Waivers and Waiting....

[Chris'mom-Brandy]

I have started this discussion because I know that my son is not the only person out here waiting on a waiver. I would like to hear from others that are going through the hurry up and wait process. My son is waiting on a medical waiver, this is our round with waivers. Hoping to hear something soon!!!

[Michelle (EOD Mom)]

Brandy, Tell us a little about your situation...I am sure that there are others that have had some of the same experiences..

BTW if you notice I featured this discussion....I think its a very important topic!

Michelle

[Chris'mom-Brandy]

We have started trying to be apart of the Navy family since July of this year. We have had many obsticales and hurdles to jump through and when we thought it was fianlly swear in day another hurdle popped up!!! We have had to have 1 waiver approved for his Special Education classes that he had taken in High School, we were very excited to hear that it was finally over after 4-6 weeks of waiting!!! Chris went to MEPS to choose his job, then Chris informed us when he got home that night that all the jobs that were available to him were Special Ops, the job he has choosen (EOD) scared me to death!! Well he had to take a physical test for the EOD he did not pass, he missed the test by 2 push ups and 2 pull ups. He was then going to sign for Air Rescue Swimmer and continue to test for the EOD, but then we were smacked with an eye waiver. The docs informed Chris that he had 20/25 correctable vision, and that he needed 20/20 correctable vision. His recruiter informed me that I needed to take Chris to our family eye Doc to have his eyes tested, suposedly we were trying to prove that the Docs @ MEPS were wrong. Was informed that it would only take a certain amount of time before the waiver would be approved by the top people @ MEPS. That the waiver would not have to go to Tennessee to be approved, well let me tell you that is not the truth!!! All waivers and I mean all have to go through clearance in Tennessee, MEPS cannot approve them. So if anyone has been told different that is not the truth. I do know that the Navy per say has nothing to do with the way MEPS is ran or how the waivers are processed. For quiet sometime I was very angry with the Navy but I did learn that it has nothing to do with them in anyway shape or form. It has been over a month now and still no anwsers. Chris' recruiter was informed by someone @ MEPS that he could apply for a job just to get his foot in the door and wait for his waiver to be approved. So again Chris went to MEPS thinking this would be the start of his career and again he has been shot down. His recruiter was very angry because he was told something and again nothing came of it. My son is so ready to start his career and get a BC date that it is driving his crazy. This whole situation has taught us patient and how to hurry up and wait. Waiting on any type of waiver is n ot fun by any means, but what choice do you have. I hope that others that have to go through the waiver process has an easier time than my son has. I am certain that all things come to those who wait but it has been a long process!!! As a parent I have mixed emotions baout my son joining, leaving etc. but I have come to terms with it, espically now that I have seen and been through this whole process with him. This is something that he wants very badly and I have no choice but to support him in this decision. I will keep everyone posted on what is going on. Have a good night.

[COTOBIRD]

Well at last I have found someone dealing with a common problem. I too am feeling frustration with the MEPS procedures and the processing that our children have to go through. My son Jamie has been trying to get into the Navy since the summer. First we had to jump through multiple hoops to get his medical waiver from MEPS because he had a resection when he was 3 yrs old!! After several months of documents and affadavits from my son MEPS gave him the approval to proceed as to the next step. He did his ASVAB testing and his physical in Tampa and was told that he had scored so well that he qualified for the 3 open positions that were currently available, this was less than a month ago! So naturally he's excited and very pleased that he will be able to do what he has always wanted to which is to help keep his family and friends safe and have a worthy career to serve and protect.

So now he is set up to go up to JAX MEPS to supposedly meet with the liason for his career choice and then be sworn in. Well its postponed the day before he is to leave, because his paperwork didn't get processed up in JAX. He is rescheduled to go up this Mon/Tues., he gets up there and cools his heels all of Monday, up at 4:30am today reports to MEPS compeletes again the never ending paperwork!! My son then says he turns over his packet and then told that there is no opening for his qualifications and to return back here to home and see his recruiter on Monday.

He is so frustrated that he is unable to get a straight answer out of anyone up there at MEPS as to what it is he didn't "qualify" for and what he was even being considered for. Now he's having to wait and hurry up and then wait some more!! You have to understand, I am a Marine brat I understand or did how it works, but here you have apparently 2 young men here who are ready willing and able and the Navy is holding them back!!!

We all know or should that right now young men and women who have been trying to survive out here in the world are having a very hard time and that the military service is being swamped with kids trying to find a way to make a living. But really, should some extra consideration be made and an extra effort by the Navy to weed thru the potentials and find those who are wanting to make the Navy their career not just a temporary stop over???? Our sons do indeed want this badly and as mothers it pains us to see them go through so much frustation just to serve!!! Patience is needed, but frustration is gaining.

Thanks for letting me share....

[Michelle (EOD Mom)]

Brandy I think that you are definantly a wonderful mom to be so patient and not go kick some MEPS booty LOL...Im teasing bout the kicking booty comment LOL...seriously I will be praying that yall will hear something soon and he will be able to get his career going!

[Chris'mom-Brandy]

Thanks Michelle, we need all the prayers we can get. Have a great night.

[Sandy22]

Brandy, my hat's off to you and your son for not giving up. Waiting on waivers is enough to drive one crazy. Not only are you being held up but you have to put up with not knowing exactly what the current status is -- that was the worst for us. We were told our son was accepted for the Nuke program but just needed to wait for a quick waiver. Meanwhile shipdates were filling up right and left. Turns out that our paperwork got lost in someone's office and we had to redo some paperwork. A speeding ticket waiver took 3 months! While waiting to hear something my son had elective surgery to remove a cyst and the medical clearance for that only took a few days. There is just no way of knowing how these things will go. It took two trips to MEPS where he was encouraged to choose another career field, but my son said Nuke or nothing and left. Yesterday he finally got a Nuke ship date and entered DEP -- something we thought would happen in September. If you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on -- you are enrolled in the Navy's first class: Waiting 101. From where I sit you already deserve an endurance award.
Sandy