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Can You Join The Army If You Have Asthma

Moving Forward 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.

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.

Can You Join The Military With Asthma

General QuestionsMilitary Life

Can you join the military with asthma? The short answer is it depends. The military has a long and varied history of how they handle recruits with different medical conditions. Generally, the rule is medical conditions that impact availability and effectiveness are automatic disqualifiers. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it hard for people to breathe, especially during bouts of prolonged exercise. In this article, well look at how all 5 branches of the military view asthma and what to do if you have asthma and still want to serve your country.

Skin And Cellular Tissues

The following conditions may disqualify you for military service:

a. Acne, severe or when extensive involvement of the neck, shoulders, chest, or back would be aggravated by or interfere with the wearing of military equipment, and would not be amenable to treatment. Patients under treatment with isotretinoin are medically unacceptable until eight weeks after completion of course of therapy.

b. Atopic dermatitis or eczema, with active or residual lesions in characteristic areas , or documented history thereof after the age of 8.

c. Contact dermatitis, especially involving rubber or other materials used in any type of required protective equipment.

d. Cysts.

Cysts, other than pilonidal, of such a size or location as to interfere with the normal wearing of military equipment.

Pilonidal cysts, if evidenced by the presence of a tumor mass or a discharging sinus. History of pilonidal cystectomy within six months before examination is disqualifying.

e. Dermatitis factitia.

f. Bullous dermatoses, such as Dermatitis Herpetiformis, pemphigus and epidermolysis bullosa.

g. Chronic Lymphedema.

h. Fungus infections, systemic or superficial types, if extensive and not amenable to treatment.

i. Furunculosis, extensive recurrent or chronic.

j. Hyperhidrosis of hands or feet, chronic or severe.

k. Ichthyosis, or other congenital or acquired anomalies of the skin such as nevi or vascular tumors that interfere with function or are exposed to constant irritation.

m. Leprosy, any type.

What Is Asthma As Far As The Military Is Concerned

Can You Join The Army With ADHD or ASTHMA?

Most people understand what we mean when we say asthma it is a common respiratory condition that affects 7.7% of American adults and 8.4% of American children and that has become more common every decade in every group of people. To put it another way, 1 in every 13 people are affected by asthma.

However, the military has a specific definition for what asthma is they have no interest if you suffered from a tight chest when you were a kid and had to sit out of gym class every few weeks. Since 2004, they have been concerned with whether you have suffered from asthmatic symptoms since your 13th birthday. If you havent, then it is very probable that you will not have any problems joining the military and working to ensure the safety of American citizens.

It makes no difference if you were treated for asthma from the ages of 4 to 8 or 7 to 12 if you can prove that you have not received medication or any other kind of medical support since your 13th birthday, you are not an asthma sufferer according to the military definitions.

Personality Conduct And Behavior Disorders

The following conditions may disqualify you for military service:

a. Personality, conduct or behavior disorders as evidenced by frequent encounters with law enforcement agencies, antisocial attitudes or behavior, which, while not sufficient cause for administrative rejection, are tangible evidence of impaired capacity to adapt to military service.

b. Personality, conduct or behavior disorders where it is evident by history, interview or psychological testing that the degree of immaturity, instability, personality inadequacy, impulsiveness or dependency will seriously interfere with adjustment in the Army as demonstrated by repeated inability to maintain reasonable adjustment in school, with employers and fellow workers, and with other social groups.

c. Other behavior disorders including but not limited to conditions such as authenticated evidence of functional enuresis or encopresis, sleepwalking or eating disorders that are habitual or persistent occurring beyond age 12, or stammering of such a degree that the individual is normally unable to express themselves clearly or to repeat commands.

d. Specific academic skills defects, chronic history of academic skills or perceptual defects, secondary to organic or functional mental disorders that interfere with work or school after age 12. Current use of medication to improve or maintain academic skills.

e. Suicide, history of attempted or suicidal behavior.

Air Force Disqualifying Medical Conditions

The United States Air Force is considered slightly more selective than some of the other military branches.

The branch also factors in the Speciality Code you are seeking, as some USAF jobs require top-secret security clearance or special qualification .

Expect your medical health conditions to be closely analyzed if you are in a position that requires a lot of trust or advanced physical fitness.

Speak to an Air Force recruiter if you have any of the following conditions:

  • AIDS/HIV

Related Article Military Disqualifications For Mental Health: 9 Common Conditions

Do Raf Check Medical Records

All candidates who wish to join the Royal Air Force have an assessment to determine whether they satisfy tri-Service and single Service medical entry standards. The report received from your GP will be scanned into an electronic recruiting medical record held by the contractor and will be reviewed by a contractor ME.

How Do You Shut Up A Jehovah Witness

Politely interrupt to take control of the conversation.

  • When a Jehovahs Witness starts talking, interrupt with a polite, Excuse me to get their attention.
  • Try raising your hand an holding it between the two of you at chest level with your palm facing the other person and begin your interjection with, Hold on.
  • Can You Decline A Deployment

    The military can deny the request. Officers can request to resign their commission after serving their minimum obligation to the military. It takes time and the military can deny the request. There are assignments that can be declined under certain conditions, but combat deployments generally arent one of them.

    Neurotic Anxiety Mood Somatoform Dissociative Or Factitious Disorders

    The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment and induction are a history of such disorders resulting in any or all of the below:

    a. Admission to a hospital or residential facility.

    b. Care by a physician or other mental health professional for more than six months.

    c. Symptoms or behavior of a repeated nature that impaired social, school or work efficiency.

    Do Single Parents Get Deployed

    Although the Army does not allow single parents to enlist, there are 37,000 single parents on active duty. According to the Army, 8,300 single parents are currently deployed. Legal experts said the Army tends to accommodate family needs, to a point. And most single-parent soldiers tend to tough it out.

    Surprising Medical Conditions That Could Bar You From Service

    Can You Join The Military With Asthma? Yes, But There

    Its no surprise that service members must be in good physical shape to serve in the military. However, there are some medical conditions that you might not know can bar you from service.

    The military lays out certain physical requirements that those wishing to serve must meet, and recruits must undergo a medical exam. When joining, they must also disclose significant medical conditions.

    Sometimes waivers from medical professionals are an option for certain medical conditions, particularly ones that relate to eyesight and weight. However, like depression and Crohns disease are likely to disqualify you from service, especially if they have affected your education or employment in the past.

    It is important to note that many conditions are not always permanently disqualifying and should not dissuade potential applicants. Recruiters and military doctors will determine if they will affect your duties.

    Here are eight surprising medical conditions that might prevent you from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces:

    1. Food Allergies

    If you have a history of food allergies, you might be disqualified from joining the military. This is because service members can serve in locations that do not have a wide variety of food options or that do not have easily accessible medical care in the case of reactions. Recruits who are merely sensitive to certain foods will not be disqualified.

    2. Celiac Disease

    3. Contact dermatitis

    4. Asthma

    5. Braces or dental ailments

    6. Motion sickness

    7. Acne

    Are There Physical Fitness Requirements To Join

    Yes, there are physical fitness requirements to join the Army. The Armys Physical Fitness Test is used to assess the physical endurance of a recruit. APFT is a 3-part fitness event: 2 minutes of push-ups, 2 minutes of sit-ups, and a timed 2-mile run. Recruits must pass the APFT to graduate boot camp.

    The APFT physical fitness requirements vary by age and gender. Reference the table below to find your minimum fitness requirements.

    The Army will continue to use the APFT until further notice.

    AGE

    MENS APFT PHYSICAL FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
    34 23:00

    If you have any questions regarding the APFT or your physical fitness requirements, talk to your recruiter.

    Can You Join The Canadian Military With Asthma

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    Coast Guard Medical Waiver Process

    United States Coast Guard

    A doctor can make a recommendation for a suggested medical waiver to a recruiting commander in the Coast Guard.

    The same recommendation is plausible in any of the military branches as MEPS falls under the command of the DOD.

    A recruiting commander has the power to accept or deny a military medical waiver.

    The recruiting commander will factor the recommendation of the doctor assigned to you at MEPS as well as the objectives of the specific branch.

    Unfortunately, there is no method of an appeal for recruits that get denied for a medical waiver.

    Every waiver requires varying levels of review for approval so its hard to give an estimate in terms of time.

    The best thing you can do is be open and honest with a recruiter about any underlying medical conditions.

    General And Miscellaneous Conditions And Defects

    The following conditions may disqualify you for military service:

    a. Allergic manifestations. A reliable history of anaphylaxis to stinging insects. Reliable history of a moderate to severe reaction to common foods, spices or food additives.

    b. Any acute pathological condition, including acute communicable diseases, until recovery has occurred without sequelae.

    c. Chronic metallic poisoning with lead, arsenic or silver, or beryllium or manganese.

    d. Cold injury, residuals of, such as: frostbite, chilblain, immersion foot, trench foot, deep-seated ache, paresthesia, hyperhidrosis, easily traumatized skin, cyanosis, amputation of any digit or ankylosis.

    e. Cold urticaria and angioedema, hereditary angioedema.

    f. Filariasis, trypanosomiasis, schistosomiasis, uncinariasis or other parasitic conditions, if symptomatic or carrier states.

    g. Heat pyrexia, heatstroke or sunstroke. Documented evidence of a predisposition , recurrent episodes requiring medical attention or residual injury ; malignant hyperthermia.

    h. Industrial solvent and other chemical intoxication.

    i. Motion sickness. An authenticated history of frequent incapacitating motion sickness after the 12th birthday.

    j. Mycotic infection of internal organs.

    k. Organ transplant recipient.

    l. Presence of human immunodeficiency virus or antibody. Presence is confirmed by repeatedly reactive enzyme-linked immunoassay serological test and positive immunoelectrophoresis test, or other DOD-approved confirmatory test.

    My Asvab Scores Are Too Low Does This Mean I Can No Longer Join

    Not necessarily. The Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery helps the Army determine who is or isnt qualified to become an enlisted Soldier. However, we understand extenuating circumstances can impact ones ability to test or test well. The Army does offer ASVAB waivers for potential recruits. The easiest way to learn about your eligibility, the waiver process, and your next steps is to talk with your recruiter.

    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:

    Can I Join The Military With Asthma

    So can you join the military with Asthma? In almost all cases, if you currently have asthma you will not be able to join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard. If you have or were diagnosed with Asthma past the age of 13, you may still be able to enlist with a waiver.

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    Drug Issues With Add/adhd

    Can You Join The Military With Asthma? Yes, But There

    The most common of these drugs are Ritalin and Adderall. If there is a documented use of Adderall in a non-prescribed basis as in an emergency room visit with such side effects as high blood pressure, stroke, or other aggressively disruptive behavior, you will likely be unable to obtain a waiver.

    Waivers are only reviewed on a doctor prescribed program for minor attention deficit issues. Any depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental health problems associated with some ADD/ADHD diagnosis tips the scale into an area of medically disqualifying issues that are not waiverable. 

    Coast Guard Disqualifying Medical Conditions

    The U.S. Coast Guard follows the same guidelines as the other military branches.

    MEPS is managed by the Department of Defense with the same temporary and permanent disqualifications.

    Once again, speak to a recruiter if you have any of the following:

    • AIDS/HIV
    • PTSD
    • Schizophrenia

    However, the Coast Guard is starting to apply more waivers to anxiety and depression than in the past.

    Regardless, its still very difficult to receive a waiver for more serious mental health problems.

    Related ArticleCan You Join The Military With Autism?

    What Medical Conditions Stop You From Joining The Raf

    Current symptoms of abdominal, digestive or liver disease Any history of Crohns disease Any history of Ulcerative colitis Irritable bowel syndrome requiring medication or medical follow up within the last 2 years Loss of spleen for any reason Chronic hepatitis of any cause Any untreated

    Marine Corps Asthma Policy

    OMK spoke with Captain Sabia, a Marine Corps recruiter stationed in Norcross, Georgia.

    Heres what he had to say regarding the Marine Corps policy on asthma:With the Marines, you need to do a lung function test.

    The potential recruit goes to see a Navy medic rather than the medical board. There are specific jobs that you cant do if you have asthma.

    We will update this regularly in the event the Marine Corps changes its asthma policy in the future.

    Coast Guard Asthma Policy to speak 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 medication, its a disqualifier.

    In the Coast Guard, the duty person must have a spirometer test and the recruit must obtain a medical consultation.

    The recruit will not be able to perform strenuous work.

    We will update the Coast Guard asthma policy regularly to reflect any changes.

    Miscellaneous Conditions Of The Extremities

    The following conditions may disqualify you for military service:

    a. Arthritis.

    Active, subacute or chronic arthritis.

    Chronic osteoarthritis or traumatic arthritis of isolated joints of more than a minimal degree, which has interfered with the following of a physically active vocation in civilian life or that prevents the satisfactory performance of military duty.

    b. Chronic Retropatellar Knee Pain Syndrome with or without confirmatory arthroscopic evaluation.

    c. Dislocation if unreduced, or recurrent dislocations of any major joint such as shoulder, hip, elbow or knee; or instability of any major joint such as shoulder, elbow or hip.

    d. Fractures.

    Malunion or non-union of any fracture, except ulnar styloid process.

    Orthopedic hardware, including plates, pins, rods, wires or screws used for fixation and left in place; except that a pin, wire or screw not subject to easy trauma is not disqualifying.

    e. Injury of a bone or joint of more than a minor nature, with or without fracture or dislocation, that occurred within the preceding six weeks: upper extremity, lower extremity, ribs and clavicle.

    f. Joint replacement.

    g. Muscular paralysis, contracture or atrophy, if progressive or of sufficient degree to interfere with military service and muscular dystrophies.

    h. Osteochondritis dissecans.

    i. Osteochondromatosis or multiple cartilaginous exostoses.

    j. Osteoporosis.

    k. Osteomyelitis, active or recurrent.

    If Ive Been Disqualified From One Branch Of The Military Can I Join Another Branch

    The Armed Forces use the same disqualifying medical conditions for every military branch.

    Therefore, what is disqualifying in the Army is also disqualifying in the Navy.

    However, one branch may approve a waiver while another branch may not based on the condition, your role in the military, and other factors.

    Its possible to try and enlist in another branch after another denied your military medical waiver.

    Once again it primarily depends on the health condition.

    For example, someone with Schizophrenia is likely to get denied by every military branch, while another recruit with a small curvature of scoliosis might have better luck the second time around. 

    Considerations Unique To The Military

    Active-duty personnel present unique challenges in the diagnosis and management of asthma. Service members should be questioned thoroughly on deployment and exposure history. A significant portion of the current military population has deployed to SWA in the past decade, many for multiple deployments. Research addressing respiratory complaints in the deployed military population is ongoing. To date, military research has demonstrated that while many service members with deployment-related respiratory exposures have a paucity of objective findings after pulmonary medicine evaluation, some demonstrate functional limitations consistent with asthma or airway hyperresponsivenesss. Further retrospective studies did not find a relationship between deployment and diagnosis rates or severity in asthma patients in the Army. A comprehensive evaluation is recommended for service members with dyspnea to include investigating for potential asthma- or exercise-induced bronchospasm, in addition to diagnoses such as vocal cord dysfunction, GERD, and OSA.

    I Used To Take Drugs Can I Still Join

    If you have a history of drug dependence, you will need to provide evidence that you have abstained from the use of these drugs for at least the last 3 years prior to joining the Army.A history of occasional use of recreational drugs won’t stop you from joining, but you must stop using any such drugs before you join.

    After joining the Army, you must not use recreational drugs. The Army carries out random, compulsory drugs testing, and you can expect to be tested while you’re in training. If you fail any of the tests, you’re very likely be discharged.

    Marine Corps Medical Waiver Process

    Can you join the army with asthma?

    The Marine Corps is the most selective military branch with highly competitive basic training.

    Regardless, it does not mean that a medical condition will disqualify you from the Marine Corps easier, but it does depend on the health problem.

    For example, temporary disqualifications do not require a medical waiver.

    However, permanent disqualifications require you to receive a medical waiver since the condition is not going to change with time.

    Consequently, the Marine Corps does not allow enlistment without an approved waiver.

    The medical doctor assigned to you at MEPS has the ability to indicate on your records if a waiver is recommended for your case.

    The doctor must consider questions like:

    • Is the medical condition progressive?
    • Can the condition get worse because of military service?
    • Can the recruit complete satisfactory training for military duty with the condition?
    • Does the condition create an undue hazard to the recruit or other service members in combat situations?

    Once a doctor at MEPS makes a recommendation the decision is left up to the Marine Corps to approve the waiver or not.

    Join The Army With Asthma

    When someone enlists in the military, regardless of branch, health care past is part of your enlistment procedure. Along with supplying a thorough healthcare historical past, the recruit ought to also undergo a thorough healthcare examination by a doctor at .

    You will discover several conditions that will disqualify another person from Army service. In the past, it was almost impossible to serve inside the Army if there had been a previous analysis of asthma. While recent asthma situations are normally not authorized, there has already been a lot more leniency granted in direction of those that suffered from asthma previously but are now not afflicted by the issue.

    As of 2004, if the recruit has not had any asthma symptoms or been handled for asthma past his 13th birthday, he is commonly deemed to not have asthma by Army recruitment standards. Hell be allowed to enlist via an enlistment procedure that is precisely the same as it is for someone who has never had asthma.

    In the event of a healthcare waiver, preceding medical records are going to be requested. They may request medical data at any time as a way to show that asthma has not been a problem since his 13th birthday. For this reason, it is imperative that the recruit is honest throughout the process about his medical historical past. Lying or otherwise misrepresenting his health care background can have serious outcomes when it is learned.

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    Abdominal Organs And Gastrointestinal System

    The following conditions may disqualify you from military service:

    a. Esophagus. Ulceration, varices, fistula, achalasia, or other dysmotility disorders; chronic or recurrent esophagitis if confirmed by appropriate X-ray or endoscopic examination.

    b. Stomach and duodenum.

    Gastritis. Chronic hypertrophic or severe.

    Active ulcer of the stomach or duodenum confirmed by X-ray or endoscopy.

    Congenital abnormalities of the stomach or duodenum causing symptoms or requiring surgical treatment, except a history of surgical correction of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis of infancy.

    c. Small and large intestine.

    Inflammatory bowel disease. Regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis.

    Duodenal diverticula with symptoms or sequelae .

    Intestinal malabsorption syndromes, including postsurgical and idiopathic.

    Congenital. Condition, to include Meckel’s diverticulum or functional abnormalities, persisting or symptomatic within the past two years.

    d. Gastrointestinal bleeding. History of, unless the cause has been corrected, and is not otherwise disqualifying.

    e. Hepato-pancreatic-biliary tract.

    Cirrhosis, hepatic cysts and abscess, and sequelae of chronic liver disease.

    Cholecystitis, acute or chronic, with or without cholelithiasis, and other disorders of the gallbladder including post-cholecystectomy syndrome, and biliary system.

    Note. Cholecystectomy is not disqualifying 60 days postsurgery , providing there are no disqualifying residuals from treatment.

    f. Anorectal.

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