Naval Academy advice

10/4/05 | Me

[wfu_deacons]

My son has applied to the Naval Academy (I am a graduate) and his application is fairly strong. He has good SAT scores, good grades, and is being recruited to play a sport. Yesterday, the results of his physical were made available on-line and he has a disqualification, enuresis (bed-wetting) after the age of 13. My wife filled out the medical history truthfully- my son did have a chronic problem up to about the age of 13 and then it slowly resolved. He hasn't had any problems since prior to his 15th birthday. We have yet to receive the written notification but it appears he will be reviewed for a waiver once he is accepted academically. Since I have seen posts from persons familiar with the Naval Academy application process, I was wondering if anyone had any advice. I talked to the admissions department and they said he will be reviewed if accepted but could give no details about the waiver process. Thanks.

[wickedpinto]

a DQ is silly, but prolly the concern about the bed wetting, is a concern of an undiagnosed condition. For instance I was qualified for a particular position requiring a clearance, and was denied one because I was a womanizer.

Undoubtedly if your son was to be an officer, an "elite" officer with a naval macadam background, they would back off because of any concerns about a possible familiar issue that MIGHT have caused the bed wetting, might hinder his ability to hold a clearance of a certain type.

Don't blame the military, or the academy, blame the fact that psychologists are thought of as scientists.

[wickedpinto]

Something up, I clearly spelled Accademy, not "macadam" and "family" instead of "familiar"

But I think my statement was made.

Don't worry hoss, why your kid have to be an accademy officer? Truth is they are the ones who get the LEAST respect. At least among the enlisted men. just support him for a good education.

[armydawg1]

Wicked, I have seen some stupid ass answers here, but yours takes the cake.

I am not an Academy Grad, but I guarantee you that you are as wrong as you have ever been, which may include many errors. Jealousy and envy are a terrible thing.

[KeyWest]

Undoubtedly if your son was to be an officer, an "elite" officer with a naval macadam background,

I wondered what that black stuff was covering my navel.

My approach would be to strike first and not allow the problem to be a part of the decision. Send in a supplemental to the application to spell out his current situation, and include a Doctor's report that substantiates what you say. Also include something to show you are a graduate.

If I were on the board, it would help to know the facts before a waiver was required, since if I had a choice between two equally qualified applicants, I would go to the one with the least amount of obvious problems. By eliminating the problem, you show that he is in earnest and wants to be a USNA grad. Plus, he overcomes problems. Turn a disadvantage into an advantage.

I was accepted to USNA (1960) with a waiver for my eyesight. Retired as an 06 after 26 years of service to spend more time with my family.

[sgtbono2002]

I forget the name , but there is a Congressman who has two sons in the Naval Academy. That always helps.

[KeyWest]

Amen.

What I did see in my career was Academy grads were held to a higher standard than ROTC, so the fall could be greater if they did not succeed. Competence was expected.

[LadyBuzz]

Contact the USNA Foundation - they are a non-profit organization and can be very helpful regarding these kind of questions regarding admission. My son is a 2001 grad.
Here is the website
http://www.case.org/guide/united_states_naval_academy_foundation.html

[Oldexpat]

My Mom figured that I qualified to go to USNA because I was able to complete the application without parental assistance.
The bedwetting thing was in the forms 50 years ago..not something new.
I followed the same rule with my three sons..who all managed to get into their chosen school without Mommy filling out the forms.

[Rokke]

I graduated from the Naval Academy in 1989. Upon graduating I cross-commissioned into the Air Force. I was pilot qualified in the Navy, but the Air Force told me I was too tall (I'm 6'6"). The Air Force told me there were no waivers for someone of my height. I subsequently called every Air Force flight surgeon I could find until I found one who told me "well, I've got a waiver form right in front of me, would you like me to mail it to you?" Long story short, I've spent the next 16 years flying fighters with the Air Force. While I can't address your specific situation, I can tell you that there is a waiver for just about every medical condition. It sometimes just takes a lot of bush beating to find it. Good luck. As you know, it is worth the effort.

[Tallguy]

I second what "KeyWest" said: send in a supplemental & request a medical review.

I had initially been rejected for reasons of an undiagnosed scoliosis (curvature of the spine). I was subsequently admitted after a medical review. Be ready to take your son to your nearest Naval Hospital, and possibly to the Academy itself -- that's what my father had to do.

There is a process, you just need to follow it.

[Lou L]

Truth is they are the ones who get the LEAST respect. At least among the enlisted men.

Wrongo, wicked. The real truth is, there are decent Academy grads, and not-so-decent ones. Just as there are decent and not-so-decent officers coming out of other programs.

Enlisted men will respect an officer who's earned it, regardless of where they graduated....and I speak from experience.

[Rockingham]

Get your son screened for celiac disease, which can be a cause of the problem you describe. In ignorance and for lack of clear diagnostic clues, most GP's and internists tend to reject this possibility as remote, so you will likely have to get your son to a gastroenterologist without a health insurer being willing to pay for it. Blood tests today are usually the first step, but an endoscopic GI exam may be needed if definitive proof is required.

Celiac disease, which is an inability to properly digest the gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley, is far more common than most doctors realize. See the following for more information:

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/

A diagnosis of celiac disease may help your son's health immensely, and on a lifelong basis, but the Naval Academy may regard celiac disease as a disqualifying condition because it requires complete exclusion of gluten from the diet, which can be difficult to do in a military environment. Good luck.

[jer33 3]

Have you been in contact with your son's high school liason officer? There should be a gold member available for questions.

[wickedpinto]

Enlisted servicepeople do NOT think new officers know what they are talking about. There is a reason that Officers are refereed to as "Zero's."

I was Marine, and I PITTIED the "little D@#$'s" (which was a manipulation of "butter bars" because we didn't think that 2lous had enough balls to get an erection, that is the foundation of the comment)I don't dislike officers, I think officers are different. To say that I am JEALOUS because I know that MY form of service (enlistment) is so much lesser that it inspires Jealousy is NOT true. Truth is? Enlisted Marines are "Marines" Marine Officers are "Marine Officers" it is the former, not the latter that inspires the ideal of service, not the latter.

Truth is, ALL judgments are silly, because all of those who lay the claim of judgment never served. and it is only those who HAVE served that might mock our brethren.

The Officers may not be "marines" but they walked away from a lot more than the "real marines" did. I don't bash officers, but I pitty them, cuz they don't get to learn about what it is to really serve.

Understand Dawg? On top of that, the things I said to the poster, were based on the FACT that the Military is so uncertain on how they approage shrinky dinky jazz. THAT is my point. To the poster? Don't worry about where your son goes, just be proud that he has a goal that is GREAT not just prosperous.

[wickedpinto]

damn me for making an argument for myself.

BLAH BLAH BLAH, but as an an enlisted? If an officer makes you aware of them being an academy grad, (while you are enlisted) that officer gets tested by the seniors, and even by the real enlisted. My experience might be different, I was a FERVENT serviceman, but, well. In the real world, I have met more EX-Zero's who appologized to me than I did to them. Also, the BEST officer I had was a graduate of some university in wisconsin, and SHE was a flogging nutrition chick of some sort.

I don't hate officers, but I don't think they know what they are getting into.

[Doctor Raoul]

McCain's kid is there now.

[cynicom]

McCains kid????

Navy people like to award all sorts of medals to each other, these are McCains for the grand toatal of ten hours of hostile fire time.

two silver stars

two legions of merit

two DFCs

three bronze stars

three purple hearts

Guess cause his Daddy was the Admiral in charge helped a bit.