Non-waiverable/rebuttlable conditions

<p>And I have one of them. I just got an email from my counselor saying that there are 4 conditions that the air force academy will NEVER waiver, one of which is the ambiguous “History of a mood disorder.” This conditions will carry withyou to all officer training positions and is never waiverable.</p>

<p>Therefore not only is my attempt to get an appointment shot this year, but ever.</p>

<p>I have to say that I have ran into alot of BS through this entire process every year, politics and red tape. However a mental condition that existed for such a short time, completely treatable and clinical proof from two seperate sources completely cleared me, they are still refusing to consider. This really is total BS if i may say. </p>

<p>Thank you everyone for your help and support for the past few years. Ill still be here to help offer advice to other candidates.</p>

<p>I will not be applying again next year in light of this.</p>

<p>Well. I'm killed. Simply killed. I hope that you know that you were so deserving. In my heart of hearts, you will always be right up there with these brave young academy kids that I think so much of. Your hard work and dedication will never be wasted, just pushed into another direction. Keep on being just what & who you are sweetie. You're going to go far no matter what. I'm sorry that you didn't get what you've dreamed of all these years. BUT, with so many opportunities out there, you'll find where you fit. I just know it. Go do good things! You were made to be great! Keep in touch as this place benefits so much with you here.</p>

<p>Snipper--I'm so sorry. You've worked so hard for this. There will be something good in store for you in spite of it all.</p>

<p>Thank you all for the kind words. I did NOT make this post to "collect them", so to say, just more to serve as a warning to other people with a similar situation for the time to come. But really, they mean alot - more than i could ever convey in words.</p>

<p>I deffinately will stay here and keep in touch with everyone. Id like to think the past few years i have accumulated some experience that hopefully some here can benifit from.</p>

<p>I am really let down by all of this, however I can say i didnt see it coming. From the start I grilled into my mind "This will never work, you'll never get in" and it help as the "let downs" started coming in. No LOA, only one appointment, original medical DQ, original academy deline and all the events of this year. In the end i almost shrugged it off - although i was told basically it was impossible to get a waiver even if i had an appointment. All i needed was the conditionless word, which i got yesterday. The official word should be in the mail within the next few weeks.</p>

<p>My mom deffinately took it alot harder than I did, like i said, i saw this coming. I tried to brace her for it since the begining but, like all moms, remained ever hopeful and determined.</p>

<p>Thanks again all, Chambanna here I come! Go Illini! (Hmmm, Illini beat air force this year in the tourney...)</p>

<p>I am very sorry to hear that =( I was actually looking forward to meeting you in person at the academy one day....</p>

<p>Oh Snipper, I am so sorry...wow, DODMERB can definitely be a PIA in these matters!
Based on your past posts, all I can say is that the academy has lost a great candidate. I will keep you in my prayers....</p>

<p>Snipper - after all this! That bites and is typical military. We have so enjoyed your comments this year.
For the record, could you give future applicants a little more specifics along the lines of - "if you have this, apply elsewhere and don't waste your time?" It still stinks.</p>

<p>This is the email i received:</p>

<p>Patrick,</p>

<p>I wish I had good news for you, but unfortunately I don't. You are right. You will not be getting an appointment this year or at all. This winter at the Liaison Officer Directors' meeting, the Academy listed 4 conditions which will never be waivable. Any history of mood disorders was 1 of the 4 conditions. I thought you might have been informed of this, which is why I did not notify you of this when I found out in February. I'm sorry that there is nothing I can do about it. If I can be of any help to you, please let me know.</p>

<p>So yes weski - "If you have this, apply elsewhere and don't waste you time" because they will no consider a waiver (although im just waiting for the official word). I wounder what the other 3 conditions are...</p>

<p>"Mood disorders?" What does that mean? So if you ever received any kind of counseling? Or took drugs, i.e. ritalin? Got into fights? Was depressed? Obsessive? You have to be obsessed to do everything to get in! Geeeeesh!</p>

<p><a href="http://www.rightsite.usaac.army.mil/robo/projects/cc%20help/psychiatrydisor.rtf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.rightsite.usaac.army.mil/robo/projects/cc%20help/psychiatrydisor.rtf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The army is a little more forgiving in this area.</p>

<p>Diabetes, Scoliosis with more 20 degree are 2 others. The third maybe peanut allergy. </p>

<p>Diabetes has claim many of good people including a star running back in the 90s and a former cadet wing commander who had graduated and had just finished being Mission Qual in a viper. He asked to stay in even if it was flying a desk, they gave him medical retirement.</p>

<p>My cousin, who got a LoA from West Point, was medically disqualified and waivered denied for being a carrier of Hepititus B virsus (not active). So I guess being a carrier for certain types of virsus could be one of the "non-waiverable" conditions.</p>

<p>I'm so sorry snipper_cr. I can't imagine what would it be like to have your dreams destoryed. But your perserverance inspires us all. And I'll think of you if the thought of quitting during BCT ever crosses my mind.</p>

<p>Are you allowed to quit during BCT? I thought I remembered reading somewhere in the appointment package that they dont allow you to quit until after BCT...something about giving it a chance and not needlessly taking a spot from someone else by quitting so early. </p>

<p>ANYWAYS, I'm real bummed out right now for you snipper. To think that the Academy and ultimately the Air Force is losing out on such a stellar individual is kinda disheartening. I'm sure everything will work out for the best though, as it usually does for people such as yourself. I admire your sense of determination and drive to accomplish your goals, and this character quality of yours is an obvious precursor to success. Beyond that, good luck with everything.</p>

<p>Snipper, I'm sorry to hear that, but I do think that certain things happen for a reason, although they may not be evident at the time. Looking back, though, hopefully you can see that what did happen was somehow in your best interest.</p>

<p>"Are you allowed to quit during BCT?"</p>

<p>Unless they've changed it this year, you can quit at anytime. Kids quit just a few days in, some even quit in the inprocessing line the first day; there are also a select few that choose to take the round-trip on the initial bus to get back to Doolittle Hall (where they can be picked up by their parents who they left just a few minutes prior). However, I will say that if quitting is in the forefront of anyone's mind before you even come here, please go somewhere else. Don't take te spot of someone who is motivated to come here and stay.</p>

<p>I'm curious what a "mood disorder" means. I mean half the kids in America are counseled for being obsessive-compulsive, or depressed, or hyper-active, or somesuch. Anyway, can you or anyone else elaborate?</p>

<p>Snipper, sorry to hear this. This is definitely the Academies loss. Thanks for staying on and helping others.</p>

<p>snipper,</p>

<p>It's so gratifying to see how many fans you have. Like the others, I'm so disappointed for you. I just wish somebody had told you about these 4 conditions last year so that you could plan for your other options. I'll see you in Champbana next year! It's a great place. And thanks for staying on cc to help out other candidates. That action speaks to your character.</p>

<p>You guys are so amazing. Seriously, I did not make this post to get sympathy or anything - more just to warn other candidates out there so not to fall into the 2 year trap I did.</p>

<p>But you guys are really amazing - seriously! I cannot begin to tell you what all your coments mean to me, every single one of them. Yes i do beleive that this happened for a reason that is out side of my control, I beleive that becuase I know i tried absolutely positively everything to get this waiver and was told by many people that there was nothing more I could do, other than warp back in time and tell myself to "snap out of it!"</p>

<p>This never really hit me too hard because I had a feeling it was coming for a while and it really was not shock to me.</p>

<p>My particular case was i saught counsling after a very close family member was brutally murdered by a co worker (and the trial the followed) and i questioned some things about life... over 5 years ago during the time EVERY teenager has SOME issue.</p>

<p>I will say this and im sure many people may have issues with it: I did this to myself based on ideals. On the DoDMERB physical it asks "History of depression, anxiety etc..." and i did say yes. I also submitted additional information which occured during the "rock bottom" of my "mood disorder" which only made things worse. I was living by the ideals of "we will not LIE, steal or cheat..." I was told by medical reviews AT dodmerb that if i answered "No" they do not look into it, ever - even in SpecOp or Flight. However, I think EVERYONE should live by those ideals. If you do not, why are you even applying to such a place that is founded on them.</p>

<p>But what ever. A read of the March and April Edodos makes me all that happier "Going to the air force academy is like sticking your hand in a blender and pretending you like it."</p>

<p>Word...</p>

<p>Awwww. :( That's what happened to me with the Naval Academy. USNA was like my dream school and I have been planning to go there since I was an embryo(or was that 8th grade?). That is until they told me that I got DQed. I really know how you feel. But there are soooo many ways to be successful in life! I mean Bill Gates, Colin Powell and other amazing people did not graduate from an Academy. I was rejected from USNA, but other opportunities of success opened up. I'm totally sure that it will be the same for you too.</p>

<p>I really wish they would have done me the decency of explaining why my waiver was denied, even though I know why. As I said, my ALO said there are 4 non-waiverable conditions, one of is the ambiquous history of mood disorder (and maybe spelling disorder...who knows).</p>

<p>There was the DoDMERB cover letter saying "Blah blah received blah blah regretabbly...blah blah sincerely, us"</p>

<p>Then they attach a letter from the actual waiver authority explaining why waiver denied....</p>

<p>They could have AT LEAST done the effort to change the date on the letter - no. It was the EXACT same letter (Dated January 13) as my first waiver denial. My entire attack discredited their accusations (but didnt clear the history, just the reasons they listed).</p>

<p>I mean I would have been happy with "Air Force policy dictates no waivers for history of mood disorder"... but come on...</p>

<p>Oh well, this summer I start my training for my Private Pilots lisense and have that to look forward to!</p>

<p>Snipper, I just DQ'd for D232.80 (History of other Mental Illness) and have been jumping through hoops with waiver crap at USNA. My issue was a childhood issue that has been reselvoed with no treatment/medication. I was recently reevaluated and the psycologist said no condition existed anymore. Do I have any hope? </p>

<p>Deeply sorry to hear about you man, this stuff can be total bull.</p>