DoDMERB wrote back, DQ

Colleges and Universities A-Z Service Academy Parents
1

<p>yarr! they said history of reactive airway disease after age 13, but I thought it was when i was like 9-12.</p>

<p>I took my PAE/PFEs today and slaughtered those so that should help me get it waived. It says for CGA/USMA I don't have to do anything and the waiver process will be done by those academies, but for USMMA I have to write them a letter or something. </p>

<p>Will this hurt my chances of admission to the academies? Am I put into a separate category for admissions or anything? Do they only accept DQ people who have super high stats that they want badly?</p>

<p>-Taffs</p>

2

<p>Taffy~ by all means speak to your BGO and anyone else in admissions for guidance. If for some reason you are getting a less-than-positive response, it might be worth the money/effort to have a pulmonary function test done- these basic measurements may go a long way in addressing any concerns DoDMERB may have- and if you opt for this route, consult with the pulmonologist as to allergy testing to see if there is anything that might be triggering off a respiratory reaction- if that comes back negative, all the better. Again, start with your BGO and follow the steps for each academy as to how to appeal the DoDMERB finding. Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>Taffy, a friend of mine had this problem. He did get a waiver to USMMA however. I know of a few kids (very few though) who have asthma (thats similar or is reactive air disease, right?) and are at USMA. Just keep fighting hard for it. If you have a strong package, which it sounds like you do, you should be fine.</p>

4

<p>im gonna try to behave and not respond crudely to that last sentence.</p>

5

<p>Taffy, DODMERB tagged my son with the same thing. I believe they they did this based on a positive responce to the box marked alergies. My son had them as a child and even took shots when about 5yrs old. They went away as he got older. They reviewed his entire medical history and came back with exercised induced reactive airway disease after the age of 13. We had his doctor review his file and the only things after age thirteen were sports physicals and one head cold. His doctor said he never had it. What is really weird is my son runs 5 miles with the only complant is that his legs are tired. He is also the only one on his basketball team that plays the entire game without coming out for a break. All without any problem. Go figure!
My guess is they want to be very sure there is no problem that may put him in danger or others in danger.<br>
As part of the wavier process they have required him to see a Pulmonologist for pulmonary funtion test and a methacholine challange test. He took the pulmonary test last week and passed without any problem. His methacholine test is next week. We are hoping for the best because having received an LOA, if he passes he is one step closer to his dream.
Hang in there. DODMERB can be very frustrating</p>

6

<p>My son used email to communicate with DoDMERB and they were very responsive as to exactly what needed to be done. I think if you clearly state your exact history in the matter (assuming your not trying to hide any history), they will assist you in challenging the ruling.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

7

<p>thanks, I'll try emailing them.</p>

8

<p>Taffy - Hopefully, all will be well. Keep messing with them! Hang in there!</p>

9

<p>I found it pretty easy to just call them up and ask them what I needed to do exactly. They're really helpful, but a pain in the ...</p>

10

<p>My son received a letter from DODMERB and one of the requests was to provide all medical history for his "orthotic use". I called and spoke with a very pleasant woman who told me that had made a mistake when they read that he had "orthodonics" since age 7. Nice to know that they admit their mistakes.</p>

11

<p>
[quote]
I know of a few kids (very few though) who have asthma (thats similar or is reactive air disease, right?)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Wow! I'm surprised, I was under the impression that Asthma was a disqualifying condition from military service. As far as I know people with asthma are not "worldwide" deployable and therefore not able to be in the military. Could be wrong here though.</p>

<p>From military.com (not the best of resources, but what I could find)
"Lungs, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum </p>

<p>The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are: </p>

<p>a. Abnormal elevation of the diaphragm, either side. </p>

<p>b. Abscess of the lung. </p>

<p>c. Acute infectious processes of the lung, until cured. </p>

<p>d. Asthma, including reactive airway disease, exercise induced bronchospasm or asthmatic bronchitis, reliably diagnosed at any age. Reliable diagnostic criteria should consist of any of the following elements: </p>

<p>(1) Substantiated history of cough, wheeze, and/or dyspnea that persists or recurs over a prolonged period of time, generally more than 6 months. </p>

<p>(2) If the diagnosis of asthma is in doubt, a test for reversible airflow obstruction (greater than a 15 percent increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEVI) following administration of an inhaled bronchodilator) or airway hyperactivity (exaggerated decrease in airflow induced by standard bronchoprovocation challenge such as methacholine inhalation or a demonstration of exercise-induced bronchospasm) must be performed."</p>

12

<p>stay in touch with your admissions offices; they will point you in the right direction. Do whatever it takes..it took us until May to get cleared by DODMerb...we are forever thanksful for Lorraine in the USMMA Admissions office.</p>