Errors with DMACS, DoDMERB & Your Medical Exams

The Defense Medical Accessions Computing System is new for service academy candidates!

If you are applying to the US Naval Academy, US Military Academy or the US Air Force Academy, then you will eventually work with the medical professionals at the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB). All candidates will use this agency for both medical and eye exams. All five service academies employ this agency for the medical evaluation process.

In August 2025, DoDMERB introduced a new website for military officer candidates to use for their medical and eye examinations. It is called the Defense Medical Accessions Computing System (DMACS). It is a web-based application used by DoDMERB to process the medical information of candidates applying for officer accession programs. The main programs are:

• United States Service Academies (USAFA, USMA, USNA, USCGA & USMMA)

• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

• Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

• Other officer commissioning programs 

DMACS 2.0 replaces the 'old' system, which used two different websites to accomplish what DMACS accomplishes with one site. Any candidate for the SAs will use this system as soon as they complete enough of their service academy application and are deemed qualified. DoDMERB sends candidates an email providing guidance on how to register for the DMACS site.

However, at the time of this writing, the new site is having some issues.

As you enter the DMACS site, a candidate will complete the multiple sections of the website, including the medical and eye health questionnaires along with a medical release. The release includes noting one parent's permission to transmit and use a candidate's medical information. However, as candidates come to the last portion of the site, they will encounter a large blank space where the assigned medical and eye clinics are supposed to appear for each candidate. This 'blank space' is the current error. To address the issue, candidates are sent an email after they complete all sections of the DMACS site. The email instructs a candidate to use one of the 'old' DoD websites, DoDMETS.com.

The email directing a candidate to the DoDMETS site typically takes more than a week to appear. After receiving the email instructions, some of my students experienced issues with signing into the DoDMETS website. Typically, the sign-in issue is resolved by re-attempting your sign-in a few more days later using the same instructions provided by the DoDMERB email.

The DoDMETS site is then used to identify the specific set of local clinics that will conduct your medical and eye exams. This step will allow you to complete the full DoDMERB medical evaluation process. In fact, eventually, when your exams are completed and forwarded from DoDMETS to DoDMERB, you will be able to find your results on the DMACS site.

Hopefully, I will retire this article soon and the DMACS site will be the only website that candidates will need to complete the medical and eye examinations. Until that point, DoDMERB is using this particular 'work around' to address the issue.

The current "error" in the DoDMERB process is frustrating so hang in there! It will test your resolve. I recommend being methodical and checking your email inbox often as the process has been quite dynamic over the last few months.

Good luck with your exams!

[ I would welcome a chance to discuss details with you. I offer coaching services to pace and prepare you (and your parents!) for the entire Academy application process -- including advice and coaching for the DoDMERB process. Contact me at chris@cbbrechin.com, 503.515.7406 or complete my contact form on the home page. ]