Will I be able to do a cool job?

[OiledPancakes]

I am currently working on getting a waiver for high-frequency hearing loss in one ear. I am told it is likely I will get a waiver, but what does this mean exactly? Will I be able to do whatever job I want? Will I have to get a waiver for it again when I want to commission? I want to go into special operations or special forces, and I want to make sure I will not be stuck with a desk job. I would hate to finish four years at the academy and be told I can't do the job I want.

Also, does anyone know if USAFA allows hearing waivers? I saw online they do not, but it says I am under waiver review for USAFA, so I am confused.

Received nominations to all three academies today, so I am feeling optimistic about the process, but I want to do a job I will enjoy.

Thank you to anyone who has information for me.

 

[Capt MJ]

Addressing some of your points:

“All three academies.” There are 5 federal academies. They may be small, but they are equally in the SA family.

Desk jobs. All officers do desk jobs at some point, rotating between operational and non-operational tours. Even on operational duty, there is associated admin to be done. It’s not all “Call of Duty” action 24/7. Performance evaluations, after-action reports, mission plans, resource requests… learn to appreciate the intelligence analysts who spend hours at a screen developing critical info to inform the plan you are executing, or the logistics types who figure out what you need, when and where, and many others who have your back.

You have to work the process. Though the accession military medical standard is the same, different services have different waiver policies. That is because missions, operating environments and human working requirements differ.

There is another pre-comm physical, typically in your junior year at a SA. Everything gets reviewed again. Officer communities you are eligible to request will be firmed up.

“Under waiver review” - see screenshot below of a post by the now-retired and much-missed former Deputy, Director, DoDMERB.

 

[OiledPancakes]

Thank you for the information. I did not mean disrespect when saying "all three academies." I just meant for nominations purposes, those were the three I applied to, and I received it for those three. Also, I do not have a problem with working a desk job at all and was not using it as a derogatory term (although it does tend to have that connotation). I am considering working a desk job, but the academy I decide to attend depends on what job I want to do in the military. If I knew I could not see combat or the skies because of my medical problem, then I would almost surely attend USAFA because of their Operations Research Analyst commission (desk job). Navy does not offer this and I do not believe Army does either.

Who should I contact to figure out if I will be eligible for certain commissions? Will I not be able to find out until the pre-comm physical?

 

[Usnavy2019]

Your pre-commissioning physical will be your best bet. As the illustrious @Capt MJ said, the DoDMERB standards are the same, but service medical standards differ, if that makes sense. In other words, DoDMERB will issue a Q/DQ based on its standards independent of the commissioning program(s) the candidate is applying to. Different commissioning sources will waive based on service specific criteria. Waivers are also source specific too. There are times that someone will not get a waiver for USNA and will get one for USAFA and NROTC. Waivers chances are all case-by-case and also factor in force manning (if the military needs people, more waivers are granted).

However, DoDMERB and service waivers upon initial application are only for entry into the commissioning program in question. People will sometimes get separated for lasting or severe medical issues that occur while enrolled. Also, just because one meets DoDMERB/service commission criteria, does not mean that they are medically cleared for all jobs. Common communities that have additional medical requirements are aviation, undersea, and SOF. Those also differ by service. USAF pilots and USN pilots have slightly different medical standards, for example. When I was getting my pre-commissioning physical, I had to get get an asthma waiver (and PRK) to fly. I met the DoDMERB standard for asthma when I applied, though.

Medical standards can and do change and so do waiver requirements. That is why your pre-commissioning physical will give you the most clarity. Not meeting or meeting a standard today might not be the case when you are medically evaluated down the line. I think USAFA would be the right fit for you since it has more career fields that you are interested in. That is the same criteria I applied in my SA search: "What branches have missions and occupations that interest me if I could not be a pilot?"

I applaud you for looking past your four years as any SA is a temporary experience. It is bad headwork to choose an SA because you love the school, but can't stand the idea of serving in that branch after graduation.

 

[OiledPancakes]

Thank you so much! I guess I will just go with my gut on what academy and hope for the best when it comes to waivers.

 

[Capt MJ]

Your pre-commissioning physical will be your best bet. As the illustrious @Capt MJ said, the DoDMERB standards are the same, but service medical standards differ, if that makes sense. In other words, DoDMERB will issue a Q/DQ based on its standards independent of the commissioning program(s) the candidate is applying to. Different commissioning sources will waive based on service specific criteria. Waivers are also source specific too. There are times that someone will not get a waiver for USNA and will get one for USAFA and NROTC. Waivers chances are all case-by-case and also factor in force manning (if the military needs people, more waivers are granted).

However, DoDMERB and service waivers upon initial application are only for entry into the commissioning program in question. People will sometimes get separated for lasting or severe medical issues that occur while enrolled. Also, just because one meets DoDMERB/service commission criteria, does not mean that they are medically cleared for all jobs. Common communities that have additional medical requirements are aviation, undersea, and SOF. Those also differ by service. USAF pilots and USN pilots have slightly different medical standards, for example. When I was getting my pre-commissioning physical, I had to get get an asthma waiver (and PRK) to fly. I met the DoDMERB standard for asthma when I applied, though.

Medical standards can and do change and so do waiver requirements. That is why your pre-commissioning physical will give you the most clarity. Not meeting or meeting a standard today might not be the case when you are medically evaluated down the line. I think USAFA would be the right fit for you since it has more career fields that you are interested in. That is the same criteria I applied in my SA search: "What branches have missions and occupations that interest me if I could not be a pilot?"

I applaud you for looking past your four years as any SA is a temporary experience. It is bad headwork to choose an SA because you love the school, but can't stand the idea of serving in that branch after graduation.

Great post.

And, “illustrious” is starting down that slippery slope to “venerable,” but I appreciate the kindness.

 

[justdoit19]

I am currently working on getting a waiver for high-frequency hearing loss in one ear. I am told it is likely I will get a waiver, but what does this mean exactly? Will I be able to do whatever job I want? Will I have to get a waiver for it again when I want to commission? I want to go into special operations or special forces, and I want to make sure I will not be stuck with a desk job. I would hate to finish four years at the academy and be told I can't do the job I want.

Also, does anyone know if USAFA allows hearing waivers? I saw online they do not, but it says I am under waiver review for USAFA, so I am confused.

Received nominations to all three academies today, so I am feeling optimistic about the process, but I want to do a job I will enjoy.

Thank you to anyone who has information for me.

Congrats on your noms. Dont let your optimism keep you from perusing alternate plan B’s. You want to have a plan should an appointment not ultimately come your way. It happens every year, that people are so optimistic they fail to have a back up plan. And are left scrambling.

 

[OiledPancakes]

Thanks for the advice. I am hoping for the best and planning for the worst. I am applying to a few civilian schools as well.