<p>I had my physical exam about a day ago and everything checked out great. Eyes were good, great physical shape. One thing the doctor found though was that I have a very tiny heart murmur that apparently affects 30% of Americans. Just wondering if this could keep me out of the academy and/or flying.</p>
<p>Not being a member of DODMERB and not having dealt with that particular issue, I cannot say what kind of waivers that may require (or worst case scenario is it is a disqualifying condition). On the bright side, I don't think heart murmers are not necessarily disqualifying - judging by the fact that the DODMERB site I found had an evaluation form listed for them. (This is the site I accessed: <a href="https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/%5B/url%5D">https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/</a>) It may need further observation, but having your medical this early is really good, in the respect that there is more time to work with a waiver if that is necessary.</p>
<p>Also, I don't mean to be pessimistic, but just because things seemed fine when you went through the medical process does not mean that DODMERB will not find any problems with it. Good luck, though!</p>
<p>One thing I thought funny after my doctor told me that is I have had many physicals in order to play middle school and high school sports. Six in all, and never has any other doctor mentioned that.</p>
<p>During the graduation physical (a couple years into your cadet career), don't be surprised if they end up finding MORE stuff wrong - stuff that wasn't even caught during the in-depth DODMERB exam.</p>
<p>Start prepping your appeals and waivers now. Get all the info you can, get a second opinion. This could be anything from "nothing at all" to loss of PQ to uncommissionable. I've seen it all before. Don't take anything for granted.</p>
<p>Last year DODMERB found that our daughter had a slight murmer also. She was asked to have an echocardiogram and all was normal. I agree that you are fortunate to have this started so early. Follow up and get as much as possible completed before school starts. It's much harder to make all the doctor appointments then. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>To get a second opinion can I just go to my own doctor or does it have to be a DODMERB approved one. Also, once I get my second opinion how do I go about submitting it to DODMERB. Thanks for all the replies so far, it has been very helpful.</p>
<p>If/when they disqualify you for the murmur, they'll let you know about the waiver procedures. Like I've said here MANY times before--I'm not a medical doctor nor is anything I say "official." The best you can do is be relentless and communicative. Bug them all you want until you're absolutely sure you and your family have ALL the info you need to apply for and be considered for a waiver. It's the best you can do and all you can do.</p>
<p>I wanted to comment on how "in depth" the DoDMERB physicals are. They aren't. They are BASIC physicals. I myself was seperated from USMA for something they never checked for in the DoDMERB exam (severe anemia)...they never even drew blood.</p>
<p>cadet0509,</p>
<p>Your story is a not that surprising especially when we read about the color blind Coast Guard cadets who were sent home on the first day. Apparently no one had checked them for color blindness. And I think that is a pretty simple test. I heard from other kids that the physical was pretty routine. </p>
<p>I'm certainly not a medical person, but I wonder if your condition would have been picked up during high school for athletic or other types of physicals.</p>
<p>Finally done with my physicals. Just waiting on that pilot qual. now :).</p>
<p>Cadet0509,
I don't know how common that but, but I will say that my DODMERB physical (4 and a half years ago) was quite indepth. It took an entire morning and afternoon and required going between several different buildings to get checked by specialists in each area. Regardless, be aware that they will review their findings and your medical history at a later time and may find problems that will require waivers. Also, the graduation physical you get to determine commissionability and pilot qualification a few years into your cadet career will be a LOT more detailed. Don't expect to go through the Academy without them detecting any problems you have (such as anemia). In other words, whatever documentation you had in preparation for the DODMERB physical shouldn't be thrown out but kept until later when it is needed.</p>
<p>Falconhopeful06,
You won't get your official PQ until the graduation physical as a cadet... however, being medically qualified (with our without waivers) to attend the Academy to begin with is definitely a step in the right direction! :)</p>
<p>The young Jedi speaks the truth. I had a classmate who came to USAFA "commission only" but got some things cleared up, improved his vision with APPROVED (back in the dark ages) corrective contacts (now there are specific PRK options) and graduated PQ. Another important AF lesson: don't take anything for granted.</p>
<p>Hitting the road today for some travel. I'll be back Saturday. Behave yourselves.</p>
<p>We had a friend a few classes back who had mild color blindness. He had wanted to go to the KSG at Harvard after graduation on a fellowship. Because of the color blindness, they would only waiver it coming out of the Academy. He was able to fly F-16s and later became the CSAF aide. The CSAF let him go to the KSG as a reward for the good job he did in a thankless job.</p>
<p>They waiver a lot of stuff for cadets at AFA.</p>
<p>My physical (done in the pittsburgh area) did take pretty much all morning of one day. But not for the fact of thoroughness. I had my eye appointment first, which went quickly. Then, my medical examination was done in a type of "physical hothouse" type place, with a doctor who basically looked to see if my feet were flat, made me pee in a cup (I'm guessing for protein analysis or drugs), felt my belly, looked at my spine, and only went into depth on things I had noted on the physical form ("Have you ever..."). I have had better physicals given by volunteer physicians at school physicals. Maybe it's just the doc I went to...and maybe it was just the place. Who knows. I know that most of the people I talked to never got any blood drawn. I don't know if my anemia would have been picked up in a school physical. I'm just scared...now that I'm home, my doc wants to do a bone marrow biopsy. So I've run the gamut of physicians...from lacksadaisical to extremely thorough.</p>
<p>cadet,</p>
<p>just sent you a pm</p>
<p>Holy freaking thread-revival Spambot!!!</p>
<p>Haha! 2005, dang!!!</p>
<p>Woah, FAIL!</p>
<p>Doubt anyone knows, but it is worth a stab. Does anyone know how it worked out for AF06?</p>