission's department for the SA in question for their deadline.
k2rider
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I hope you're right. I just received an e-mail today from the ROTC program at my daughters school of choice and they told me there is no set deadline....and they've actually had kids start school without a waiver answer yet!!!!
I don't know about other folks but we go with that that option because if the waiver was denied, we couldn't get afford the tuition alone to that school, much less everything else as well.
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All Service ROTC programs = Pls read your scholarship offer paperwork closely...not frm DoDMERB, but from AROTC, AFROTC, NROTC, USMC Option...If you do NOT get DoDMERB qualified or waived by the end of the
1st semester, the applicant "may" be liable to pay the costs/fees for the 1st semester.
Many folks can't afford to go to a particular school without assurance of the scholarship. Some folks "gamble" that they will be cleared or waived.
1st semester, the applicant "may" be liable to pay the costs/fees for the 1st semester.
Many folks can't afford to go to a particular school without assurance of the scholarship. Some folks "gamble" that they will be cleared or waived.
k2rider
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My daughter got a call from the ROTC staff at her chosen school and they were able to verify thru some "backdoor contacts" that her waiver was approved 
We have previously been told that there are no other remedials pending so now we just need to stand by for the stamp of approval from DoDMERB.
For those of you that may still be waiting, my daughter received her initial DQ on April 7th or 8th and received the call from ROTC on June 18th so her wait was a lilttle over (2) months. We then received a letter from the Command Surgeon last week. The letter was dated June 14th...no updates on the DoDMERB site though since April 9th but I'm sure they are rather busy. busy, busy with all the academies gearing up this week.
We have previously been told that there are no other remedials pending so now we just need to stand by for the stamp of approval from DoDMERB.For those of you that may still be waiting, my daughter received her initial DQ on April 7th or 8th and received the call from ROTC on June 18th so her wait was a lilttle over (2) months. We then received a letter from the Command Surgeon last week. The letter was dated June 14th...no updates on the DoDMERB site though since April 9th but I'm sure they are rather busy. busy, busy with all the academies gearing up this week.
AFROTC Depression waiver
I have a related question. I will be participating in AFROTC and am wondering how long do AFROTC waivers take to go through(typically). I think my situation is different from most as I am prior service and was seen for minor depression while enlisted (for non-duty related reasons).I am no longer taking the medications and it has never affected my ability to perform my duties. I have not taken my physical yet for ROTC, but from reading this forum it seems I can automatically expect to be DQ'd and require a waiver. My main concern is will the need for a waiver affect my participation in the program as I wait for it?
I have a related question. I will be participating in AFROTC and am wondering how long do AFROTC waivers take to go through(typically). I think my situation is different from most as I am prior service and was seen for minor depression while enlisted (for non-duty related reasons).I am no longer taking the medications and it has never affected my ability to perform my duties. I have not taken my physical yet for ROTC, but from reading this forum it seems I can automatically expect to be DQ'd and require a waiver. My main concern is will the need for a waiver affect my participation in the program as I wait for it?
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K2Rider = Once an applicant was determined to NOT meet medical standards (DQ), waiver decisions are provided by the specific program medical waiver authority and the decision for 4 year applicants (ROTC or SAs) come via letter to the applicant from the ROTC program or the SA. For in-college ROTC, the decision comes from the waiver auth to the Commander to the applicant. DoDMERB posts the decision on the website.
Success2B - U would be best served to cut and paste your posting; provide full name and last 4 SSN; and send to me at Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil. I can assist U better from there
Success2B - U would be best served to cut and paste your posting; provide full name and last 4 SSN; and send to me at Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil. I can assist U better from there
in the last scenario, was that person still offered an appointment for the upcoming year?
or reapplying was the only option?
SoccerMom2015
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Waiver process
Is there a way to get a status update on a waiver that was submitted? DS DoDMERB account says Pending Waiver Submission/Review. He has an LOA and nom and his file should be under review at BUMED. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Is there a way to get a status update on a waiver that was submitted? DS DoDMERB account says Pending Waiver Submission/Review. He has an LOA and nom and his file should be under review at BUMED. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
It could be made less frustrating
Hi, my son has been awarded an Army ROTC scholarship contingent upon his being medically qualified, but he did not medically qualify and is waiting to hear whether he will get a waiver. He returned the scholarship acceptance letter last March, and we have had anxiety about it ever since, due to delays on the Cadet Command side of things and also due to ignorance of the process.
Either the letter announcing the scholarship award should or the initial DODMERB paperwork should outline some explanation of the procedure, along with a note stating that if one is not medically qualified by the end of the first semester of school they could end up paying back the tuition. We did not find out about that little nugget of information until a few weeks before school started and my son had already lost other scholarship opportunities. It would have been nice to know that before there was no real choice in the matter. It should be written down clearly. We will have to pay back over 10k if my son does not medically qualify, because the University that the scholarship was offered at is out of state for us. Trust me I would not have taken that risk.
Also, the candidate should be told that if they meet conditions x,y or z it is grounds for a medical disqualification. The rules are pretty clear, so the candidate should be told. For example, my son had childhood asthma. The rule is that anyone with anything to do with asthma on their medical records past the age of 13 will automatically be disqualified. Yet we had to go through this whole thing where we get exams done, and wait for the results, then a request comes for us to send all of the medical records. All of that takes a lot of time. If, on the initial paperwork, there was the requirement for us to send the medical records then we would have found out much much earlier that he was going to be medically disqualified. We could have prepared him for another route. As it is the time was too late and we had no other choice.
I am not in any way upset about the fact that the ROTC scholarship process is selective. That is completely understandable. I am aware of how much medical conditions can cost the gov in lost duty time and medical retirements etc. I just think that more information should be given to candidates about the process.
It is unfortunate if there is not at least more medical testing requested for my son, as he is participating in training for the Ranger Challenge. He was one of the few who qualified, and he was one of the few that completed a six mile ruck run (in full uniform with a loaded ruck sack).
Hi, my son has been awarded an Army ROTC scholarship contingent upon his being medically qualified, but he did not medically qualify and is waiting to hear whether he will get a waiver. He returned the scholarship acceptance letter last March, and we have had anxiety about it ever since, due to delays on the Cadet Command side of things and also due to ignorance of the process.
Either the letter announcing the scholarship award should or the initial DODMERB paperwork should outline some explanation of the procedure, along with a note stating that if one is not medically qualified by the end of the first semester of school they could end up paying back the tuition. We did not find out about that little nugget of information until a few weeks before school started and my son had already lost other scholarship opportunities. It would have been nice to know that before there was no real choice in the matter. It should be written down clearly. We will have to pay back over 10k if my son does not medically qualify, because the University that the scholarship was offered at is out of state for us. Trust me I would not have taken that risk.
Also, the candidate should be told that if they meet conditions x,y or z it is grounds for a medical disqualification. The rules are pretty clear, so the candidate should be told. For example, my son had childhood asthma. The rule is that anyone with anything to do with asthma on their medical records past the age of 13 will automatically be disqualified. Yet we had to go through this whole thing where we get exams done, and wait for the results, then a request comes for us to send all of the medical records. All of that takes a lot of time. If, on the initial paperwork, there was the requirement for us to send the medical records then we would have found out much much earlier that he was going to be medically disqualified. We could have prepared him for another route. As it is the time was too late and we had no other choice.
I am not in any way upset about the fact that the ROTC scholarship process is selective. That is completely understandable. I am aware of how much medical conditions can cost the gov in lost duty time and medical retirements etc. I just think that more information should be given to candidates about the process.
It is unfortunate if there is not at least more medical testing requested for my son, as he is participating in training for the Ranger Challenge. He was one of the few who qualified, and he was one of the few that completed a six mile ruck run (in full uniform with a loaded ruck sack).