If a candidate has been informed by SA(s) that a waiver has been requested for him/her, is there any reason to be contacting DoDMERB to check on the status of the waiver request? There appears to be conflicting information regarding this. The impression given is that at this point it is out of DoDMERB’s hands and into those of the waiver authorities at the SA(s). I have repeatedly searched threads and come up with all sorts of conflicting information. TIA.
Waiver
- Thread starter orbornmom
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orbornmom -- DoDMERB doesn't provide medical waivers. If your DS/DD has been informed by an SA (by letter or in the portal) that the SA is pursuing a medical waiver, that is actually a very good sign. It usually means the SA considers the candidate very competitive to attain an appointment. The medical waiver authority is at each SA (or national ROTC command). Who it is varies a bit with each SA (and natinoal ROTC command). At USAFA it is the USAFA Surgeon General. At USMA or USNA it is their respective Superintendents supported by their medical staffs. So deciding whether to grant a waiver is out of DoDMERB's hands. You may need to send additional medical to DoDMERB as part of the waiver process. You will be contacted either by the SA or DoDMERB if you need to do that. DoDMERB just decides if a candidate is "Q" or "DQ", not if they get a waiver. Sometimes DoDMERB will change a "DQ" to a "Q" based on updated information discovered during the medical waiver review process. I think that is where the confusion comes in. It is up to the SA (or national ROTC command) to decide if they want to pursue a medical waiver for a candidate, and it is then up to the medical waiver authority at each SA (or national ROTC command) to decide whether to grant such a medical waiver. Granting a medical waiver involves judgement. Some medical authorities are more "conservative" than others so it is very possible for one SA to grant the waiver while another may deny the waiver.
Best wishes to you and your candidate and thank you to them for their willingness to serve.
Best wishes to you and your candidate and thank you to them for their willingness to serve.
Thank you so much for your reply. It sounds as if the only reason one would contact DoDMERB after a waiver has been requested is to see if any additional information has been requested by the authority and just hasn’t made its way to the candidate yet? The DoDMERB tech was very helpful during the remedial process in giving status updates. I just wasn’t sure if she would have any knowledge once the waiver had been requested and could perhaps be “nudged along”. Does that make sense? At this point it sounds like more waiting is the only thing to do. Thanks again.
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From our experience, it will say "waiver granted" and it will say which waiver authority granted it -- USAFA, or AROTC or some other waiver authority.
I must say, when we saw that change in status happen on the DoDMERB portal almost 3 years ago, it was a great day ... one of the greatest days after a long battle.
I wish you all that same positive result, and thank you for your desire to serve.
I must say, when we saw that change in status happen on the DoDMERB portal almost 3 years ago, it was a great day ... one of the greatest days after a long battle.
I wish you all that same positive result, and thank you for your desire to serve.
Thank you so much! I am so hopeful that this is the final step for my DS's appointment. He has a LOA from USMA, a nomination and now the medical waiver is approved! Praying that a phone call and BFE are in his future!
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In our experience, at this point the DoDMERB tech knows no more than you do and they have no influence over or greater insight into the medical data review by the SA medical authority.
While DoDMERB offices are located in a building on the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs . . .
"DoDMERB is located at 8034 Edgerton Drive, Suite 132, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), CO 80840-2200. DoDMERB is a tenant organization that has no direct relationship with USAFA."
. . . they are in a completely separate building from the where the USAFA medical waiver authority offices are located.
USAFA 10th Medical Group:
Address: 4102 Pinion Dr, USAFA, CO 80840
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/410...447ff5a5603b3!2m2!1d-104.8268802!2d38.9571274