<p>Does anyone have any experiences they would like to share regarding braces, DoDMERB interaction (i.e. resolving a disqualification), and continuing the application process to USAFA? DS just got DQed and is a little discouraged. Any advice or anecdotes would be helpful. Thanks.</p>
<p>What is the nature of his DQ?</p>
<p>"Orthodontic appliances" is all the letter said.</p>
<p>Btw, the secretary for our orthodontist does not believe they have had any contact, yet, with DoDMERB concerning our son.</p>
<p>Braces at the time of in-processing are an automatic DQ. I would venture to guess that simply having your son's braces removed at an appropriate time would solve the problem. Please keep in mind that this is only a guess. Call your son's USAFA admissions counselor. If necessary they should be able to tell you how to interact with dodmerb. Also many others in this forum have had extensive experience with dodmerb. Look in the earlier threads about such things. Right now, I would be optimistic about the problem. Best of luck!
Dodmerb is not likely to contact your orthodontist. Always remember, the ball is in your court. Be proactive. Don't wait for something to happen. Be sure you make it happen yourself.</p>
<p>Our basic had braces ( uppers and lowers). They were taken out right in December of his senior year of high school and we scheduled him to get all of his wisdom teeth removed the same week. Poor kid... </p>
<p>Dodmerb required that he send in his orthodontic history showing his orthondia treatment was completed. Retainers are not a problem. Smooth process with Dodmerb--no problems. He was listed as "unqualifed" until the paperwork arrived and then he was upgraded to "pilot qualified" (I'm paraphrasing here)
My son puts his retainer on each night after taps. Matter of fact, when he lost/destroyed his retainer in prep school, USAFA replaced them--both the uppers and lowers. :)</p>
<p>Thanks, RTBdad and MarathonMom! We appreciate your advice and help.</p>
<p>When I was at summer seminar, I noticed a few cadets with braces. It obviously can not be non-waverable, although I do not know what you need to do to get past Dodmerb's red tape.</p>
<p>It IS NON-waiverable. You CANNOT have braces in basic, although the Air Force may pay for you to have them after you get through. The cadets you saw with braces got them while here.</p>
<p>Yeah, what he said. ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for clearing that up.</p>
<p>Isnt taffy our resident expert with braces? Maybe we should call taffy in here.</p>
<p>They will give you braces during the academic year if you need them. During Basic, my cadet athletic/logistics NCO had braces. They are threatening me with braces. Just none in BCT.</p>