Nava Academy Appointment

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>UPDATE</p>

<p>I just attended a BGO Hub meeting yesterday.</p>

<p>Key points that may be of interest to you:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The number of applications this year has once again increased. Numbers being reported are around 17,000, a 2,000 increase from last year.</p></li>
<li><p>Having said that, the admissions board has stepped up their meeting schedule to review all candidate files. They are currently meeting every Tuesday and Thursday.</p></li>
<li><p>Each candidate file is given a thorough review. WHen asked “how many files are reviewed at each session,” the answer we received was as few as “one,” and as many as 100. Each files is scrutinized carefully before a decision is rendered. </p></li>
<li><p>The good news of #3 is that your file will be reviewed carefully. The bad news of #3 coupled with #1 is that there is a backlog of files waiting to be reviewed.</p></li>
<li><p>The goal remains to have all files reviewed by April 15th. We were also told this objective may not be met.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I offer this information as INFORMATIONAL ONLY. You can debate the pros and cons [I believe they are all readily apparent] but I am hoping it makes the waiting a bit more tolerable knowing that the Admissions Board is doing all they can to make sure they select the right candidates for the academy.</p>

<p>Best of luck everyone!</p>

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<p>2010: You might want to post on the other forum as well. This year, there seems to be more activity on that one than on this one…</p>

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<p>Today my son received a call from our US Senator telling him that he has an appointment! To say that we are beyond excited would be an understatement. As I was jumping up and down, my husband logged onto DODMERB and my son’s status had changed from in progress to offer extended. We check every hour and so this is how quickly this all came down. Just wanted to give hope to others like us who were waiting and having a hard time with it…</p>

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<p>NAVYmomwannabee …CONGRATS! We can feel the “love” and joyful celebration from here! What a really great day, and if you’ll allow (there are so few moments in life like this one :wink: ) …</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>And then grumpy ol’ Whistle Piggy oinked …</p>

<p>

And you have…a mere 20 days henceforth! </p>

<p>But wait! Hold onto your ejection seat!

</p>

<p>I know, I know. And we’ll no doubt get a full-blown explanation for telling us about what’s happened, assuring us it’s just not normal or a major mutation from SOP or violates and flies in the face of Federal law or is just inexplicable. And so it may be, I guess.</p>

<p>But just had to say 2 things … </p>

<p>Again, CONGRATULATIONS on great news and thanks for sharing! Throttle up for I Day!!:D</p>

<p>And happily …told you so! :wink: :stuck_out_tongue: </p>

<p>Now I can die a happy BGO wannabe! :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>A broken clock is correct twice a day.</p>

<p>Also, please see navy2010’s post #21.</p>

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<p>Yes it is…but since your timing is all messed up for some inexplicable, go-figure reason … May I suggest you consider Timex’s newest line? They’re handsome time pieces; provide totally accurate, continuous information in a simple, readable, attractive format absent of all the silly bells and whistles (pun intended ;)); and they “take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.” And not just 2X/day. </p>

<p>It’s called the Whistle Pig Pocket Watch. :cool: And it makes you feel like a real man, everytime you slide your hand down into your pocket and feel that masculine, manly time piece that you know you can count on! </p>

<p>Stay alert, keep up. ;)</p>

<p>Again, NAVYmomwannabee-and-soon-will-be … Congrats to you and your Mid-in-Waiting. We’re all betting the Senator did NOT have a wrong number …nor the wrong time …when he rang up your lad.</p>

<p>P.S. You gonna change your screen ID? Or wait until April to make sure it’s legal. :wink: What say we mount our Shetland mules and move on from this silliness.</p>

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<p>Navy2010 - regarding your update on the increased number of applications this year: In your opinion, would a candidate that is waiting to hear if they are granted a medical waiver have to wait until the board has reviewed all of the candidate files before being considered for the waiver? Did that make sense? I guess what I’m trying to say is…my son received a LOA but is having to wait to see if he is granted a medical waiver. So will he have to wait until they have reviewed all of the files or would his file be reviewed by some different board?</p>

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<p>My initial statement:

</p>

<p>My quote from the USNA catalog:

</p>

<p>To imply anything different than what is stated in the catalog is irresponsible, not the actions of a BGO, except for perhaps a wannabee. More in line with a Pennsylvania Lottery aficionado. To promise anything different, even on an anonymous forum, is irresponsible.</p>

<p>Since I stated ‘majority’ and the catalog states ‘most’, I guess all I would have to do would be to find two candidates who have not yet received notification and that would disprove your gloating. Not too hard to do. But I will be more specific.</p>

<p>Lets look at the process. Around 25% of MOCs, 100 or so, will select a principal candidate. If this candidate is 3Qed he can be offered an appointment. Anytime. The remainder nominate competitively. The kicker here is that candidate packages are not due to Admissions until March 1. Until Admissions can be sure, without the shadow of a doubt, who is #1, they cannot make offers on these until they are absolutely sure who is the most qualified. The same applies somewhat to Presidentials, especially the bottom part of the slate. This pretty much occupies the month of March.</p>

<p>Okay, March is complete and approximately 600 or so Congressional, Presidential, and SecNav offers have been extended. Since 1500 or so total offers will be made, the majority will be yet to happen.</p>

<p>The MOC is the only one, by knowing a qualified candidate is his principal nominee, who can make a responsible counter to the April 15 timeframe mentioned in the catalog. If I were a wanabee, I would at least read the catalog.</p>

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<p>Futurenavymom, my son received an LOA in Sept. 2009 and 2 Noms in November. He had to send in some medical remedials in January (had to have some extra testing at a Military Treatment facility) and his medical waiver (vision) was granted on Feb. 24th. According to the DoDMERB site, his Appointment offer was extended on Feb. 25th (yesterday!). Now we wait for the official package. </p>

<p>If I understand everything correctly, the waiver decision is made quite separately from the admissions board and there is a separate medical waiver authority for the US Navy, called BUMED (Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery) - although sometimes they forward their recommendation and the final decision is made by the Superintendent - as happened with my son’s vision waiver (btw his was nothing to do with colorblindness). </p>

<p>According to the USNA admissions website medical info. page:
“If you have a disqualifying condition, you will be automatically considered for a waiver if/when you receive a Conditional Offer of Appointment. You need not write to request a waiver, nor should you send additional medical information to the Naval Academy for review. A waiver of the medical standard may be granted if both your academic record and medical history suggest the risk introduced by the disqualifying condition is justified by your potential for success as a midshipman and as a naval officer.” </p>

<p>However, I have read of people whose medical waiver was granted and they still didn’t receive an Appointment, and others who received an LOA, but their waiver wasn’t granted.</p>

<p>I would advise you to contact Mr. Larry Mullen at <a href=“mailto:larry.mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil”>larry.mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil</a>
He was a huge help to my son, and he is available and willing to help with all DoDMERB questions 24/7.</p>

<p>Also, go across to the Service Academy Forums: [United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums - Powered by vBulletin](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com%5DUnited”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com) select DODMERB and see all the info. for Mr. Mullen. He is an amazing man who will do everything he can to give you the most reliable information about your specific medical case.</p>

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<p>Our state’s MOC do competive nominations, not principals ones. We have heard from another friend from our state that found out the same news yesterday as our son did. They BOTH received nominations from the senator back in December and found out yesterday (Feb. 25) with a phone call from the senator’s office that both had been appointed by the USNA. So, I guess the odds are going up that someone could be told today or tomorrow that they have received an appointment. My whole point was to offer hope as we understand how hard it is to wait. Do not give up! It could be any day now!</p>

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<p>FaithfulMom, first CONGRATULATIONS to your son!! Should I ask…who’s more excited you or your son? My son eats, sleeps & dreams Navy but I think at this point I’m almost as bad. I know whats meant to be is meant to be but we pray every day that he gets the news he’s wanting. The waiting is a killer! Thanks for the info. I will have my son contact Mr. Larry Mullen.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Yes- and no-</p>

<p>first, the file will be reviewed by the Naval Medical Officer in Admissions PROVIDING DoDMERB has it listed as “WAIVERABLE.” If DoDMERB codes it as “disqualifying” or “rejected,” the candidate cannot be further considered BY THE ACADEMY until the status gets changed.</p>

<p>Those candidates with WAIVERABLE conditions:</p>

<p>It is my understanding waivers are considered when the applicant’s file comes up for review. It is also my understanding they are “batched” to some degree- by MOC, and my region. Each file gets prepped and presented by the RD and their team. </p>

<p>Having said that, the RD, when presenting that group, will note which candidates require waivers, and for what. Some of them are simple- acne that has been treated with actuaine, for example, with the candidate OFF the drug for the specified amount of time, and with further blood tests [liver enzymes] “normal.” Vision- not a big one, although depends on how bad, and how many- there is a limit to the number of vision waivers that get granted.</p>

<p>So just in the above 2 examples, the first case is not “counted” in that it was a [presumed] one-time event that is over and done, as opposed to the second, which is a condition that will require further treatment, and in light of the limitation down the road to the service lines for commissioning [with the full understanding PRK has opened that door a bit- but still, that costs $$$ and those $$$ stretch so far].</p>

<p>I cannot speak to any further detail as to what happens- ie- if all the “eye waivers” get put on a pile, and you compete in that pile- I have “heard” that is the case, but to be honest, it was a question I did not ask- I will try to get some clarification on that, but perhaps some of my fellow BGOs can speak to that. </p>

<p>If you have an LOA in hand, you have that nomination, you have a WAIVERABLE DoDMERB, hang tight.</p>

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<p>navymomwannabee, and futurenavymom-
congrats!</p>

<p>now go and clean off the car window and put the sticker on!
WEAR WITH PRIDE!</p>

<p>:)</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>That doesn’t sound correct. </p>

<p>Larry Mullen has always stated that DODMERB will issue their findings in 1 of 3 ways:</p>

<p>[ul]
[li]MEETS MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION, </p>[/li]
<p>[li]DOES NOT MEET MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION, </p>[/li]
<p>[li]or REMEDIAL REQUESTED (more testing/info needed to render a decision).[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>I have never heard him say that DODMERB will classify someone as “rejected” or “waiverable” (as DODMERB has no say in the waiver nor what is “waiverable”). </p>

<p>What is considered “waiverable” is decided by the Academy, NOT DODMERB.</p>

<p>My advice to anyone who has a question about the DODMERB process is to not rely on anything you read on this forum, but to contact Larry Mullen, Deputy DIrector of DODMERB over at serviceacademyforums.com.</p>

<p>:cool:</p>

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<p>That may be true- but I am referring to how this gets populated on the BGO Info System.
The status populates my list as “rejected”, “waiverable”, “disqualified,” “qualified,” and “pending.” </p>

<p>There may be other ways it gets reported, but on the list for this year these are the codes I am seeing. </p>

<p>Luigi is correct in that all DoDMERB questions should be directed to Larry Mullen.</p>

<p>With all due respect, Luigi is incorrect in the coding that gets listed in the BGO Information system.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>With all due respect, that information is NOT put there by DODMERB. </p>

<p>My statement is accurate.</p>

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<p>There’s a difference between what the BGO Handbook says and what we see as BGO’s in the system. Luigi is correct in that the BGO Handbook says there are three states for Medical - Qualified, Incomplete, and Disqualified.</p>

<p>I have a candidate whose medical status in the BGO system says “Rejected”, which I assume equates to “Disqualified”.</p>

<p>Essentially, the Handbook says that candidates with a disqualifying condition will be automatically considered for waiver based upon their medical history and academic record. If the Naval Academy believes that they will be successful as a Mid and Naval Officer the waiver may be granted.</p>

<p>Realize also that new disqualifying conditions may be discovered as a result of additional testing, and those will be considered for waivers also.</p>

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<p>^^^thank you for clarifying! For a moment there I thought I was seeing things! :eek:</p>

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<p>Yes, your incorrect statement about how “DODMERB codes it” or “DODMERB has it listed as” could be confusing to candidates who don’t understand that the USNA inputs those terms, not DODMERB, and that DODMERB does not determine who is “waiverable.”</p>

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<p>I need some guidance from other parents. Our son has the nominations required for both Westpoint and Navy. To date, he has only been offered the appointment at Westpoint, but would prefer Navy. Last summer he waited in hopes of being offered a seat in the Navy’s summer program. He waited too long, and lost the seat he was offered at Westpoint’s summer program. Very disappointing.</p>

<p>He (and us) is fearful the same scenario may be occurring. He technically has until May 1st to accept the Westpoint position, but wants to wait for Navy to respond. The Westpoint representative recently advised him that they have had more offers than were intended, so if he wants a chair, he would be wise to accept now.</p>

<p>This is a lot of pressure for anyone, much less an 18 yr old. Advice? Obviously he must have not made the top tier for offers at Navy, and is hoping to hear soon. Thank you. Stressed parent in Illinois.</p>