Tripple Qd, Nomination, Peanut Allergy. On to the Superintendent?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>I have been found by the Naval Academy to be tripple qualified and I have a nomination. I also have a peanut allergy, a medical condition which is very challenging to acquire a waiver. I have been told by admissions (sorry for calling navy2010, lol) that my application will be reviewed by the superintendent for final approval. I have several questions on this, and I am hoping that some of the highly knowledgable poseters on the USNA forum can answer them. I understand that a waiver is not usually granted for a peanut allergy, but why then is my file even being considered at this point in time? If it is to go before the Superintendent, or whoever he designates to read these particular files, as I have been told he views all files for final decisions personally, when should I expect to hear back. My nomination has yet to be received by the Academy so I know this will play into the timeframe, but once it is, how long should I expect to wait? Lastly, does anyone have any similar experiences with allergies that have been waived?</p>

<p>I appreciate any responses. Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>How are you triple Q'd if you need a waiver?</p>

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<p>lol my mistake...i do not know why i wrote that???????????????? sorry for the display of pure stupidity everybody!!! and thanks for that "helpful" reply lol</p>

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<p>
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I understand that a waiver is not usually granted for a peanut allergy, but why then is my file even being considered at this point in time?

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</p>

<p>Not usually and never are two different animals. Be glad that your file is being reviewed further. It would seem that you are being afforded every opportunity at this point.

[quote]

If it is to go before the Superintendent, or whoever he designates to read these particular files, as I have been told he views all files for final decisions personally, when should I expect to hear back. </p>

<p>

[/quote]

you will hear back after your file has been reviewed and after a decision has been made. </p>

<p>
[quote]

My nomination has yet to be received by the Academy so I know this will play into the timeframe, but once it is, how long should I expect to wait?

[/quote]

same answer as above. </p>

<p>
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Lastly, does anyone have any similar experiences with allergies that have been waived?

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There was a poster on here 2 years ago with the same situation. I do not think she received a waiver as the risk of anaphlaxis was too high to accomodate- not necessarily at the academy, but in the fleet. If you search the archives on here you might be able to find the posts. I do not recall if her file went before the Supe, and if it did, it was Adm Rempt and not Adm Fowler. I would say having your file going before Adm Fowler puts the best eyes on your situation that you could possibly ask for.</p>

<p>Jarad-this comes with the kindest of intent- I fully appreciate that this is the hardest part of the entire admission process- all the waiting gets minds spinning, second guessing, etc, etc, etc....
please, do yourself a huge favor and exercise some patience with the process, as difficult as that may be. Use it as an exercise for what lies ahead- not only at the academy, but out in the fleet- think of all the sub guys that get a notice to report, with no idea where they are heading, how long they will be gone, or when they will see their families again. Think of plebe summer, when your watch is taken away because you don't rate "time," and you are told what to do, when to do it, and exactly what is expected of you to know- no more, no less.</p>

<p>Do not let your anxiety get the best of you. You will hear when the admissions board is ready to render its decision. All your calls to the admissions office to ascertain the decision will not make one iota of a difference except to send up a red flag that here is a kid who cannot keep his anxiety in check. YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOU CAN FOR RIGHT NOW EXCEPT TO LET THE SYSTEM DO ITS JOB.</p>

<p>Once a decision is made, and you are notified, one of two things will happen.
1. you will get in and you will move on with your life.
2. you will not get in and you will move on with your life. If there is an avenue to appeal, you will be given that instruction, but it would appear your file is already before the highest authority.</p>

<p>You can't change the wind, not its direction and not its strength, but it would be great if you adjusted your sails a bit. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

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<p>yes, i did in fact see that scenario of the woman posint two years ago...and i totally agree with you that ADM Fowler is the "best eyes" that can review my app comparatively...</p>

<p>Listen, you have to understand something Navy2010, better I put my anxiety out in this forum then to the admissions office...and im sure your thinking well they can see this too...and frankly thats ok. </p>

<p>It is not a "red flag" if you are anxious about this process, I mean for goodness sake, it's the rest of your life. In fact, I hope everyone is and I know they are just as anxious as I am. </p>

<p>With all of that being said, I really want to thank you for your super detailed posts on this forum...MANY of my anxieties have been stayed by your knowledge. Thanks for the words of wisdom as well, as you are entirely right, I cannot in fact change the wind!!</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

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<p>Peanut allergies are almost always denied waivers, as the US military uses peanut products in so many things and your medical safety cannot be protected in the many remote locations you may be called to serve.</p>

<p>Your best bet is to contact Larry Mullen, Deputy Director of DODMERB over at the United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums in the DODMERB section. He is the ONLY person on the boards that can give the definitive answers you are looking for, usually within a few hours of contacting him.</p>

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<p>^^^ agree 100%</p>

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<p>Spoke with a local family whose son was denied a medical waiver for exzema (sp?) to USNA. However, the boy had interviewed for NROTC scholarship and they expected him to get it. Wouldn't the medical standards be the same regardless of the path an individual takes to becoming a naval officer? Maybe he could get ROTC with another branch?</p>

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<p>yes, its funny u mention him, we spoke on the ohone earlier this morning in fact..thabks for all of the help guys!</p>

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<p>Fleet risk reminds me of the time my husband's Fleet Ballistic Missile Sub was on patrol longer than expected (their relief had some difficulties) and they exhausted all food stores but pancake mix and peanut butter. Everyone came back very thin and very hungry. Not something you can control for. </p>

<p>And please, this is just an example. I am just giving an example of something that can, and does, happen in the fleet on occasion. </p>

<p>Good luck Jarad.</p>

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<p>well, if there wasnt liability and risk it wouldnt be the military now would it...but i understand this is part of their effort to REDUCE liability and risk so honestly, i understand why this may go south for me, i mean its not like i dont understand it or anything...its just the reality of duty on the unrestricted line... thanks for the optimism momof1</p>

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<p>Good example momof1. I would imagine that a serious food allergy would be a problem at the academy and later in the fleet where one has little control over food offerings. Heck, weren't the mids reduced to eating peanut butter sandwiches in King Hall last year when there were food shortages?</p>

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<p>Mine survived on peanut butter for a while last year!</p>

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<p>yah sorry about that jared. I was just puzzled...</p>

<p>And sorry to hijack the thread but does every waiver need to go all the way to the sup? Even if it's something as simple as say an ortho waiver?</p>

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<p>dont apologize for hijacking!!! lol its cool...we are hear to learn and share so its all good</p>

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<p>Wow, I didnt know a peanut butter allergy was so serious.</p>

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<p>Very serious indeed. I have a co-worker who experiences immediate anaphalactic shock if she comes in contact with any peanut product. Like, even if someone eats peanuts on an airline, touches a door handle, then she touches it. Peanut allergy is well known as one of the serious ones and hard to avoid as peanut oil is used in many food prep instances. Someone with a peanut allergy on a ship or sub where peanuts/peanut products are present would be a very dangerous situation.</p>

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<p>What other medical conditions are generally denied waivers?</p>

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<p>There are over 430 medical conditions that can result in a DQ, theoretically almost any condition is "waiver-able."</p>

<p>I would venture a guess that: </p>

<p>[ul]
[<em>]reliably-diagnosed asthma
[</em>]food allergies
[<em>]color-blindness
[</em>]vision-not-correctable-to-20/20[/ul]
are probably denied waivers more than any other conditions.</p>

<p>(again - my opinion based on heresay, conjecture, rumor, and speculation)</p>

<p>:cool:</p>

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<p>Has there been any case at all that a waiver has been issued for peanut allergies?</p>