NAMI waiver timeline

[First_Gen]

Im headed to MEPS on thursday and had a question about the NAMI waiver procedure and the only waiver procedures I have found have been pertinant to MEPS. I need an ADHD and PRK waiver for my flight physical and have gotten both waivers for MEPS for an SNA slot via OCS. But what is the procedure for getting the NAMI waivers? Do I submit the paperwork and procure the waivers prior to going to OCS or do I bring the paperwork with me and take care of everything at the OCS fligtht phsycial?

 

[AllAmerican75]

The waivers will be taken care of at OCS. The doc who does the flight physicals (not a flight surgeon, btw) will look at all of your paperwork (bring ALL of your documentation and make sure it says that you're asymptomatic and any condition won't be a problem in the future) and then compare it to the criteria in the NAMI handbook, and then submit it all to NAMI. You'll then wait an agonizingly long time with potential follow-up visits with various doctors and at some point you will hear back from NAMI whether they waivered you or not.

The key here is to make sure that you have any and all documentation from your doctor(s) saying that you're no longer suffering from ADHD and will be fine without meds. Should you not have that paperwork, you will be subjected to neuropsychological examinations, and let me tell you from experience, OCS is NOT when you want to be taking tests trying to gauge concentration when you can't even stay awake long enough to make it through them.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

To add to this, you should be submitting or should have submitted ALL your documents before going to MEPS, then everything will automatically be forwarded to OCS in your medical file, if you show up to OCS with medical documents that were not submitted to MEPS or N3M if something occured after MEPS this could be a mess of trouble.

 

[AllAmerican75]

To add to this, you should be submitting or should have submitted ALL your documents before going to MEPS, then everything will automatically be forwarded to OCS in your medical file, if you show up to OCS with medical documents that were not submitted to MEPS or N3M if something occured after MEPS this could be a mess of trouble.

Yes and no. While everything should be forwarded, I had multiple documents lost in the aether that never made it from my MEPS physical paperwork to the docs in Rhode Island. Make sure you bring extra copies with you; this is way too important to screw up.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Yes and no. While everything should be forwarded, I had multiple documents lost in the aether that never made it from my MEPS physical paperwork to the docs in Rhode Island. Make sure you bring extra copies with you; this is way too important to screw up.

They way things are done now that doesn't happen, once the MEPS physical is done it is electronically sent to the NRD, then it is electronically sent to N3M, before it goes to OCS it is printed and placed in FEDEX envelope and sent to OCS, now this is the only part where a paper copy could get lost, but the full electronic copy would still be at N3M and kept at the NRD's for 2 years.

The above was done this way up until about one year ago.

Even before if there was a belief something was lost enroute to OCS it would still be pulled from either N3M or the NRD, we did have this happen when OCS lost an entire FEDEX package and we just pulled the documents and resent them, unfortunately if something comes up missing in the file sent to OCS it is often viewed as the candidate was trying to hide something since they will compare what is at OCS to what was submitted to MEPS.

 

[BleedGreen]

To add to this, you should be submitting or should have submitted ALL your documents before going to MEPS, then everything will automatically be forwarded to OCS in your medical file, if you show up to OCS with medical documents that were not submitted to MEPS or N3M if something occured after MEPS this could be a mess of trouble.

NavyOffRec,
I have been searching on here and I haven't found a clear answer yet but I do apologize if this was already answered. Do waivers from the pre-commission physical that are submitted to NAMI have to be approved prior to the board your submitting for?
Are waivers typically have a 1-3 month turnaround?

I ask because the new process requiring a physical prior to submitting one's package is still a little unclear.

Thank you for all the information you share on the forum it invaluable for us aspiring Officers.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

NavyOffRec,
I have been searching on here and I haven't found a clear answer yet but I do apologize if this was already answered. Do waivers from the pre-commission physical that are submitted to NAMI have to be approved prior to the board your submitting for?
Are waivers typically have a 1-3 month turnaround?

I ask because the new process requiring a physical prior to submitting one's package is still a little unclear.

Thank you for all the information you share on the forum it invaluable for us aspiring Officers.

You have to be Physically Qualified, NAMI makes the final call on aviation suitability, N3M just makes a "preliminary call" on aviation.

 

[BleedGreen]

You have to be Physically Qualified, NAMI makes the final call on aviation suitability, N3M just makes a "preliminary call" on aviation.

Just to make sure I am understanding this correctly, both N3M and NAMI have to approve your physical in order to be board ready?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Just to make sure I am understanding this correctly, both N3M and NAMI have to approve your physical in order to be board ready?

no, N3M is the gatekeeper for commissioning, NAMI is final say for aviation