Waiver and eventual ship date question!
Hello all:
First, I would like to thank those who have dedicated their time to answering the many questions us potential and hopeful recruits have. Also, I'd like to thank you all for serving your country and the sacrifices you and your families have made, for us.
This question is a bit lengthy and will make more sense if I take time to preface it with background information.
After making the decision to enlist in the United States Marine Corps after graduating college in May of 2012 (last year), I began the lengthy process of getting to MEPS, taking my ASVAB, and gathering all the documents necessary to obtain a medical waiver for a left shoulder dislocation during my senior year of high school football (5 years ago). It was a complete dislocation and was placed back on the field. I then went to the hospital, had an X-ray and discovered no ligament tears or separation of any kind had occurred. I received no outpatient care, rehabilitation, or surgeries and have had no problems sense. At MEPS, I completed an Ortho. consult and received his recommendation and the recommendation of one of the physicians at MEPS (not the CMO)for full active duty service. The physician was kind and thought this may increase my chances of obtaining a waiver and speed up the waiver process. I was told it would take between 2 to 6 months for my waiver to clear and that was back in September of 2012 (last year). I have been patient and continued to show motivation and interest through out my enlistment process and I have no problem waiting because medical waivers are not priority. After a recent discussion with my recruiter and the head of the RS, I learned that my waiver documents and those of 3 other potentials was lost by a Sgt. at BUMED and she did not tell her superiors or my recruiting office. Therefore, our documents had to be resubmitted a month ago and we were told it may be another 2 to 3 months until we hear about the fate of our waivers.
Now to my questions. I am beginning to prepare for the unfortunate circumstance that my medical waiver does not clear because if it does not, I do not want to be with out options for my future. Thus, I have begun seeking full-time summer postgraduate research internships at Universities within my state (Virginia). They would be be from early May and end early - August.
1. IF my waiver clears, how long should I expect to wait to ship? I will be seeking an active-duty Infantry contract (I know, so is everyone joining the Corps).
2. Does my waiver have a solid chance of clearing?
I am seeking advice from members of this forum because I have asked these questions to my recruiter (about a week ago) and have not heard a response from him or anyone in the office.
Thank you for any and all responses and I apologize for the length of this post!