<p>I'm planning on applying to both West point and Annapolis and I'm in good/excellent physical condition from both my wrestling and cross country. I will be taking my DODMERB after I get out of the seminars (SLSS, NASS), and I'm curious about what the military is going to dig up in my medical history. </p>
<p>I had some problems with a Bronchitis last year that gave me some reactive airway disease symptoms for a short period of about a week (Doctors commonly use this term to express something similar to asthma). </p>
<p>Since it was a one time ordeal, are they going to try and hold this against me? </p>
<p>I have never had problems with it before, and how exactly do they administer a DODMERB?</p>
<p>I had problems with asthma when I was a kid. As long as your doctor knows that it in NO way affects your performance, a letter from your Family Practitioner should get you by.</p>
<p>Don't get discouraged when this DQ shows up:</p>
<p>*D241.30 - Asthma/reactive airway disease/exercise induced bronchospasm after age 13 *</p>
<p>DODMERB must issue the DQ if you meet the criteria - they deal in black and white, they have no "wiggle" room.</p>
<p>However, as written in the post above, the chances of a waiver are very good with the circumstances you describe. The waiver authority deals in many shades of gray.</p>
<p>I've just worked through nine months of medical issues dealing with that DQ. Unfortunately, if asthma or reactive airway disease appears anywhere on your medical record after age 13, DoDMERB will disqualify you. However, as long as you truly are healthy, you can eventually get a medical waiver. It will just take lots of time, patience and many phone calls. I took my initial medical exam last August, I was DQ'd for Asthma/reactive airway disease/exercise induced bronchospasm after age 13, I sent in all of the requested remedials, recieved NROTC waiver in February. In April I was denied a medical waiver to USNA. This past tuesday, May 13th, I found out over the phone that my medical waiver to USNA was finally granted. I am now a member of the c/o 2012 because I had received an LOA and nomination in September and December respectively.</p>
<p>wow, that's tough. But congrats. I mean I understand DODMERB has to throw up a flag to cover their liability issue with candidates but that's ridiculous. </p>
<p>I'm going to look into that family practitioner waiver. I was never diagnosed with asthma according to my doctor, so I should be able to receive a waver.</p>
<p>Is the DODMERB an actual physical the academy gives you, or a review board looking over your medical history?</p>
<p>
[quote]
As long as your doctor knows that it in NO way affects your performance, a letter from your Family Practitioner should get you by.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not quite - the waiver authorities may not take a letter from your doctor into consideration at all.
I have heard many different waiver stories from kids with the same DQ - each case is different.</p>
<p>My daughter was in your shoes - Luigi is correct, you will most likely be DQ'd by DoDMERB. Do not let this deter you as 2012hopeful has pointed out.</p>
<p>You must be proactive and you must be prompt with any information or tests that you are asked for.
I would advise you to ask your ped or family doctor for a copy of your records when you complete your medical history for DoDMERB. Most memories are faulty and you want to include what is in your records - nothing more/ nothing less.
You will be asked by DoDMERB for your complete medical history - this can take a while to request records from hospitals and doctors.</p>
<p>Finally - my daughter, herself, wrote a letter to DoDMERB. She explained what happened when she got sick and was diagnosed with asthma. She wrote when she took medication, how she felt when she went off the meds and that she was performing at a high level in an aerobic sport.</p>
<p>DoDMERB does not "throw up a flag to cover their liability" - they do their job.</p>
<p>DoDMERB is the Department of Defense Medical Exam Review Board. The physical is authorized by the Academy and they Review the physical and medical history.
They may ask for a "remedial" or more information so they can make an accurate determination. Once they DQ you then the academy or ROTC will review for a Medical Waiver. Each academy has their own separate waiver board so some kids will recieve a waiver from one academy and not from another.</p>