When will USAFA initiate the waiver process?

A

ashlynm2025

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I was medically disqualified by DODMERB on September 15th. I completed my USAFA application on October 18th. On average, how long after application completion will USAFA request a waiver? The Candidate Booklet reads, "If you are competitive for an appointment to the Air Force Academy or one of our preparatory programs and your file is complete, we may process a medical waiver for USAFA on your behalf." I like to think that I'm a relatively competitive candidate, but I've started to worry because it has been almost two months since I completed my application, and I haven't heard anything from USAFA regarding starting the waiver process.
 
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For our DS, notification of a waiver was within 48 hours, but then his application was complete (except for DODMERB and NOM) when the DQ came in. I've also read on this forum that a request can take several weeks/months. As with all things in this process, there are so many variables and those variables change. I've read that if they don't request a waiver right away, they might at a later point in time because the parameters have changed. Hang in there - it's not an easy wait I know.
 
I have the same timeline as you. I have been waiting for a few months now. I emailed my counselor and they said once they decide if they will pursue a waiver, they will let you know. It’s hard, I know.
 
Medical waiver processing is determined by USAFA Admissions. It is done on a case-by-case basis. It may be instantly for some and take a few months for others. There are lots of factors that go into their decision for each individual :wiggle:
 
Okay...I hate being the "heavy" but as an ALO, I think I should say a little here...

The worst thing in the world...is the wait and the not-knowing. And now I'm going to be the bad guy, but I think it's necessary.

When they say "If you are competitive for an appointment to the Air Force Academy or one of our preparatory programs and your file is complete, we may process a medical waiver for USAFA on your behalf" you need to look closely at what that says and what it means. The first thing to focus upon is this: "we MAY." That means, they "may" or they "may not" and it's up to them. It does NOT mean "we will automatically" do this. Here's where reality is harsh: what if they have 2000 fully qualified candidates that need no waivers? They're only going to pick @1200 of them for an appointment...do they really need to seek ANY waivers? (Okay, in my ALO career I've never heard of a year where that happened; no waivers sought, but in a worst-case scenario...)

But would they seek a waiver given that scenario?

Maybe.

If you fit a category they're looking to fill, or you have a specific talent or ability they're interested in (and I don't just mean sports). You might be from an area that hasn't had an appointee, or is underrepresented, a community service guru, or, or, or...there's all sorts of reasons they "may" choose to seek a waiver. And they may not.

What I tell my candidates is this: do EVERYTHING you can to make your package the one that stands out!! Update your counselor (these days either the Blue or Silver Team) with anything new that impacts you: a new score, an award, anything that says "I'm your choice!!!" You could be sitting on the bubble...and never know it...and then one day you get "student of the week" and that's the tipping agent and they request a waiver review.

Bottom line? Until the time is up, you're informed that you're not getting an offer, etc...etc...then you press forward as if it's just around the corner.. I had a candidate (true story) years ago...had a DQ...heard nothing...the first week of May, still nothing which I'd never seen. I called admissions...they told me nothing. He gets his cap and gown, goes through baccalaureate at his high school, accepted his admission to a local university...and then..."we need more information on XXXX medical issue..."

He received a waiver and appointment about 10 days before his report date.

Okay...that was a few years ago...but I believe the process can still happen just like that. Or not.

Keep the faith, press forward, and what's meant to be will be.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
flieger83 said:
Okay...I hate being the "heavy" but as an ALO, I think I should say a little here...

The worst thing in the world...is the wait and the not-knowing. And now I'm going to be the bad guy, but I think it's necessary.

When they say "If you are competitive for an appointment to the Air Force Academy or one of our preparatory programs and your file is complete, we may process a medical waiver for USAFA on your behalf" you need to look closely at what that says and what it means. The first thing to focus upon is this: "we MAY." That means, they "may" or they "may not" and it's up to them. It does NOT mean "we will automatically" do this. Here's where reality is harsh: what if they have 2000 fully qualified candidates that need no waivers? They're only going to pick @1200 of them for an appointment...do they really need to seek ANY waivers? (Okay, in my ALO career I've never heard of a year where that happened; no waivers sought, but in a worst-case scenario...)

But would they seek a waiver given that scenario?

Maybe.

If you fit a category they're looking to fill, or you have a specific talent or ability they're interested in (and I don't just mean sports). You might be from an area that hasn't had an appointee, or is underrepresented, a community service guru, or, or, or...there's all sorts of reasons they "may" choose to seek a waiver. And they may not.

What I tell my candidates is this: do EVERYTHING you can to make your package the one that stands out!! Update your counselor (these days either the Blue or Silver Team) with anything new that impacts you: a new score, an award, anything that says "I'm your choice!!!" You could be sitting on the bubble...and never know it...and then one day you get "student of the week" and that's the tipping agent and they request a waiver review.

Bottom line? Until the time is up, you're informed that you're not getting an offer, etc...etc...then you press forward as if it's just around the corner.. I had a candidate (true story) years ago...had a DQ...heard nothing...the first week of May, still nothing which I'd never seen. I called admissions...they told me nothing. He gets his cap and gown, goes through baccalaureate at his high school, accepted his admission to a local university...and then..."we need more information on XXXX medical issue..."

He received a waiver and appointment about 10 days before his report date.

Okay...that was a few years ago...but I believe the process can still happen just like that. Or not.

Keep the faith, press forward, and what's meant to be will be.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Click to expand...
Thanks for such a diligent response! I have a principal nom... does that "require" them to request a waiver? How would you say the process works for principal nominees? Is it the same "they might... they might not?"
 
maschneider93 said:
Thanks for such a diligent response! I have a principal nom... does that "require" them to request a waiver? How would you say the process works for principal nominees? Is it the same "they might... they might not?"
Click to expand...
Wow...that's a superb question and to be straight, I don't know the "absolute" answer. However, I think I know the "practical" answer. Appointments to USAFA are governed by 32 CFR 901.27. When you dig into that, here's what you'll find:

32 CFR § 901.27 - Charging of appointees.
§ 901.27 Charging of appointees.
Appointment of candidates is according to § 901.18. Selecting of the charged cadets from the nominees for each vacancy is accomplished as follows:

(a) Principal nominee, numbered-alternate method. Principal, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged. Otherwise, the 1st alternate, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged or the next succeeding numbered alternate who meets the admission criteria is appointed and charged.

Now...I think the telling part is this: "Principal, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged." The "catch" here is: if you have a DQ, then you don't meet the admission criteria. However, you've been nominated as a "Principal" by your MOC...so does that carry any weight in obtaining a waiver review? And the answer I have to give you is: I don't know. I have never had that situation come up. This is a question that must be asked of admissions; specifically your counseling team.

I really think you should get in touch with the admissions people and your MOC to see what they can tell you.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
flieger83 said:
Okay...I hate being the "heavy" but as an ALO, I think I should say a little here...

The worst thing in the world...is the wait and the not-knowing. And now I'm going to be the bad guy, but I think it's necessary.

When they say "If you are competitive for an appointment to the Air Force Academy or one of our preparatory programs and your file is complete, we may process a medical waiver for USAFA on your behalf" you need to look closely at what that says and what it means. The first thing to focus upon is this: "we MAY." That means, they "may" or they "may not" and it's up to them. It does NOT mean "we will automatically" do this. Here's where reality is harsh: what if they have 2000 fully qualified candidates that need no waivers? They're only going to pick @1200 of them for an appointment...do they really need to seek ANY waivers? (Okay, in my ALO career I've never heard of a year where that happened; no waivers sought, but in a worst-case scenario...)

But would they seek a waiver given that scenario?

Maybe.

If you fit a category they're looking to fill, or you have a specific talent or ability they're interested in (and I don't just mean sports). You might be from an area that hasn't had an appointee, or is underrepresented, a community service guru, or, or, or...there's all sorts of reasons they "may" choose to seek a waiver. And they may not.

What I tell my candidates is this: do EVERYTHING you can to make your package the one that stands out!! Update your counselor (these days either the Blue or Silver Team) with anything new that impacts you: a new score, an award, anything that says "I'm your choice!!!" You could be sitting on the bubble...and never know it...and then one day you get "student of the week" and that's the tipping agent and they request a waiver review.

Bottom line? Until the time is up, you're informed that you're not getting an offer, etc...etc...then you press forward as if it's just around the corner.. I had a candidate (true story) years ago...had a DQ...heard nothing...the first week of May, still nothing which I'd never seen. I called admissions...they told me nothing. He gets his cap and gown, goes through baccalaureate at his high school, accepted his admission to a local university...and then..."we need more information on XXXX medical issue..."

He received a waiver and appointment about 10 days before his report date.

Okay...that was a few years ago...but I believe the process can still happen just like that. Or not.

Keep the faith, press forward, and what's meant to be will be.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Click to expand...
flieger83 said:
Wow...that's a superb question and to be straight, I don't know the "absolute" answer. However, I think I know the "practical" answer. Appointments to USAFA are governed by 32 CFR 901.27. When you dig into that, here's what you'll find:

32 CFR § 901.27 - Charging of appointees.
§ 901.27 Charging of appointees.
Appointment of candidates is according to § 901.18. Selecting of the charged cadets from the nominees for each vacancy is accomplished as follows:

(a) Principal nominee, numbered-alternate method. Principal, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged. Otherwise, the 1st alternate, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged or the next succeeding numbered alternate who meets the admission criteria is appointed and charged.

Now...I think the telling part is this: "Principal, if meeting the admission criteria, is appointed and charged." The "catch" here is: if you have a DQ, then you don't meet the admission criteria. However, you've been nominated as a "Principal" by your MOC...so does that carry any weight? And the answer I have to give you is: I don't know. I have never had that situation come up. This is a question that must be asked of admissions; specifically your counseling team.

I really think you should get in touch with the admissions people and your MOC to see what they can tell you.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Click to expand...
This is definitely the the most helpful response I read on the website regarding medical waiver after receiving a principal nomination. My daughter received her principal nomination and is wondering whether it will trigger a waiver soon. Her ALO has been absent, she has reached out but did not receive any responses. USAFA is her first choice and this process seems like a big black box. I will ask her to reach out to the admission teams. Thank you.
 
Just a data point. My DS just got a message regarding the initiation of the waiver process. She completed her entire application about one month ago, and completed one interview with her MOC this past week.
 
I know this does not help, but.... you can complete your application in September and USAFA may opt to wait until May or June to pursue a waiver simply because of other things they see in the candidate profile. Hypothetically, if the candidate were considered "average" for those who are appointed, they may find themselves on the National Wait list and if at some point in the future, their number came up - USAFA may then consider the waiver review and grant it at that time.

Sadly, the process is not as straight forward or as fast as anyone would like. There are different toll gates along the road and some candidates sit at different points along the process journey for longer than other candidates. Completion of one gate does not automatically make you next in line for the next gate. As they seek to round out the class demographics, it takes time to work everything out. That wait is quite agonizing and hard to communicate and comprehend... instead, you have to live it to understand it. It's December. We have a few months to go in this cycle.

FYI - if it helps, my waiver came in June.
 
maschneider93 said:
Thanks for such a diligent response! I have a principal nom... does that "require" them to request a waiver? How would you say the process works for principal nominees? Is it the same "they might... they might not?"
Click to expand...
I think they always request the initial waiver. They do for AFROTC scholarships for sure.
 
USAFA will request a waiver for those candidates they deem competitive for an appointment. While having a PNom is one element of being competitive, my understanding is someone can be a P Nom and not be competitive in other areas, so the decision for the SA is still the same and the PNom does not circumvent that process/evaluation. AFROTC scholarship candidates I believe do get waivers requested, that’s a different process. I’m sure others will comment here - there are others on this forum that will know for sure.
 
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