Waiver Process aka Who's Ass Can I Kick?

[xj220]

I'm sitting here in A-pool waiting for a waiver to go through that really isn't going anywhere. It's for Contact Dermatitis (Eczema, which I've never had but that's another story). The flight surgeon put Rush on it and recommended me for a waiver. This is 5 weeks ago and I've been going into NOMI damn near everyday to see if it's come in or not. I find out about a week ago that they had to resend it for whatever reason. The folks at the front desk don't know anything more than how to use a computer (and can't even manage that at times) and despite my best efforts, can't send me to someone who can give me any info (or give a damn). This is really frustrating since I could have been done with API soon and ready to start primary. No one seems to know what's going on or what the whole process is involving waivers. My question is, what is the process involving waivers and is there anyone I can talk to that can help me out? I'll be seeing a flight surgeon Wed to get a new upchit (I received a temporary one pending the waiver). Thanks for any help as this is really starting to piss me off.

 

[jus2mch]

Have you expressed those concerns to your chain of command yet? Sometimes a phone call from someone in your chain of command can do wonders.

 

[a_m]

I just kept going in until I asked to go the office where the actually submit them and asked for my status. I got mine 2 days later.

 

[Raptor2216]

All I can say is, hang in there. I went though the same BS to get my waiver for a problem I never knew existed but in the end, all was well. Just enjoy the time off because there will be a day when you will wish to have time off and be paid for it but it won't happen. Just enjoy it for what it is dude and if you really are THAT eager to start API, get the pubs and study them...you know the test questions are right out of those books.

I'm sitting here in A-pool waiting for a waiver to go through that really isn't going anywhere. It's for Contact Dermatitis (Eczema, which I've never had but that's another story). The flight surgeon put Rush on it and recommended me for a waiver. This is 5 weeks ago and I've been going into NOMI damn near everyday to see if it's come in or not. I find out about a week ago that they had to resend it for whatever reason. The folks at the front desk don't know anything more than how to use a computer (and can't even manage that at times) and despite my best efforts, can't send me to someone who can give me any info (or give a damn). This is really frustrating since I could have been done with API soon and ready to start primary. No one seems to know what's going on or what the whole process is involving waivers. My question is, what is the process involving waivers and is there anyone I can talk to that can help me out? I'll be seeing a flight surgeon Wed to get a new upchit (I received a temporary one pending the waiver). Thanks for any help as this is really starting to piss me off.

 

[tk628]

I had similiar issue... my waiver paperwork sat on the desk at nomi for 3 weeks before anything was done with it. and yes it had a BIG green "rush" across it. Everytime I went back there, the HM's couldnt find my record and every time it was sitting on the desk after 45 minutes of wasted time looking. Finally it came down to, me offering to personally hand walk it around as I was to start API a mere 15 hours after I finally got my waiver. Best advice I got from a doc there, "be your own boss" because the HM's dont give a sh!t

 

[feddoc]

1. Talk this over with the FS.
2. Go back, be persistent and be polite.
3. Use your C of C

 

[xj220]

After a combination of the above, I have my waiver and should be classing up next Friday and hopefully going to Corpus. For anyone that's interested in the entire waiver process, this is how it was explained to me by a flight surgeon:

NOMI: You have your physical and if you need a waiver, one is then created and either recommended or not. A rule at NOMI is that all exams have to be typed which takes a long time as there is only one typist (or so it may seem). NOMI is considered Code 26.
Code 42: I forgot the exact name for this place, but it is basically down the hall from NOMI. The difference with them is that they deal with all the naval aviation medical from around the fleet. They review everything for accuracy and assuming all is right, forward the waiver to BUPERS. This usually takes about a week.
BUPERS: Once received here, it takes a day or two to process. The reason the waiver is sent here is that the rules that regulate whether you can fly or not cannot be bent except by these guys. They have the final say. Nearly all the recommended waivers get passed and even some of the non-recommended waivers get passed, as well. After this, I believe everything is sent back in the order they came.

One interesting thing I learned is that the flight surgeon actually does NOT have the final say in if you can fly or not. If I get grounded due to an injury, my FS can ground me and make a recommendation to my CO, however my CO can overturn it (however there's a fat chance that'd ever happen). My waiver was actually granted today and I had it faxed to flight management, where I ran it to NOMI to meet with a FS and get and upchit.

 

[HokiePilot]

Code 42 = BupMed

My wavier down here got held up for a while. They kept telling me that they would get to it "that afternoon." Finally, I talked to the same person two days in a row. He ended up copying it and sending it over in front of me.

P.S. The RUSH means absolutely nothing.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Code 42 = BupMed

What is that? Burping Medicine? Pretty sure it's BUMED.