Saturday, October 15, 2022
HomeHealthCan You Go To The Army With Asthma

Can You Go To The Army With Asthma

Navy Policy On Asthma

Can You Join The Army With ADHD or ASTHMA?

OMK spoke with Officer Mendoza, a Navy recruiter stationed in Atlanta, Georgia, about the Navys policy on asthma.

This is what he had to say:

  • It is possible to enter the Navy if you have been previously diagnosed, but it can be very difficult. For starters, if you currently have asthma, it is not going to work.
  • The army has a very strict policy on this If you are currently being treated for asthma, it will not help.
  • Also, any history of asthma after age 13 will require an exemption.
  • The exemption process will take place at your Military Entry Processing Station, or MEPS.
  • Before enlisting, you will be asked to take what is known as a pulmonary function test or PFT.
  • A PFT is essentially a non-invasive test that shows how well your lungs are working.

If you can pass this test, you can join the Navy.

Coast Guard Asthma Policy For 2019

OMK spoke with Petty Officer Devoir, a Coast Guard recruiter stationed in Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Heres what he had to say regarding the Coast Guards policy on asthma:

With the Coast Guard, if youre taking any asthma medications it is a disqualifier.

In the Coast Guard, the service person must have spirometer test, and the recruit must get doctors consultation.

The recruit will not be able to do strenuous jobs.

Well update the Coast Guards asthma policy regularly to reflect any changes.

What If You Currently Run Ads

According to Recruiter Mendoza, if you are found to have asthma while on duty, you will be discharged.

With that said, someone contacted us and said that this is not necessarily true.

Check out what he had to say below:

  • I would like to talk about the Navy that discharged you for being diagnosed with asthma while currently serving this is simply not true.
  • I have enlisted for 10 years and am looking forward to 20+ years of enlistment right now.
  • I was officially diagnosed with asthma earlier this year, and discharge was never discussed, except when I said that I dont want this diagnosis to cause me to be discharged from the service.
  • They are treating me with a single daily pill and an inhaler to use before physical exercise and also as needed.
  • They will not discharge me because I was diagnosed with asthma .

DBoydstun, comment left on August 1, 2019

The biggest concerns would be for anyone thinking of becoming a naval aviator , submarine, diver, or firefighter.

Navy policy is pretty straightforward on this too Any history of asthma , including childhood asthma and exercise-induced asthma, is considered disqualifying for aviation duties and training.

This includes even very mild asthma.

For all other fees , the recruit will perform a series of physical tests during MEPS.

If your doctor expects you have asthma, you will be referred to a specialist.

Also Check: Is Asthma Respiratory Acidosis Or Alkalosis

You May Like: Does Ibuprofen Make Asthma Worse

Can You Join The Military With Asthma All You Need To Know

WriterATTENTION!!! Subscribe to our FREE EVERYDAY JOB ALERTS and be the first to know about high paying job vacancies so you can apply IMMEDIATELY.

Can you join the military with Asthma? This is a very popular question, and considering the potential trainees, this article has been created!

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it difficult for people to get air in and out of the lungs.

One in 13 people have asthma and are often diagnosed in their youth before they have the opportunity to join certain careers including the military.

If you have asthma and are considering joining one of the military branches, here is the information you need.

Medical Conditions That Can Keep You From Joining The Military

Can You Join The Army With Mild Asthma

Below, you will find details from the Army‘s “Standards of Medical Fitness.” These standards generally apply to all other branches as well. Remember that most of these conditions are not necessarily permanently disqualifying, but they are red flags.

If you have had a medical complication at any time in your life that is mentioned here, then you need to tell your recruiter. They will tell you whether your condition can be waived, or if it is permanently disqualifying. Remember that if you do not get an official waiver and your condition later is discovered, you most likely will be dishonorably discharged for fraudulent enlistment. The choice is yours.

Also Check: Can You Join The Army If You Have Asthma

Can I Join With Asthma What About Poor Vision Or Hearing

In some cases, yes. Asthma is only disqualifying if it occurred after an applicants 13th birthday. Hearing, vision, and asthma qualifications are typically determined by medical exams and are not service-specific. If a doctor denies an applicant, that applicant can still request an asthma, vision or hearing loss waiver.

How Likely Is A Medical Waiver To Be Approved

Unfortunately, I cannot predict that outcome. I dont play a doctor on the Internet, and Im not involved in the recruiting process, MEPS processes, or any appeals boards. This is not my area of profession and I do not speak for the military. So I dont want to give any false impressions.

What I can tell you is that some medical conditions are simply ineligible for waivers. Other conditions may be waiverable, provided the member meets the medical standards for waivers as outlined in the DODI .

The best thing you can do is arm yourself with the applicable knowledge and have the willingness to do the legwork required to get the medical examinations, file the paperwork, etc.

Finally, dont lie when trying to join the military. It never ends well. In fact, it can end with a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay and benefits, or even legal action. Its simply not worth the stain on your record.

For more information, you can read this Guide for Getting a Medical Waiver to Join the Military. This article and podcast explain the medical waiver process and the process for finding information, submitting documents, and much more. Its very helpful.

Relevant Resources:

Also Check: Does Weight Gain Make Asthma Worse

How Do I Get A Waiver For Asthma

The best way to obtain a waiver is to go through the appropriate channels and get it from the doctor who performs the medical. Before you get excited, if you still suffer seriously from asthma, you are unlikely to pass the medical regardless of how much you want it or are otherwise capable.

If the Military Entrance Processing Station decides that your condition is too severe to serve active duty, there wont be much you can do about it for that specific branch of the military. If you can convince the Surgeon General that you are not as sick as it appears from your medical records, it may be possible that you will get a chance.

However, he is a medical professional, not you. The military will not likely take kindly to you challenging the word of their top doctors without a very good reason.

Us Air Force Policy On Flat Feet

Can You Have Asthma In the Army or National Guard?

The Air Force is probably one of the best branches of the military to join if you have flat feet.

There are plenty of jobs in the Air Force that do not require you to stand for long periods of time.

For example, jobs like Paralegal, Cyberspace Operations, and even Intelligence may have you sitting at a desk for hours on end.

Again, while flat feet is not a disqualifying condition, certain jobs could prove problematic if you have negative symptoms.

For example, if you ever thought about becoming a Pararescue , Combat Controller, or any other Special Operations job in the Air Force, you may want to reconsider.

Just like with the Marines, it could prove to be very problematic while youre going through training or in certain MOS.

We spoke with Staff Sergeant Socha, an Air Force recruiter stationed out of Staunton, Virginia, to get a definitive answer.

Heres what he had to say:

With the Air Force, its up to the Chief Medical Officer and or the Surgeon General of the Air Force. With the Air Force, recruits are basically approved on a case by case basis.

Im not aware of any problem getting VA benefits if you develop flat feet after service.

What we would do is just send the service person to a primary physician to figure out what the problem is and if it will be detrimental to their service.

Don’t Miss: Breathing Steam For Asthma

Can You Get A Medical Waiver For Asthma

So now lets answer your question is your journey over, or can you possibly join the military with asthma? The answer is: it depends.

The military normally does not allow individuals who currently have asthma to join. However, there can be waivers for those who had asthma in their youth, provided it is still not present when they apply to join the military.

Now your situation is unique. You mentioned you had asthma as a youth, but havent had any issues since then. However, the doctor who recently examined you stated you still have asthma, but that it shouldnt be a problem for military service.

Therein lies the problem: the doctor recommended you as fit for service, and MEPS sent your examination and waiver application to the Surgeon Generals office, where the Surgeon General denied the waiver application.

Obviously they saw something they didnt like, or something that went against military medical standards for applicants. You can familiarize yourself with the DODI, or Department of Defense Instruction for Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services for a better understanding of which medical conditions are excluded from entry to the military, and which are eligible for waivers . This makes for dense reading, but arming yourself with this knowledge is essential if you want to keep trying to join the Air Force.

Can You Join The Military With Asthma

This is a great question, and somewhat common. Many people experience asthma in their youth, and eventually grow out of it. The military makes concessions for applicants who had asthma in their youth, and will often grant waivers if the asthmatic conditions ceased or no longer required medication after a certain age.

But the military is less forgiving when the applicant still has asthma or requires any asthma medications. Why? To put it in simple terms: asthma can place the individual and others in harms way if the individual is deployed to certain environments or is exposed to certain chemicals or conditions.

Military members frequently work around austere environments, in hot, dry, and dusty conditions around various solvents, chemicals, and exhaust in hot and humid conditions and in other environments that can cause an asthma episode to flare up. Having an asthma attack at the wrong time can place the individual, and in some cases, the entire unit in danger.

Think, for a moment, about someone having an asthma attack when they are the only qualified individual for a certain job. Not only does that unit lose the qualified person, but someone else is pulled from their job to assist the other person. This can become magnified if the unit is out in the field, in the line of fire, if there are no medical facilities nearby, etc. I think you get the point.

Recommended Reading: Are Humidifiers Good For Asthma

Recommended Reading: Asthma Military

Military Doctor With Asthma

Wreckem22 said:Hello All! I am new here and having trouble finding an answer to this. I would like to serve in the US military as a physician after medical school. My problem is I have exercise induced asthma. Is this an absolute no go even if I want to join as a doctor? I am interested in either the Navy or Air Force medical corps.Thanks for any help!

really

Laugh at me, will they?

Administrator

How Long Do You Have To Be Off Adhd Medication To Join The Military

Can You Join The Army With Mild Asthma

Recruiters generally tell applicants that they must be off medication for a considerable length of time by far the most important measure to take and show that they are able to function properly while off medication prior to starting the enlistment process and to be considered for a waiver.

The time frame required to be off medication differs across the branches and even among recruiters within the same branch. Some also recommend different approaches to demonstrating proper functioning without medication.

In the Army, Navy, and Marines in particular, recruiters largely advise applicants with ADHD to be off any and all stimulant or nonstimulant medications for at least one year.

Some recruiters, notably within the Air Force, tell applicants they must be off medication for 15 months or more . The Coast Guard which represents just 3 percent of active armed forces members is widely considered to be the most difficult branch to successfully petition for an ADHD waiver.

The time spent off medication should be noted by a doctor in the applicants medical and pharmacy records, and handed in as part of the waiver process. The records should also describe the applicants ADHD history, diagnosis, treatment, and stability while off medication.

Apart from medical documentation, recruiters may also recommend that applicants submit transcripts and letters of recommendation to showcase evidence of successful academic and work performance while off medication.

You May Like: Can Allergies Cause Asthma Attacks

Medical Exams And Records

When enlisting in any branch of the military, there is a point when you are required to undergo a medical examination as well as a medical record review conducted by subject matter experts.

As a part of your initial application, you are required to declare any medical deficiencies and release related documentation showing the extent of the disorder.

Previously, Asthma was an automatically disqualifying factor when joining the military.

This means that it was not a factor that could be waived meaning no matter what, you could not get in.

With the competition of benefits and pay in the civilian job market and ever-changing politics, branches like the Air Force and Navy decided to find ways to let more people in and essentially raise their numbers.

Related Article:Can You Join The Military With A DUI?

Tumors And Malignant Diseases

The following conditions may disqualify you for military service:

a. Benign tumors that interfere with function, prevent wearing the uniform or protective equipment, would require frequent specialized attention or have a high malignant potential.

b. Malignant tumors , exception for basal cell carcinoma, removed with no residual. In addition, the following cases should be qualified if on careful review they meet the following criteria: individuals who have a history of childhood cancer who have not received any surgical or medical cancer therapy for five years and are free of cancer individuals with a history of Wilms tumor and germ cell tumors of the testis treated surgically and/or with chemotherapy after a two-year, disease-free interval off all treatment individuals with a history of Hodgkins disease treated with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy and disease free off treatment for five years individuals with a history of large cell lymphoma after a two-year, disease-free interval off all therapy.

Also Check: Side Effects Of Nebulizer Treatments With Albuterol

What Types Of Asthma Are There

Healthcare providers identify asthma as intermittent or persistent . Persistent asthma can be mild, moderate or severe. Healthcare providers base asthma severity on how often you have attacks. They also consider how well you can do things during an attack.

Asthma can be:

  • Allergic: Some peoples allergies can cause an asthma attack. Molds, pollens and other allergens can cause an attack.
  • Non-allergic: Outside factors can cause asthma to flare up. Exercise, stress, illness and weather may cause a flare.

Moving Forward With Asthma

“Joining the Air Force with asthma?”

As a safety measure, members that are allowed in under the new policy for enlisting with Asthma are not allowed to take on combat jobs or jobs that would require them to be subject to respiratory issues.

There are many jobs in the military in which you are not required to be out in the elements.

Some of the jobs may be in the information technology fields, medical fields, and administrative fields.

This allows members with medical issues to still serve their country while keeping their physical health in order.

The Armed Forces previously restricted entering due to Asthma because of the requirements of the training environment in relation to fitness and physical health.

Also, some jobs in the Armed Forces require members to be deployed in areas where the environment may not be conducive to breathing issues.

Moreover, in order to treat Asthma, individuals may be required to take a medication or carry around a steroid inhaler which may not always be available to them.

Applicants that have been diagnosed and experience asthmatic issues after they turn 13 can still attempt to enlist as long as they have all of their medical documentation, are in good cardiovascular shape and possibly be subject to a pulmonary function test in order for a waiver to be considered.

Once accepted in the military, the asthma condition can be better treated with free healthcare for service members.

You May Like: Can You Join The Army If You Have Asthma

Your Butt Cant Be Too Big

Spinal disorders and conditions are taken very seriously by the military. Many of the jobs have stringent physical demands and standards, and having any sort of back issue can be detrimental to your health, and the readiness of the force. However, according to the Tucson recruiting office, as a result of spinal curvature misalignment, your butt can be too big for you to serve. Enough said.

Read Also: Is Eczema Related To Asthma

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular