<p>First, on my application status page it says “Status:Missing Information” under medical status. My application is “complete” however. I sent in the requested medical remidials, it just looks like they haven’t processed it yet. Is it still possible to recieve a LOA? I’m wondering if my application will get looked at during the first review board next week, or will they wait for my medical status to be cleared?</p>
<p>Second, I am a little worried because I logged into DoDMERB today and it said I was disqualified for “D141.50 - Allergic manifestations, history of anaphylaxis”. I had an allergic reaction from eating shrimp 6 years ago (got a bunch of red hives on my skin, nothing serious). I’m going to talk to them, is that really supposed to be a legitimate reason for disqualification? It happened so long ago, and I am 100% healthy otherwise. Would I have to go to a doctor and prove that I can eat shrimp now and not die, or something?</p>
<p>Andy-
It stays that way for awhile, then it will change to disqualified, or at least that happened to me. I don't know if USAFA will still consider you for an LOA, but I got one from WP even though I was disqualified. Do whatever you can to prove to DoDMERB that you're shrimp allergy won't be a problem.</p>
<p>As long as your REQUEST a waiver from ADMISSIONS they will still consider your for an appointment (early, LOA, regular, late). You will receive a conditional appointment on the condition your medical gets waived.</p>
<h2>Hmmm I am confused now. Yesterday my DoDMERB status page said this:</h2>
<p>Status: Disqualified</p>
<h2>D141.50 - Allergic manifestations, history of anaphylaxis</h2>
<h2>But now, one day later, it says this:</h2>
<p>Status: Pending Waiver Submission/Review</p>
<p>R250.40 - Pending waiver review by USAFA</p>
<h2>D141.50 - Allergic manifestations, history of anaphylaxis</h2>
<p>I haven't even done anything though. Does this mean the AFA is looking into it on their own? I know the admission review board is getting started on the applications around this time, did they process my application and initiate the waiver review after accepting my application? My ALO didn't have any immediate answers for me.</p>
<p>That is what my website changed to when my waiver stuff was starting in September. Still send them a letter requesting a waiver, just to be sure. I don't think it has anything to do with your application.</p>
<p>It automatically is set to pending waiver submission/review regardless of if you send a request in via dodmerb/admissions.</p>
<p>Deffinately make sure you start on it. I started mine back in July and they are just NOW requesting additional information... JULY!!! Call often, keep getting updates, get names. Take notes on each call and who you talked with. Relay the notes to your counselor and ALO. Admissions and DoDMERB dont like talking... you sometimes have to do the talking. Best advice: BE ACTIVE!! </p>
<p>Best of luck ... hope yours goes better than mine thus far.</p>
<p>EDIT: Yes - you can still get a LOA even if you are medically DQd BUT - you HAVE to request a waiver, otherwise they will not forward your application file. Once you request a medical waiver they will review your file for LOA.</p>
<p>Well it has been almost a month since I sent in a waiver request. AFA Application status page still says Disqualified under medical status. DoDMERB still says "Pending waiver submission/review". I was staying hopeful for an LOA, but my status still says "Candidate" even though people are reporting that their's has changed to "Letter of Assurance". Getting worried =(</p>
<p>You're right, they do not like talking. I talk to admissions and they say talk to the ALO. I talk to my ALO and he says talk to admissions, etc and so forth....it seems like they themselves don't even know what's going on...sighhhh</p>
<p>First of all, ALO's are EXPLICATELY told to not handle anything regarding medical waivers (it says so in their director or something).</p>
<p>I had a similar situation so let me explain: I submited a waiver request via admissions and that triggers DoDMERB to review it. For almost 2 months the DoDMERB website said "Pending waiver submission/review" I kept calling and they said "We are working on it"</p>
<p>After a while, a very nice sgt took the case on and looked into it. After a week of HIS investigation, he called me several times to keep me up todate. Eventaully i got to the tech sgt who works on waiver and she said she never got authorization from admissions to process waiver. </p>
<p>After more calls with Admissions, DoDMERB, full mail boxes, people on 2 week vacations, lines disconnecting and bad phone numbers, DoDMERB finally started processing my waiver (still waiting on more information...honestly, im not going to kill myself! That was a long time ago...).</p>
<p>Summery: Keep calling them! Dont let them forget your and make sure you take notes, names and numbers. If they are going to transfer you, ask for the number TWICE!</p>
<p>Okay thanks that is very helpful information. This medical issue is so insignificant and doesn't even apply to me anymore...I'm beginning to wish I didn't even report it =/ such a pain.</p>
<p>I agree, same with me cause technically the day i filled out the physical i stopped all medication. And if i didnt mark it, it would be fine. Since i did, i didnt get accepted last year (mostly my fault for doing everything so late and couldnt get a waiver). Fortunately in january it would be a year off the medication and that clears it...even though im still working on a waiver. At the rate they are going, however, i might as well just wait till january and skip the waiver process!</p>
<p>Thought I'd update on my situation here.. hmmm, good news and bad news.</p>
<p>I did some calling around and found out that my waiver was about to be denied. They said I still have a chance to challenge it for one final appeal.</p>
<p>Just to go over things again, I had an allergic reaction from eating shrimp 6 years ago. This event on my medical history fell under "History of anaphylaxis" and thus disqualified me.</p>
<p>Tomorrow I will be going to an allergist to do a challenge test. If I can prove I can eat one shrimp without reacting, I will be off the hook and my medical status will be cleared. From my phone calls, I also got some information that my application had been "passed up" by the board two different times, but put on hold because of not being medically cleared. So basically my whole application is pending on whether I pass this test tomorrow or not. I'm so nervous...</p>
<p>Yeah...I can die if I have a severe enough anaphylactic reaction from eating the shrimp, but that shows how much I want this appointment...if I don't pass this test, not only will I have wasted 100's of hours over the past few months with all the application stuff only to be held back for one small detail, but my dreams will be shattered, and life won't be worth living anyways.</p>
<p>...OK hehe I'll admit that was kinda over-dramatic, I don't feel quite that way (yet), but I sure hope my body holds up for me tomorrow...</p>
<p>Andyj i wish you the best of luck. I know exactly how you feel because i am in the same boat. The ability of one doctor (the waiver authority doc) to determine if yo uare fit enough to go into the academy is what determines your future. Kinda depressing isnt it?</p>
<p>My application as well was reviewed twice (supposedly all applications are reviewed twice) but i dont know if it was my medical that was holding it up. My counselor said you still can get an appointment even if you are not medically Qd.</p>
<p>being a bit dramatic? If i was you, what you just said would be "watered down". 100 hours? Well maybe THIS time around but in total? And dreams getting shattered is deffintaely an understatement. Life not worth living? Well i wouldnt say that cause thats why my medical was DQd (history of a mood disorder). But i would be settling not for first place but for like 100th place comparing the academy to a civilian college.</p>
<p>Again dude, i wish you the best of luck - i want this to work for you, i really do. Stick it to them and do not rest until every last possible effort has been exhausted several times. Keep calling, keep askign questions, ask to talk with highier up people (its the military, there is always someone highier)...BE PERSISTANT!!!</p>
<p>Did they say why you were about to be denied a waiver? If you want the number of the tech sgt, PM. She NEVER answers her phone and wont call back for weeks on end but if you keep bugging her you might get ahold of her. She is indeed really really nice.</p>
<p>Well, I stared down the shrimp before taking the test and thought to myself, 'I have faced many hurdles in my journey to the Air Force Academy such as SAT's, borderline grades, finals, and challenging classes; I will overcome this one just as I did the others.'</p>
<p>My allergist gave me a 50% chance of passing due to positive blood and skin test results. 50% chance of having a go at a ~13% acceptance rate... I felt like I was playing russian roulette....and...</p>
<p>I passed the test!!! =)</p>
<p>Now, according to DoDMERB's instructions about rebuttals, I can get my disqualification reversed once they receive the information that the medical issue in question no longer exists.</p>
<p>Rock on Andy!!! Great news!!!! Another hurdle to appreciate your eventual acceptance! ;) Always makes me feel good to hear someone succeed again! Keep it up!</p>
<p>Hi.Sorry if notposting in the right place.
I need a help.
The problem is I'm an international studentl.Our school counselor has no idea about a fee waiver system.
Can anyone say how the fee waiver must be written.Thanks.</p>
<p>xapdcoyl,
I would call the admissions office and tell them your situation. They probably have an admissions officer who specializes in international students' applications and would know the right answers. The rest of us would most likely be guessing.</p>