2008-2009 Catalog - United States Air Force Academy

The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) is responsible for determining if you are
medically qualified for admission into the Academy. DODMERB or a civilian contractor will contact you to schedule these
medical-examination appointments. The government will pay for a complete medical examination. After you have completed a
medical and optometric (eye) examination, DODMERB will inform you and the Academy of your medical status. If there is a
need for additional medical tests and/or evaluations, DODMERB will send you a letter requesting the additional tests and/or
evaluations, otherwise knows as remedials. Remedials are classified as either Administrative or Medical. All costs associated
with Administrative remedials are the responsibility of the candidate. The candidate has three options for completing medical
remedials unless specifically requested to be completed at a Military Treatment Facility. Option 1, at no cost to the candidate
and the preferred option, is to complete the requested medical remedial through a civilian examination center contracted by
DODMERB and managed by Concorde. Option 2, at no cost to the candidate, is to complete the requested medical remedial
at a Military Treatment Facility that has the resources for completing the test and/or evaluation. Option 3, all costs associated
with this option are the responsibility of the candidate, is to complete the requested medical remedial with a private medical
provider or physician. Applicants may visit https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil to access information about DODMERB and then
go to “Frequently Asked Questions” (option tab “FAQs”), or for tracking your medical status click on option tab “Applicant.” You
should use this Web site as your first method of obtaining information from DODMERB.
Before you take the medical examination, review your medical history with your parents or your family physician. You must
compile your medical history with care and in detail, including on the medical history form provided by DODMERB complete
documentation of all illnesses, injuries, and operations. You must bring photo identification to your examination. If you are
under eighteen years of age, contact the examining facility to see if it requires your parent or guardian to accompany you to the
examination.
As part of their medical examination, all applicants will undergo an external visual inspection of the genitalia to determine if any
abnormalities are present; you may have this part of the examination done by your private physician at your own expense. If
accomplished by your private physician, a copy of the results must be mailed to DODMERB.
Following your acceptance by the Air Force Academy and within seventy-two hours after your arrival at the Academy, you will
undergo drug and alcohol-abuse testing as required by Public Law (Title 10, US Code, Section 978). HIV testing will also be
accomplished at this time. Photo identification is required.
You may view the progress of your medical examination online at any time by logging on to the DODMERB secure website at:
https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil. Refer questions concerning your medical status or examination scheduling to DODMERB,
8034 Edgerton Drive, Suite 132, USAF Academy, CO 80840-2200 (please include a daytime phone number and/or e-mail
address).
vision requirements
All candidates admitted to the Air Force Academy must meet the vision requirements for commissioning in the United States
Air Force. However, there are three levels of qualification determined by DODMERB. Those levels of qualification status
are; “Commission” Qualified, “Potential Pilot” Qualified, and “Potential Navigator” Qualified. This status is used solely as a
selection tool by the Admissions Office. “Actual” commission or pilot/navigator qualified status will be determined during your
graduation year.
Nearsightedness (myopia) commonly develops in the late teenage years. It is possible you could meet the vision requirements for
a “Potential Pilot” Qualified status upon admission but not at graduation, thereby precluding you from ultimately being pilot or
navigator qualified. Procedures to reverse the nearsightedness--including radial keratotomy (RK) and similar surgical and nonsurgical
alterations to the cornea such as (orthokeratology), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or laser in situ keratomileusis
(LASIK)--could disqualify you for all military programs.
If you wear contact lenses, you must remove hard lenses (to include gas-permeable lenses) at least twenty-one days, and soft
lenses at least three days, before the vision examination. An examination conducted without the required removal of contact
lenses for the designated time is invalid and will delay your medical examination processing. If you wear prescription eyeglasses,
bring them with you at the time of your optometric examination. After you enter the Academy, periodic vision care and
counseling will be provided at the optometry clinic.
166 United States Air Force Academy Catalog