3 November 1994

NSCC INFORMATION LETTER 9-94

1. Background. References (a) and (b) discuss enrollment criteria for applicants entering the Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy League Cadet Corps, and physical requirements for NSCC recruit training and NLCC orientation. Due to numerous inquiries and requests from the field, this letter reaffirms existing policy concerning possession and use of prescription medication at recruit training and our policy on pre-existing medical conditions.

2. Discussion. The acceptance criteria for prospective cadets, as outlined in references (a) and (b), is based on their ability to fully participate in training activities, including strenuous physical activity. Another requirement is the absence of contagious disease, illness or history of injury that will or is likely to require medical care or restriction of participation during training exercise, particularly recruit training or other extended training. Special attention should be given to orthopedic and cardiovascular conditions or complaints. Conditions that are considered disqualifying include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Symptomatic or recurrent orthopedic complaints;

2. Allergies or hypersensitivity to foods, medications, and/or insect bites/stings (i.e., bee stings);

3. History of asthma, seizures or convulsions, head injuries requiring hospitalization, loss of consciousness;

4. Diabetes requiring dietary restrictions and/or medication; and/or,

5. History of chronic motion sickness, sleep walking, or bed wetting since age 9.

3. As stated in reference (b), there is no provision for "waiver" of the acceptance criteria for participating in the cadet program. Examining physicians may submit appropriate statements for consideration of acceptance when the examiner is of the opinion that the applicant will not encounter any restriction of participation in the program and that the condition in question does not present an unacceptable risk for aggravation or worsening as the result of participation in the activities of the program. Conditions that will require medication or treatment during the period of training should be considered as not meeting the criteria for qualification.

4. Unit commanding officers should make the following considerations before enrolling a prospective cadet or allowing him or her to participate in recruit, orientation or extended training:

1. Do not enroll prospective cadets with known pre-existing medical conditions described above. They are automatically disqualified from enrolling in the NSCC and NLCC.

2. Do not encourage enrolling prospective cadets who require prescription medication (including over the counter inhalers). Prospective cadets suffering from Attention Deficient Disorder (ADD) who require the prescribed medication "Ritalin", or similar mind altering medication, may enroll in the NSCC/NLCC and participate in recruit, orientation and extended training providing the following conditions are met:

   1. Once the ADD cadet is enrolled, he or she cannot possess nor consume "Ritalin", or any other type of mind altering medication, at NSCC recruit training, NLCC orientation nor any other type of extended training. The normal length of recruit training is 14 days (seven days for NLCC orientation).

   2. Provide a letter from their physician certifying that he or she has been off the drug from four to six weeks prior to commencement of NSCC recruit training or NLCC orientation.

5. Cadets are expected to meet similar standards as active duty military personnel. We do not allow cadets to possess nor consume prescribed medication at NSCC recruit training or NLCC orientation for the following reasons:

1. Liability concerns;

2. Problems in tracking cadets requiring medication; and,

3. Problems in coordinating medication dosages.

4. The prescribed medication/cadet's medical condition may be a disqualifier for his or her enlistment on active duty.

6. The NSCC cannot ask volunteer leaders to be responsible for cadets requiring medication. In the other hand, we do not want cadets to be responsible for taking their own medication as they might not comply with the prescribed dosage requirements. Therefore, we want to emphasize that you should not encourage enrolling cadets, nor allow them to participate in recruit, orientation and/or extended training, if they require prescribed medication and/or have a pre-existing medical condition. We do not want to put the cadet, on the NSCC/NLCC program, in jeopardy.

A. J. KREISER