<p>Okay, so my friend (who is also a senior this year) has been in JROTC all 4 years at our high school, has held high leadership positions, (I think XO?), and all sorts of things that have made him a stand-out student.
He applied to all of the academies, plus the ROTC scholarships.
He has received a rotc scholarship to Embry-Riddle engineering, the Air force rotc scholarship, and an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy thus far.
However, over the weekend, he was sent an email that basically said that since he had suffered a hernia when he was 2 weeks old, he cannot serve in the military, and therefore lost EVERYTHING.
This kid is an athlete, and has never had any health problems. I just feel like the whole situation is ridiculous...Especially since they waited this long to let him know! He received the rotc/coast scholarships early on in the application process, so he was pretty much set. I think he applied to one backup school. (I mean if I had gotten a couple full rides, I wouldn't have bothered applying to many others either!) I feel terrible because he worked his butt off for 4 years to get those scholarships and appointments...and then they were just ripped out from under him.</p>
<p>Sorry for the rant. I guess moral of the story would be to apply to other schools. And don't depend on anything when it comes to money.<br>
Has anyone else experienced something like this? And any advice for him?</p>
<p>Ouch. Dodmerb strikes again, I assume. Unfortunately, your friend isn’t the only one to have his plans trashed for medical reasons - not that it will make it any easier for him to accept. The only advice I can give is </p>
<ol>
<li> Go through the appeal process and try to get the DQ overturned.</li>
<li> See if correcting the hernia is sufficient, then reapply next year.</li>
<li> Go to a senior military college (VT, VMI, Citadel, etc.) as a civilian student next year. With his background your friend would likely be very successful, and would graduate with great prospects in the civilian world. If he’s participated in sports and JROTC without problems, the hernia may not keep him from those programs.</li>
</ol>
<p>He can get his hernia surgically repaired and cleared for service.
Didn’t he need a physical to participate in ROTC?
Doctor must have missed it.
D’oh.</p>
<p>He’s had physicals all throughout his life, and it’s never been a problem till now.
I’m assuming that they would’ve fixed it if he had it at 2 weeks old?..not sure though</p>
<p>DoDMERB can grant waivers for things. A lot of people will have disqualifiers. I think I had two. Some things get waivered, but others don’t. He should submit any waiver information in a timely manner and pray for the best.</p>
<p>He needs to send an email with is DQ, name, address, phone number and last 4 digits of his SSN to:
<a href=“mailto:Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil”>Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil</a></p>
<p>Sounds like he was DQ’s on a “History of” and this will most likely be easily waived - if indeed he is healthy.
Good Luck!!</p>