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Can Asthma keep you out of the Army?

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bleedingheart Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 08:41 PM
Original message
Can Asthma keep you out of the Army?
Met a republican who is in love with Rick Santorum today that will be campaigning for him because this is a christian country...

So I asked....why aren't you serving in the military if you are so behind the cause in Iraq....and he said..."oh I tried...I have asthma"....stated in a sheepish tone...

Now Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers has asthma...and yet...that hasn't kept him out of the action.

I have asthma and with medication it is under control and I do a lot of stuff.

So....i have to say...there are a ton of folks with asthma and I just don't see Uncle Sam turning him down for that...
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 08:43 PM
Response to Original message
1. My parents said that of me... back in 1990...
Edited on Sun Nov-06-05 08:43 PM by HypnoToad
Still, 1990 vs 2005... peak oil... have your friend try to enlist again. I'm sure they'll let him in. :D
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Chan790 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 08:57 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. Nope
Tried to go Coast Guard less than 6 months ago, thinking that it would head off draft eligibility if the draft was reinstated and my eligibility for OCS was expiring due to age.

I was rejected for asthma. None of the armed forces are allowed to take you if you have asthma or that was the explanation I got. They can't take them because in the absence of medicine it's life threatening...and they cannot insure access to preventative meds in a combat zone.

I guess that makes it an FYI: If they reinstate the draft, have a doctor declare you asthmatic.
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bleedingheart Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 09:01 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. there are a huge number of people with asthma
and the figures keep growing for whatever reason...environment...etc
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lovelaureng Donating Member (434 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 08:51 PM
Response to Original message
2. Yes,
asthma will keep you out of the military, if you tell them you have it when you enlist. This is a true statement. I know because I served and did my time in the Army.
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nashbridges Donating Member (349 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 08:56 PM
Response to Original message
3. Military wouldn't take me back in high school
For ROTC in college because I had gotten pneumonia twice, and they thought my lungs were compromised because of it. I needed money for college.

Lucky, lucky me :) Nowadays, I'm sure they'd accept anyone, including people missing limbs or people who test borderline mentally handicapped. They need people.

Asthma doesn't sound like too much of a stretch.
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LeftyMom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 09:03 PM
Response to Original message
6. If you fess up to having it
I know people with athsma and far worse conditions who signed up and most of them did thier service without complications.
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bleedingheart Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 09:07 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. that is why I am wondering....
a family friend got back from active duty (nurse) in Germany last year from receiving patients from Iraq and she said that she saw a lot of cases of guys having their diabetes get out of control when they were in Iraq and they had to be sent back to Germany and then probably later discharged...Diabetics on the front lines but not asthmatic? and I know that you can't hide diabetes from someone...cuz you need to take that insulin to survive whereas an asthmatic can perhaps get by without the preventative inhalers (steriods)...if they are lucky...
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LeftyMom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 09:22 PM
Original message
Maybe they developed diabetes after they enlisted?
They are taking older people and being less picky about weight than they are in peace time, seems like diabetes would be a bigger issue under those circumstances. Also, I hear the food they give people in Iraq (I think it's a Halliburton contract to feed people) is fatty crap, which isn't helpfull health-wise, either.
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sasquatch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 09:22 PM
Response to Original message
8. Kept me out of the military in 1999
Don't know about today though.
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LisaL Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 10:06 PM
Response to Original message
9. Yes. It can keep you out of the army.
I know someone who was saved by it. I mean, he was a young kid, and tried to enlist, but was rejected due to asthma. He sure is happy about it now.
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qnr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 10:23 PM
Response to Original message
10. My nephew has asthma, the Navy accepted him. n/t
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shanti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 10:41 PM
Response to Reply #10
13. he probably didn't tell them
n/t
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qnr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 10:45 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. Probably, (he is out now) but he did get medication for it while he
was in.
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friesianrider Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 10:27 PM
Response to Original message
11. Ha, did he go to Penn State?
I know a particularly asshole-ish Young Republican who claims he would "gladly" serve but he has asthma.

I believe it may prohibit you, but I know of several men and one woman serving who have asthma.
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shanti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 10:37 PM
Response to Original message
12. YES
better tell them now. it definitely will keep you from being deployed which is what they have planned for you if you join the army.
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obxhead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 10:46 PM
Response to Original message
15. I call BS!
The army (etc) would be happy to have him now. I would say call the bluff and go to the recruiter with him, but it would only support the most stupid of causes.
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ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 10:46 PM
Response to Original message
16. My uncle...United States Navy 1958-68, until they drummed him
out for being gay. :eyes: Tell him to try again.
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Sgent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-06-05 10:58 PM
Response to Original message
17. The military will not accept
anyone who needs access to regular medication, since they can't insure it during a war situation.

This includes asthmatics, diabetics, and a host of other people.

They also won't accept anyone with a history of mental illness -- including depression and ADHD/ADD.

Now, if you develop a condition while your in, its a different story. In addition, a lot of people hide the truth from the recruiters.
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DainBramaged Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-07-05 12:09 AM
Response to Original message
18. ..."oh I tried...I have asthma".
Ask the scumfuck Corrupt Conservative Propagandist to prove it. They always, ALWAYS, ask us for proof, get him to step up to the plate or tell him we'll get it on the blogs that he's a phony chickenhawk shit.:mad::mad::mad:
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