I've used the search function and found what I could. Some is old information and I haven't seen these specific questions asked.
A little background: I'm working on getting my medical records to see if I was actually diagnosed with asthma, but I'm pretty positive I was at ~6 years old. I remember taking the spirometry test. I was prescribed an inhaler, an inhaled steroid (Advair), and Singulair. I've never had an asthma attack, was checked after wheezing, haven't filled a prescription in at least 5-6 years, I will double check when I get my records, and haven't taken any medication in at least 10 years.
My first question is about the general Navy/MEPS asthma policy. I couldn't find anything specific. Is it the "no diagnosis or medication use after age 12" or something different? Does anyone know what constitutes a "diagnoses"? My parents continued to fill the prescriptions just in case, but I never took the medicine. I never took another spirometry test or had my diagnosis confirmed. Is this good enough or does the prescriptions being filled count as a diagnosis?
My second question is in regards to waivers. I've heard the unfortunate stories of people getting through MEPS with asthma and then getting NPQed by NAMI at OCS. Then they have to DOR or redesignate to a non-flight rate, potentially forced to SWO. I'd rather not put myself in that situation if I can avoid it. I found the following in the NAMI Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide:
WAIVER: Any history of asthma, to include childhood asthma and exercise-induced asthma, is considered disqualifying (CD) for aviation duties and training, even if the disease is very mild.
APPLICANTS: Waivers for applications with a history of asthma may be considered if all of the following criteria are met, with complete documentation submitted to Code 42:
1. The individual is currently asymptomatic and has been asymptomatic for a minimum of five years without medication use or prescriptions filled.
a. Depending on the needs of the Navy, asthma that is symptomatic/requires medication use into adulthood (≥18 yo) is generally not considered for waiver in untrained personnel.
2. Baseline pulmonary function testing (PFT) within 1 year of waiver application is normal.
3. Methacholine challenge test within 1 year of waiver application is within normal limits and not suggestive of bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
4. Completed Navy ARWG Asthma worksheet reviewed with patient and signed by submitting FS/AME. (form follows this section)
I meet the criteria for section one and am working on an appointment with a pulmonologist for the pulmonary function test and the methacholine challenge test. Is it possible to submit this waiver to NAMI before OCS to avoid getting most of the way through OCS and getting NPQed?
Sorry for the long post, any help is appreciated.
A little background: I'm working on getting my medical records to see if I was actually diagnosed with asthma, but I'm pretty positive I was at ~6 years old. I remember taking the spirometry test. I was prescribed an inhaler, an inhaled steroid (Advair), and Singulair. I've never had an asthma attack, was checked after wheezing, haven't filled a prescription in at least 5-6 years, I will double check when I get my records, and haven't taken any medication in at least 10 years.
My first question is about the general Navy/MEPS asthma policy. I couldn't find anything specific. Is it the "no diagnosis or medication use after age 12" or something different? Does anyone know what constitutes a "diagnoses"? My parents continued to fill the prescriptions just in case, but I never took the medicine. I never took another spirometry test or had my diagnosis confirmed. Is this good enough or does the prescriptions being filled count as a diagnosis?
My second question is in regards to waivers. I've heard the unfortunate stories of people getting through MEPS with asthma and then getting NPQed by NAMI at OCS. Then they have to DOR or redesignate to a non-flight rate, potentially forced to SWO. I'd rather not put myself in that situation if I can avoid it. I found the following in the NAMI Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide:
WAIVER: Any history of asthma, to include childhood asthma and exercise-induced asthma, is considered disqualifying (CD) for aviation duties and training, even if the disease is very mild.
APPLICANTS: Waivers for applications with a history of asthma may be considered if all of the following criteria are met, with complete documentation submitted to Code 42:
1. The individual is currently asymptomatic and has been asymptomatic for a minimum of five years without medication use or prescriptions filled.
a. Depending on the needs of the Navy, asthma that is symptomatic/requires medication use into adulthood (≥18 yo) is generally not considered for waiver in untrained personnel.
2. Baseline pulmonary function testing (PFT) within 1 year of waiver application is normal.
3. Methacholine challenge test within 1 year of waiver application is within normal limits and not suggestive of bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
4. Completed Navy ARWG Asthma worksheet reviewed with patient and signed by submitting FS/AME. (form follows this section)
I meet the criteria for section one and am working on an appointment with a pulmonologist for the pulmonary function test and the methacholine challenge test. Is it possible to submit this waiver to NAMI before OCS to avoid getting most of the way through OCS and getting NPQed?
Sorry for the long post, any help is appreciated.