Waiver Timeframe?

@vadad23...
May we ask what the "final review by the Admissions Committee" means or entails please? Our DS was also granted a waiver this week and the same wording was used. We are curious what that means. Thanks so much for any insight and Good luck to you and your DS. God bless~!

Since DS had the LOA, his spot had been "reserved". However, RC mentioned that his file still had to go in front of the Admissions Committee to get the formal appointment approved. Probably to complete the process (dot the I's and cross the T's). Luckily, all went off without a hitch.

Hopefully you will experience the same thing. Best of luck to your DS!
 
Since DS had the LOA, his spot had been "reserved". However, RC mentioned that his file still had to go in front of the Admissions Committee to get the formal appointment approved. Probably to complete the process (dot the I's and cross the T's). Luckily, all went off without a hitch.

Hopefully you will experience the same thing. Best of luck to your DS!
Congratulations! May I ask what state/district your DS is from please? Thanks and GOD BLESS
 
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?
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?
Question about what you say re: AROTC -- that applicants to AROTC (but not NROTC and AFROTC) need to write a letter specifically requesting a waiver -- are you sure that is correct? I ask because My DS got a DQ letter from DODMERB for his AROTC 4-year national scholarship (for mild eczema), and the letter specifically states that he will AUTOMATICALLY be reviewed for a medical waiver; it says nothing about him having to write a letter requesting a waiver. And that is also how it worked for his NROTC and AFROTC scholarships (and he got a waiver from both; we are still waiting on AROTC). Let me know if I'm missing something there. I'm concerned because the AROTC waiver is taking MUCH longer than it took for NROTC and AFROTC, and my DS wants to use his AROTC scholarship, but I'm really nervous because that is the one where he doesn't yet have the waiver. Thanks so much!
 
Question about what you say re: AROTC -- that applicants to AROTC (but not NROTC and AFROTC) need to write a letter specifically requesting a waiver -- are you sure that is correct?

Mr. Mullen wrote that in 2008 and noted that AROTC will likely change. I would go with what your DS received from DoDMERB as being more accurate than a nine year old post.
 
So my DS FINALLY received his medical waiver from Army ROTC for his mild eczema (he received it on June 29th). HUGE relief!!
 
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. :thumb:

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:thumb:
May I email you as well?
 
I think the Mullen post is old, AROTCDAD said he wrote it in 2008. . Not sure he is at DODMERB anymore, though I really don't know.
 
Similar question: DS is supposed to fill out a questionnaire about eczema he had as an infant (it was gone by the time he started school). How long after he faces it should he see a decision?
 
After he fills out his questionnaire, if he is disqualified, he'll need a waiver. Waiver decisions could take a week, half a year, or any amount of time between these two (sometimes less or more, even). If your DS is a priority to whatever institution he is applying (LOA to an SA, top ROTC candidate, or some other indication that the institution is interested in him), they may move his paperwork up a bit so that he sees a decision faster and being a priority candidate can sometimes increase the likelihood that his condition is waived. Keep in mind that if he is an ROTC candidate he will automatically be considered for a waiver, but if he is applying to an SA, his officer may or may not file for a waiver depending on his competitiveness. Luckily, childhood eczema is a waivable condition, but I am not a doctor so I do not know if it will be waived. I only know it's been waived before. A week after I received my LOA, my waiver was approved. I waited a total of a month and a half, and my waiver is for a childhood diagnosis of ADHD which I outgrew. Stopped being prescribed or taking meds years ago and a psychiatrist confirmed that I no longer demonstrate any symptoms.

As for how long it takes and what the decision will be, of course I can't tell you. I am not a doctor, but above is some information that might help!

I know the process is long! Buckle up, have faith, and prepare for hurry-up-and-wait time! :D
 
Hello,

I am new to the forum and am not sure if I should start a new thread or start my question here.

My son was recently dq’d by DoDMERB for history of anxiety when he was 12. He worked through his anxiety and has written a personal letter and so has his counselor.

At this point, do we just wait to see if he gets a nom and/or scholarship and then hope to get a waiver?

Nice to see the waiver success stories on here that he may actually have hope.
 
Hello,

I am new to the forum and am not sure if I should start a new thread or start my question here.

My son was recently dq’d by DoDMERB for history of anxiety when he was 12. He worked through his anxiety and has written a personal letter and so has his counselor.

At this point, do we just wait to see if he gets a nom and/or scholarship and then hope to get a waiver?

Nice to see the waiver success stories on here that he may actually have hope.
There are many on here that have a great deal more expertise than me, but I can speak from a parent perspective as my DD was dq'd last year.

If your DS is applying to one of the SA's, they will request a waiver if they wish to strongly consider him for the class. The waiver is 100% at the discretion of the SA.

If your DS is considering ROTC and awarded a scholarship, the ROTC branch will automatically request a waiver. It will then be up to your DS to provide his supporting documentation for consideration for the waiver. The scholarship would be awarded and just not 'activated' until he receives a waiver. In other words, he would begin his freshman year with his ROTC unit along with his peers while waiting for the waiver process to conclude.

Be prepared to be patient, as with every other part of this process. My DD's waiver was received over one year from the date of her dq. In the end, all of her work and commitment paid off!
 
Hello,

I am new to the forum and am not sure if I should start a new thread or start my question here.

My son was recently dq’d by DoDMERB for history of anxiety when he was 12. He worked through his anxiety and has written a personal letter and so has his counselor.

At this point, do we just wait to see if he gets a nom and/or scholarship and then hope to get a waiver?

Nice to see the waiver success stories on here that he may actually have hope.
There are many on here that have a great deal more expertise than me, but I can speak from a parent perspective as my DD was dq'd last year.

If your DS is applying to one of the SA's, they will request a waiver if they wish to strongly consider him for the class. The waiver is 100% at the discretion of the SA.

If your DS is considering ROTC and awarded a scholarship, the ROTC branch will automatically request a waiver. It will then be up to your DS to provide his supporting documentation for consideration for the waiver. The scholarship would be awarded and just not 'activated' until he receives a waiver. In other words, he would begin his freshman year with his ROTC unit along with his peers while waiting for the waiver process to conclude.

Be prepared to be patient, as with every other part of this process. My DD's waiver was received over one year from the date of her dq. In the end, all of her work and commitment paid off!
 
Since my post, my son was awarded a congressional nomination to both USNA and USMA. Still waiting to hear re: the second round of ROTC, too. Is there something we should do for the SAs? Do we need an advocate? Or just wait to find out if they find him competitive?
 
My DS's waiver was initiated by USMA on Jan 11 and it was approved on Feb 13. USMMA initiated a waiver, not sure when as we did not get notified that they were initiating it but it is still pending approval.
 
I was DQ'd in December, medical waiver was requested by USMA and AROTC in early January and was approved on April 25. Recipient of 4 year ROTC scholarship (declined) appointment (accepted) to USMA on May 1. Waiver process is grueling don't give up!
 
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